A small boy was asked by a relative if he attended Sunday school. When he said he did, he was asked, "What are you learning?"
He replied, "last week, our lesson was about when Jesus went to a wedding and made water into wine."
"And what did you learn from that story?" the relative inquired.
After thinking for a moment, the boy answered, "If you're having a wedding, make sure Jesus is there!"
That is pretty profound advice. It is a good thing to have Jesus not only at our wedding ceremonies, but everywhere that is significant in our lives.
The gospel today about how the wine ran out at the wedding in Cana and how Mary asks Jesus to do something about it, ends with these words: 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.
The gospel of John speaks often about signs and about faith. Signs point to something else, they testify to a truth that is greater than themselves and it is that greater thing we are meant to grasp; not just the sign itself. Which prepares us for our reflection today on this spectacular miracle. It might be easy for us to simply ponder the historical happenings of this first miracle of the Lord’s public ministry. We could remain on the surface and meditate on what this sign meant for the people who observed it, for Mary and the Apostles, and of course, the married couple themselves. But today I want to make sure we understand what the sign points to. And that it be applied to our own lives in a personal way that makes it possible for Christ to change water into wine within our own hearts and homes.
In the ancient world, a wedding was a big deal. Since there were no cars, trains, or airplanes, people would arrive at the celebration and continue the party for a week or more. It was crucial that all the guests feel welcome and comfortable throughout the whole celebration. That meant keeping them full of food and drink for a week. This couple tried hard to do this, but they failed by running out of wine. This would have been incredibly embarrassing and there wasn’t much they could do about it. There was no Dirt Cheap or quiktrips to make an emergency run. So, did Jesus perform this miracle just to save the couple great embarrassment? Or as the ultimate party trick? Or to get his mother off his back?
Of course not! First, Jesus' turning water into wine is a sample of all he came to do. Jesus takes something ordinary and shows us that it has the possibility to become something superb. Anything which is tired, worn out, devoid of joy, empty, or lacking purpose - can be transformed. It can be turned into something rich, fragrant, and ripe with the fullness of joy through his presence, through his care.
There is a lot of truth in that for all of us. Jesus can bring new life. He can fill the emptiness in our lives; he can take whatever it is that we bring to him, no matter how much much or how little, and completely remake it; giving it a taste beyond the best that we are capable of providing.
Secondly, the Gospel story emphasizes the extravagance of Jesus' providing wine. The wedding guests went from having no wine at all to having enough to open a liquor store... or host a parish picnic! One of the signs of the Messiah was abundance - one in which the wine of joy - the cup of salvation - would always be full and overflowing. This miracle is a sign, for those who have eyes to see, of Jesus' Messiahship. He is the long-awaited deliverer of Israel. He is the one who will purify Israel and all people. He provides more than is needed.
Third, the miracle takes place at a wedding feast. Marriage has long been a symbol of the relationship between God and his people. We notice that in the first reading from Isaiah, where the prophet tells us that at the time of Israel's restoration and vindication, God will take delight in them and their land will be married. As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. The fact that the first sign that Jesus did - was at a wedding would not be lost on people. It was their belief that at the time of salvation that God would provide a table for feasting for his servants and a cup that would never run dry.
Fourth, in his first sign, Jesus also stresses the place of his mother, Mary, in the work of redemption. It is Mary who triggers Jesus' first act of public ministry by saying to him: "They have no wine." It was a simple request showing that she trusted that her son would immediately respond and help. Jesus' response to her seemed somewhat rude. He said, "Woman, what is that to me and you; my hour has not yet come."
The only other place where Jesus calls his mother "woman" is at his passion as she stood beneath the cross. Then he handed her over to the care of John and made her the mother of us all. Our original mother was the "woman" Eve. But Eve handed down to us original sin and death. In calling his mother "Woman," Jesus is saying, "You are the new Eve. As it was promised that her seed would crush the head of the serpent - so through you I have come to do what was promised: to overwhelm sin and death with righteousness and life."
Finally, the miracle at Cana is a preview of the last Supper, the hour when Jesus transforms, not water into wine but wine into blood, his blood poured out for all humanity. By telling Mary "my hour has not yet come" Jesus links what she is asking him to do with his sacrifice on the cross. The best wine is saved for the last, the wine of salvation, a salvation won for us completely by Christ Jesus when he gave up his life for us. A salvation that is not just for one day or one week, but forever.
Mary tells the servants in today's reading to "Do whatever Jesus tells you." That is what faith is all about, responding to the words of Jesus, believing that his word will be fulfilled, trusting that as he transformed the water into wine, so he will transform us and lead us into the kingdom where the best is not only saved for the last, but where the best lasts forever.
As we receive Communion today, may we open our hearts again to God's gifts of grace. The best is yet to come! Let us never be afraid to ask the Lord for what we need and then to do whatever he tells us. The glory of God is at hand. Blessed be the name of God, now and forever. Amen.
