Posts Tagged ‘Jews’
Wine, please
Image by Fergal of Claddagh via Flickr
“2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ 4 And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ 5 His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ 6 Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there for a few days.”
~ John 2:1-12
This is the Gospel for today in the Episcopal lectionary – the Assumption of Mary to Heaven Feast Day in the Roman Catholic. There are several things I love about this passage:
- Mary is the ultimate Jewish mother. I write this with complete respect, having grown up in a community which was half Jewish. Mary exhibits confidence and faith not only in her Son but in the God who entrusted Him to her (if you saw the video from yesterday, you will note my use of upper case
. - Although Jesus objects, He obeys his Mother, thus keeping the commandment “Honor they father and mother.”
- The last verse in this passage shows his mother, brothers and disciples going off with Jesus together; looks like an extended family to me. The following verses move on; in my mind’s eye, I see this family having a picnic among themselves, before the throngs know of Jesus, following Him to the mountains and miracles.
- Although this is the first miracle recorded for us, the execution is almost off-handed – easily done for the greater good of the wedding party – and makes me wonder what else has occurred miracle-wise in Jesus’s life before His formal ministry.
- This first miracle, though His time is not yet come, takes place in everyday celebration without calling attention to Himself or to God but as a help to those He cares for – those in the wedding and most particularly, His Mother. No one knows except the servants (who don’t say anything) about how this wonderful wine came toward the end of the feast.
Related articles
- The Wedding In Cana – Jesus’ First Miracle (brakeman1.wordpress.com)
- Lessons From The First Miracle (ysammychoi.wordpress.com)
