Reading Reflections: Second Sunday Ordinary Gospel C
There
was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
- Cana was about four miles from Nazareth.
- This is the first mentioned of Mary in
John’s Gospel. The second time will be at Calvary. In placing Mary at the
beginning and the end of Jesus’ ministry is John trying to say something
about Mary’s involvement in the redemptive work of Jesus?
- Since Joseph is not mentioned, it is possible that he has died.
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.”
- Mary was not only a guest, but she
probably, like the other women, helped in the serving of the food.
- Mary’s role as intercessor is identified here. She continues this role on our behalf even in the present moment.
And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern
affect me? My hour has not yet come.”
- Here and from the cross Jesus addresses
his mother as “woman.” This is done in respect. He probably never called
her by her name.
- “My hour” is a favorite expression in John’s Gospel. It refers to Jesus ultimate glorification of the Father through the gift of his life on the cross.
His mother said to
the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”
- This simple directive Mary gives to us as well. Her role is to point us to Jesus. How obedient are we to Jesus?
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.
- This would compute to about 100-150 gallons of water. When Jesus does something he is overly generous. Recall the multiplication of the loaves and the fish or the miraculous catch of fish to the point the nets were breaking. One of the signs of the messianic times was abundance.
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.”
- Has Jesus treated you any different? Has he not provided you with the best? What should our response be?
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in
Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.
- In
John’s Gospel, this was the first sign or miracle Jesus performed that led
to his disciples putting their faith in him.
- How do
we apply this passage to our life? What does Jesus want to teach us
through this event?
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