At the Wedding of Cana: Mary's faith
In the episode of the wedding at Cana, St John presents Mary’s first intervention in the public life of Jesus and highlights her co-operation in her Son’s mission.
At the beginning of the account the Evangelist tells us that “the mother of Jesus was there” (Jn 2:1), and, as if to suggest that her presence was the reason for the couple's invitation to Jesus and his disciples, he adds “Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples” (Jn 2:2).
With these remarks, John seems to indicate that at Cana, as in the fundamental event of the Incarnation, it is Mary who introduces the Savior.
The meaning and role of the Blessed Virgin’s presence become evident when the wine runs out. As a skilled and wise housewife, she immediately notices and intervenes so that no one’s joy is marred and, above all, to help the newly married couple in difficulty.
Turning to Jesus with the words: “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3), Mary expresses her concern to him about this situation, expecting him to solve it. More precisely, according to some exegetes, his Mother is expecting an extraordinary sign, since Jesus had no wine at his disposal.
The choice made by Mary, who could perhaps have obtained the necessary wine elsewhere, shows the courage of her faith, since until that moment Jesus had worked no miracles, either in Nazareth or in his public life. At Cana, the Blessed Virgin once again showed her total availability to God.
At the Annunciation she had contributed to the miracle of the virginal conception by believing in Jesus before seeing him. Here, her trust in Jesus' as yet unrevealed power causes him to perform his “first sign,” the miraculous transformation of water into wine.
In that way she precedes in faith the disciples who, as John says, would believe after the miracle: Jesus “manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him” (Jn 2:11). Thus, Mary strengthened their faith by obtaining this miraculous sign.
At the beginning of the account the Evangelist tells us that “the mother of Jesus was there” (Jn 2:1), and, as if to suggest that her presence was the reason for the couple's invitation to Jesus and his disciples, he adds “Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples” (Jn 2:2).
With these remarks, John seems to indicate that at Cana, as in the fundamental event of the Incarnation, it is Mary who introduces the Savior.
The meaning and role of the Blessed Virgin’s presence become evident when the wine runs out. As a skilled and wise housewife, she immediately notices and intervenes so that no one’s joy is marred and, above all, to help the newly married couple in difficulty.
Turning to Jesus with the words: “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3), Mary expresses her concern to him about this situation, expecting him to solve it. More precisely, according to some exegetes, his Mother is expecting an extraordinary sign, since Jesus had no wine at his disposal.
The choice made by Mary, who could perhaps have obtained the necessary wine elsewhere, shows the courage of her faith, since until that moment Jesus had worked no miracles, either in Nazareth or in his public life. At Cana, the Blessed Virgin once again showed her total availability to God.
At the Annunciation she had contributed to the miracle of the virginal conception by believing in Jesus before seeing him. Here, her trust in Jesus' as yet unrevealed power causes him to perform his “first sign,” the miraculous transformation of water into wine.
In that way she precedes in faith the disciples who, as John says, would believe after the miracle: Jesus “manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him” (Jn 2:11). Thus, Mary strengthened their faith by obtaining this miraculous sign.
by Pope John Paul II
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