Wedding at Cana

A wedding is a sign of a new beginning.  A new beginning of lives joined together – two becoming one.  It is a new beginning of people living in hope of a bright future.  Leaving behind their old lives for a new life together - a beginning of a new and everlasting pledge of love, faith and devotion to one another – bridegroom and bride - that shall remain unbroken.

At the Wedding at Cana we have a new beginning, a joining together of two to become one.  We have the beginning of a new relationship that leaves behind their former lives to begin a new life – joined together, - the beginning of a new and everlasting pledge of love, faith and devotion – a covenant of bridegroom and bride – that shall remain unbroken. 

The focus is not the wedding of the bridegroom and his bride, but on Jesus, the Bridegroom joining with his bride, the Church.  Here is the very beginning, - the joining together, - a wedding - of Jesus with the people of God - that takes place during this celebration at Cana.  It is the beginning of a new relationship between Jesus and His bride – leaving behind their old lives - and together - forming a new life – filled with hope, love and devotion – that shall remain unbroken forever and ever.

Jesus’ first miracle, - the changing of water into wine begins with Mary, his mother.  She, in love and concern, recognizes a problem – and says to Jesus, “They have no wine”.  His answer though is unexpected – “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.”  A little cold and harsh, don’t you think?  But Mary, who has kept all things in her heart, tells the servers “Do whatever he tells you.”

Weddings are about relationship – new relationships forming, old relationships changing – as bridegroom and bride discovering their new lives together.  Here we have the relationship of Jesus with his Father increasing in emphasis. It is the very beginning of His Hour – His Hour that comes to fulfillment on the cross.  It is a relationship increasing as the Divine is now emphasized in Jesus. 

The relationship of Jesus with his mother and brothers is now diminishing.  As Jesus grows in his Divinity, - his relationship with his bride, the Church, increases.  In his new life with his bride - his relationship with his mother and brothers is de-emphazied.  To show this change, in another story, Jesus is told his mother and brothers are waiting outside for him, and he replies, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”  Jesus shows his new - increasing relationship with his new family.

Mary shows her unconditional love and trust in Jesus.  As his first disciple, she understands and accepts this change in Jesus and believes.  She asks the servers to also trust in Jesus - and accept his word when she tells them to, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Jesus’ word to them is to “fill the jars” which they do in silent obedience.  Jesus then tells the servers to “draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.”  All that happens - comes through the word of Jesus.

The word of Jesus – brings about a transformation – a miracle - the changing of water into wine.  In their silent witness, the servers who knew the jars were filled with water, see and come to trust in his word and his disciples come to believe too, as they witness the power of Jesus’ word. 

Jesus is the Word of God made flesh.  He is the bridegroom to his bride, the people of God, the Church.  The new covenant of God with his people is through Jesus, the Word.  In our new beginning, - through our baptism, - in our relationship with Jesus - we witness the power of the God.  In faith, we trust in His Word, - we come to believe and are joined with Him, as bride is with bridegroom -  to form a new and everlasting 

covenant – a life that shall remain forever and ever.

Peace,

Deacon Don Ron