Have you ever being in a situation where you have been indignant about what has happened to another individual? Maybe abuse or injustice. You are furious but that individual is not too excited, perhaps even making excuses about why the other person had to be abusive and you are not having any of it. This is the way the First Reading sounds: for Zion’s sake I will not be silent. This says that something out there is valuable and I will not let this one slide. I am mad and you are worth something and if you won’t fight this battle then I will. Many people have been given the courage to face a difficult situation where they felt beat down because someone came along side and held a line that they were too weak to hold. In the First Reading we have this beautiful display of the Lord’s passion for His people and His great desire to be close to them. In fact, not just to be close but to marry His people. That is close and intimate. Isn’t that why people get married? They want to be close, they no longer want to be apart.
Did you notice something odd about the Gospel? I did. The Gospel is called “The Wedding Feast at Cana” and yet the bride and bridegroom’s names are not mentioned. The whole feast is supposed to be about them and only the bridegroom is mentioned in passing. Slightly odd to begin with. Another thing, that may or may not seem odd to you, is that this is first of Jesus’ miracles and it seems to be a mere party favour. We never see another miracle like it. True, He feeds those people with the loaves and fish but they are hungry, not merely trying to retain their buzz or drunken state. Why is Mary the one who reminds Jesus of this? Most mothers do not want more wine at a wedding. I am sure many mothers would hope that the wine would run out at a wedding so people would behave themselves. I mean really, is Jesus promoting drunkenness? Why is Jesus waiting for Mary to tell Him what to do, He is God after all? So, we have asked many questions but we do have some answers.
It seems to me that it is extremely significant that Jesus performs his first miracle at a wedding feast. It is significant because the whole desire of God is to be in a covenant, or another word for covenant is marriage. God wants to be married to us. He is inviting us into a very unique relationship and that closeness is meant to fulfill our lives. The Bible begins and ends with marriage, starting with Adam and Eve and ending with the marriage of the Bridegroom, the Lamb, Jesus and the Church. His ministry seems to do the same. It starts with the wedding feast of Cana and ends with the crucifixion, the naked Bridegroom doing what He said, “I will lay down my life for my bride. I will hold nothing back, not even my life. If it would be best for her, I will allow my body to be destroyed.” It makes sense that Mary is the one who initiates this miracle because it shows her freely entering into the passion. I have not ever thought of the cost of Mary in this miracle. A friend of mine pointed out that it is weird that Jesus says His hour has not yet come. It makes it seem that Jesus is telling Mary that He can’t do the miracle, yet He does which then would be a lie to His Mother. Mary by initiating this miracle shows her willingness to be part of the Passion. How? Mary knows well because she is told that a sword will pierce her own soul. She knows that when the miracles start that public ministry starts and the death will come soon. When Jesus tells His Mother, “My hour has not yet come,” it could easily be Jesus consoling her that His passion is still a way off.
What does this miracle mean to us? First of all, it reminds us of what our relationship with Jesus and Mary should be like. Are we close to Jesus? Do we talk to Him? Do we share our lives with Him? Do we sleep with Him? Do we rise with Him? Or, do we do most things apart from Him? It also reminds us of grace – has the wine ran out in our lives? The wine is the joy has that run out in our lives and we are at the party and not dancing, we are not enjoying life. Jesus wants to turn your plain water into the wine of the Spirit. Jesus’ words are powerful and life transforming and we have to get ready to receive them. He is passionate about our salvation, as is Mary. Both were willing to bring on the passion because it brings salvation.