Wedding at Cana, Galilee

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time-Year C

January 20, 2013

First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 96:1-10

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Gospel Reading: John 2:1-12

God, in the Book of Isaiah, is like Mary in the Wedding at Cana, Galilee.  There is a parallelism between God and Mary concerning nation and persons in anxiety of abandonment, misery and embarrassment in the midst of celebration of a found new life. For in Isaiah, God “will not be silent . . . will not be quiet, (hindi mapalagay/mapakali ang Diyos!) until her (referring to Zion or Jerusalem, as nation in Israel) vindication shines forth like the dawn and her glory like a burning torch. . . 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” (Isaiah 62:1, 5); and in the gospel of John, Mary attending at the wedding at Cana when “at a certain point the wine ran out, and Jesus’ mother told him, ‘They have no more wine.’ Jesus replied, ‘Woman, how does this concern of yours involve me? My hour has not yet come” (John 2:1-4).  Mary was totally involved in the affairs of the newly wedded couple, and most probably, like all women and mothers, she was in the kitchen to see that there is food and drink available.  Also, maybe one of the couple was son or daughter of her cousins.  Jesus, although did not like to show early his power, as he said, “My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4) and most probably he did not like to use his power of obvious reason, but because of his love for his mother, and he did not want also that his cousin be put to shame, he obeyed his mother.  Ang nanay talaga! What a mother! 

Mary, as true and good mother of us all, is always there to support us and ask on our behalf our needs to his obedient and loving Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.  As she commanded the other waiters, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5), so Jesus, as true God and true servant, gave command to the other servants, “Fill those jars with water” (John 2:7). Jesus’ ordered at which the servants filled the jars to the brim.  These jars, as described by John, are used for the ceremonial washings of the hands and feet upon entering a Jewish house, and “. . . there were at hand six stone water jars, each one holding fifteen to twenty-five gallons” (John 2:6).  All in all, there were 90 to 150 gallons of wine to be served.  “‘Now,’ Jesus said, ‘draw some out and take it to the waiter in charge.’  They did as he instructed them.  The waiter in charge tasted the water made wine without knowing where it had come from; only the waiters knew, since they had drawn the water.  Then the waiter in charge called the groom over and remarked to him: “People usually serve the choice wine first; then when the guests have been drinking awhile, a lesser vintage.  What you have done is keep the choice wine until now” (John 2:9-10).  Because of this miracle, nobody left the party. Everybody remained and stayed for very special and best wine was overflowing and the celebration continued until the new day dawn.  The newly wedded couple was very happy for they were not put to shame.  A simple gesture made a lot.  “No more shall men call you: Forsaken, or your land: Desolate.  But you shall be called: My Delight and your land: My Espoused” (Isaiah 62:4).  John concluded this good news of wedding at Cana by saying, “Jesus performed this first [miracle] of his signs at Cana in Galilee.  Thus did he reveal his glory, and his disciples believed in him” (John 2:11).  If Jesus can turn water into a very special and best wine, it is not also impossible if Jesus turns the wine into his blood, when his time comes, to shade his blood on Calvary.

Therefore, God, in His love for us, He never abandons us or forsaken us or desolate us. As true Father of us all, He gives all our needs.  He never put us down or let us fall into a shameful situation.  The same with Mary our mother, she is always there to intercede for us and to ask on our behalf our needs to her loving and obedient Son, Jesus Christ. What we need is to trust in God’s providential care and love.

As children of God and of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we, too, must do the same care and give the same love to our brothers and sisters who are in need.  We cannot deny or become indifferent to their needs.  We cannot forsake or desolate them.  Even Jesus, despite of his untimely performance of miracle, for it is not yet his time, he did it for the sake of his mother and to the newly wedded couple who will be put to shame on their wedding day, for all the guests might go home if they have found that there is no more wine.  And also be reminded of what St. Paul said to the Corinthians, in the second reading: “To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  To one the Spirit gives wisdom in discourse, to another the power to express knowledge.  Through the Spirit one receives faith; by the same Spirit another is given the gift of healing, and still another miraculous power.  Prophecy is given to one; to another power to distinguish one spirit from another.  One receives the gift of tongues, another that of interpreting the tongues.  But it is one and the same Spirit who produces all these gifts, distributing them to each as he will” (1 Cor. 12:7-10).  The Holy Trinity is working together for us all.  “There are different gifts but the same Spirit (The Holy Spirit); there are different ministries but the same Lord (The Son); there are different works but the same God (The Father ) who accomplishes all of them in everyone” (1 Cor. 12:4-6).  The best miracle you and I can perform is to share the love we received from God to the others without complaining, or murmuring or counting any cost.   And, let us praise and thank God as the psalmist sings: “Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations” (Ps. 96:3) and to us all.

Question(s) for Reflection:

1.  Are you going to deny or abandon, forsake and desolate your loved one in need because you don’t just want to help?

2.  Are you like a friend who is present when you can get something from your friends, and when you cannot acquire any you leave them desperately?

3.  Are you ready to sacrifice anything because you believe you have too for the sake of your loved ones?

4.  Do you use your gift or talent you received from God for the happiness of your loved ones, friends and neighbors?