JOHN 2:1-11 THE WEDDING AT CANA
There was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from, although the servers who had drawn the water knew, the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.
COMMENTARY
God’s plan for marriage is seen in the first book of the Bible: “This is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife and they become one body.” Genesis 2:24
Marriage is not merely a legal contract. A Catholic marriage is a covenant, or a sacred pledge of loyalty with God as our witness between persons, a man and woman. This covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1643), there are three goods of marriage. They are: unity, fidelity, and openness to children
This good of unity is beyond mere unity of the flesh; it demands permanence (indissolubility) for the entire life of the married couple. The union is so profound and total that only death can dissolve it.
The very nature of conjugal love, total union for life of a married couple, demands fidelity and prohibits any disorder such as adultery. This “good” of married fidelity is a sign of the faithful union between Christ and His Church. Jesus said, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder” Mark 10:8-9.
Another good of marriage is openness to children, to “accept children lovingly from God.” The couple doesn’t have to try to conceive a child every time they are intimate. Accepting children and nurturing them leads the married couple to a deeper union and exclusive commitment to one another.
The Church does not demand married couples have enough children to field a baseball team. The Church simply says that parents should exhibit generosity appropriate to responsible parenthood and not use any immoral means such as contraception or abortion as a means to demean their intimacy and frustrate God’s plan.
Natural Family Planning NFP uses fertility tracking technology so if a couple wants another baby, they can choose to be intimate on a woman’s identifiable fertile days. On the other hand, if they don’t feel ready for another baby, they would simply choose to be intimate on an infertile day instead.
REFLECTION
Jesus performed this first of His signs… and the disciples began to believe in Him…what are the signs of Jesus’ intervention in my life…look closely…do I believe in Him like his disciples…do I give thanks for these moments of grace, especially times of conversion…
Jesus tells His mother, My hour has not yet come…Jesus had not yet begun his public ministry…but then who can turn down a mother’s request….Let’s remember this story and ask Mary to intercede in our needs we present to God…
Mary wisely instructs the servants…Do whatever he tells you…Mary knows Jesus will attend to our needs when the time is right…we pray and all our prayers are heard and answered… not necessarily, when and what we want, but in God’s time and according to what is best for us…Trust in Jesus! And persevere in prayer!
What was my life like while drinking the “inferior wine” of this world before Jesus served up the “superior wine,” …. How has the “superior wine changed my life?
If Jesus can change water into wine, just imagine the changes He could make in me if I just told him my needs and did what he told me as Mary suggests “Do whatever He tells you”…
Mary’s faith is remarkable as it was from her first fiat at the Annunciation, “Be it done according to your word!”…Mary is the model of faith…pray to Mary to keep our Faith strong..
God is interested in every aspect of our life…are there some needs we don’t address to God…why not?… maybe we should try… and wait for the surprise…
Jesus’ first miracle a marriage feast in Cana anticipates the wedding feast that awaits us all in heaven where we, the bride, join the bridegroom, Jesus, and share in nuptial blessings for all eternity….are our wedding garments ready? Matthew 22:1-14
Christ, the Bridegroom, has sacrificially and lovingly chosen the church to be His bride Ephesians 5:25–27. At the end of time, the church will be united with the Bridegroom, the eternal union of Christ and His bride will be actualized Revelation 19:7–9; 21:1-2
THE BRIDEGROOM WELCOMES HIS BRIDE,
THE CHURCH
REVELATIONS 19:9