January 16, 2022 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
In this weekend’s Gospel (Jn. 2:1-11) we find the story of the Wedding at Cana, a passage from John rich in symbolism in its own right and worthy of intense scrutiny. However, when we consider the theme from Isaiah in the First Reading, we can get a glimpse of an even deeper meaning of the story about the surplus of wine produced by Jesus as his first of signs at Cana.
It is a quant familiar narrative, which reveals many significant points of interest as we read through it line by line. It begins first with “On the third day there was a wedding in Cana.” (Jn. 2:1a). The “third day” brings to mind the day of the Great Theophany in the book of Exodus when God overshadowed the Israelite camp at Mount Sinai to deliver the law to Moses and the people to establish their covenant. (Exod. 19:10-16).
Next, we hear that Jesus and his disciples were there, as well as the mother of Jesus who notices that the wine has run short and reports to Jesus, “They have no wine.” (Jn. 2:3). Jesus responds to Mary with a title which seems to be disrespectful for one’s mother: “Woman, how does your concern affect me?” (Jn. 2:4).
But one must consider the prologue of the Fourth Gospel in order to get a clarification of the title “woman” for Mary. For John establishes at the very outset that the incarnation marks a new creation for the world and the hope of a new beginning for mankind. He does so by using this unique description for Jesus: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.” (Jn. 1:1-3). Thus, if Jesus is the instrument of a new beginning for all of humanity, what better title for his mother than that which was used for the first female of creation, Eve, who was known as “woman.”
Jesus then makes another obscure statement in response to Mary. He says, “My hour has not yet come.” (Jn. 2:4b). The use of the term “hour” is something unique to John’s Gospel and is meant to correlate with the final purpose designed for the ministry of Jesus – the crucifixion and resurrection. This Wedding at Cana is merely the very beginning of the final consummation and revelation, the “hour,” of the purpose of the ministry of Jesus.
However, Mary is not swayed by the reaction of Jesus. She knows there is something special about her son and she is already the first, ardent trusting disciple. She instructs the servers to do whatever Jesus tells them. Jesus has them fill the six stone Jewish ceremonial jars – one less than perfect, now made perfect by the miracle of Jesus – and then draw some out and take it to the headwaiter. Then the miracle is revealed to an unwitting bridegroom: “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” (Jn. 2:10).
Finally, at the end of the story and after the use of all of this considerable symbolism, the author reveals the purpose of the miracle. It is one of seven signs performed by Jesus to instill faith in his followers and so he “revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.” (Jn. 2:11b). At Cana, the faith of the disciples, and thus the Church, is born.
However, there is one more detail from the First Reading (Isaiah 62:1-5) worth mentioning which gives the story extra added implications. This portion of the book of Isaiah comes from the time period of Israel’s history when they are released from their captivity in Babylon. The Lord has relinquished them from their punishment and vindicated them from their sins. They are now free to return home to rebuild Jerusalem and their Temple. This glorious event marks a new relationship with God. They are no longer estranged but have once again become the chosen nation to represent the Lord and the news of His salvation to every nation. Their bond has become one of the closest that might exist between two entities, that of a bridegroom and his espoused. For the Lord revels in His delight for them. Isaiah expresses it succinctly, “For as a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.” (Isa. 62:5).
What better way, then, for Jesus to mark the significance of this relationship between God and Israel in the very first sign of his ministry than to perform a miracle at a wedding. At this celebration the abundance of wine produced by Jesus seals the new covenant and marks the initiation of the messianic banquet. From here on out the followers of Christ will become entrusted with and successful in establishing his Church as long as they adhere to the words of his blessed mother which transform the event into a feast, “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn. 2:5b).
Today as we ponder this first miracle of Jesus and these words of his blessed mother we continue the tasks, the work of his Church in the world, and we do so with only a scant number of words needed to be our guide, “Do whatever he tells you.”
