"They have no wine"
John 2: 1-11
Wedding celebrations are among the most festive and
joyful. Across cultural lines, we begin
with the commitment of the bride and groom, hopefully in a context of religious
faith, only to be followed by a grand party that may last anywhere from a few
hours and on into the night. I think it
clear from the Gospel today that we find ourselves in the midst of a lengthy
celebration.
In spite of the confusion caused by the non-Christian definition of marriage which prevails today, for us who follow we hold to what we have always known. Marriage is not just about love and emotions,
not just about a “friend for life” between two partners but it is a holy covenant
of loyalty and faithfulness for life which reflects Christ and his Church as
God has intended it be.
Were these relatives of Jesus at the wedding party? Likely they were perhaps on Mary’s side of
the family. And of course the potential
for embarrassment on the part of the groom and bride that the wine has run out
was very real. In the time of Jesus, these celebrations went on for several
days. Imagine the awkward position the
couple would have been in if they ran out of wine. Guests would have simply drifted away and
commented on the unprepared couple and families. Certainly, a major
humiliation.
So, imagine the scene.
Surrounded by music and joyful laughter, some of which was undoubtedly
brought on by the wine (were the disciples of Jesus among the mildly
intoxicated?) a problem is identified and the mother of Jesus, Mary, says to
him: “They have no more wine.” It
seems Jesus, and some of his disciples, whom the passage indicates were there,
were simply enjoying themselves when Mary approached. Mary’s presented problem
to her Son, however, is significant.
How beautifully human and ordinary is this common situation.
Maybe more guests showed up than expected or some of them got carried away. Why
would Mary make such a remark to Jesus? Obviously, she felt he could do
something about it but was a miracle in Mary’s mind? We don’t really know other
than she felt her son would be able to address the problem and on a deeper
sense felt it was time for him.
Jesus’ response to Mary’s statement has always been a point of
debate: “Woman, how does your concern
affect me? My hour has not yet come.” Scripture scholars have literally
translated this line as: “What to me and to you, woman?” We might say Jesus is
asking his mother – “How does this involve the both of us?”
Mary’s order to the servers is a simple, “Do whatever he tells you.” And,
in fact, those are the last words we hear from Mary in the Gospels. Yet, they are deeply significant in light of
Jesus’ divine nature. She leaves it up
to him to carry this concern forward and from that point he does take charge of
the situation. The water he ordered placed in the jars (180 gallons) all
becomes the finest vintage of wine. Let the party continue!
We would love to see the look of surprise on Jesus’ face as
Mary addressed the concern of the bridal couple. The headwaiter was responsible
to see that things went well. He was in
effect a Master of Ceremonies; likely a family member whose very reputation was
on the line.
It’s clear, however, that Jesus was influenced by his mother’s
observation. John may be showing us the influence of Mary as the public
ministry of Jesus began: “All right, son, now it’s time to get on with
this. Here’s your first chance.” Hmm,
how delightfully Jewish! With traditional respect for mother’s in the culture,
Jesus could not refuse his mother’s request.
Yet, if this was simply a snap shot of Jesus attending a
wedding and his miraculous solution to the embarrassing problem, it really
wouldn’t hold much significance for us other than to say, “Well, he was very
Jewish.” No, it is much more on a deeper spiritual level.
Jesus addresses his mother as “woman.” Was he being a bit sarcastic or symbolically
John tells us that Mary is representative of new life, new beginning; she is
the new “Eve.” As Eve, the mother of all the living, invited Adam to
participate in her disobedience, here Mary invites Jesus to now open up the
world to his person; to the transformation of life for those who “Do whatever
he tells you.” Was that not the reason for which the chosen people were
punished time and again – they did not do what God had told them. In the same
way, sin separates us from God because we do not do what he tells us; we choose
to walk our own way rather than in the life God brings to us.
It was time and with this first of Jesus’ miracles, signs as
John calls them, our Lord comes on the scene – all because they did whatever he
told them. So too with Jesus himself – he followed the concern of his own
mother and carried through her wishes. Her role in the beginning of Jesus’
ministry was both cultural and symbolic. This “sign” open a window for us: see
who Jesus is and what he will do for those who hear and offer themselves as
faithful disciples. Our water is transformed by the richness of God’s grace for
those who do what he tells us.
Jesus will come and with his presence only the finest will be
made. The Prophet Isaiah writes this
Sunday (Is 62: 1-5): “No more shall
people call you ‘Forsaken” or your land ‘Desolate,’ but you shall be called ‘My
Delight,’ and your land ‘Espoused. . .’ God, in a biblical sense, has
joined in union, in marriage with all humanity through his Son, Jesus. In
Christ divinity and humanity are joined in a solid and forever union. See the shadows of marriage in its beauty and
deeper spiritual meaning?
God will marry his people to himself as a groom marries a
bride. These nuptial images imply an
intimacy of the deepest love and faithfulness.
When Christ steps in, things change.
And so, Jesus begins his earthly ministry around a wedding feast at
which wine was given and in which a new and forever covenant is established as
he shed his blood and rose from the dead. However, this was not the only time Jesus
changed wine.
The Gospel should remind us that the earthly ministry of Jesus
will end as it began - with a feast, a supper of sorts at which wine will be
given again as his very life offered for all. A wedding feast to begin and a
Last Supper to end. Both involve
relationships, covenant, wine, feasting, celebration, and a gift. Bread is
changed into Him who offers the transformation of grace. Wine is changed into a living cup of his
presence, and we are invited to that wedding banquet each time we attend Mass.
In the giving of his life for us, Jesus makes himself present
around a table which will become a cross which will become a tomb which will
become for all time a sign of hope, glory and life for all who would come to
believe. The feast of the Eucharist is our constant invitation to wed ourselves
in an intimate union between we who are water and Christ who is wine.
Almighty ever-living God,
who govern all things,
both in heaven and on earth,
mercifully hear the pleading of your people
and bestow your peace on our times.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
(Collect: Roman Missal)
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