John 2:1-13
Second Sunday in Ordinary time
by Melanie Patterson
There was a wedding at Cana of Galilee…
This wedding feast and the miracle of water transformed into wine, is only mentioned in the fourth Gospel. It occurs in the first week of Jesus ministry: Jesus is baptised and recognised by John, the following day he begins to gather disciples and very shortly after decides to travel to Galilee with his disciples. In Galilee he attends the wedding with both his mother and his disciples. It is quite interesting that Jesus’s mother is there and she points out that they are out of wine. I get the impression that Jesus does the miracle somewhat reluctantly, because of his mother. Haven’t we all been there in one way or another – mother getting us to do something we’re not really wanting to do! But it has to be said that once started, Jesus completes the task very generously!
Jesus has the servants fill up the large water jars which are used to hold the water for purification rites, and the water is transformed into wine. Water intended for purification becomes the wine of celebration. And the wine is ‘good’ wine. It has been suggested that the water only seemed to be wine, or even that it was grape juice. I don’t think that matters much, either way. In John’s gospel, the symbolism is always important. This story is joyful and celebratory, but there is a connection with the death of Jesus.
The mother of Jesus appears only twice in this Gospel, here and in Chapter 19 standing near the cross of Jesus. There are several links. On both occasions Jesus addresses her as ‘woman’ and on both occasions wine or wine vinegar is mentioned. And the blood of Jesus is shed to give life to the world.
I read this passage as having eucharistic symbolism, similar to John 6, the multiplication of the loaves and fish. In both cases there is a lack, a need for food and drink, and in both cases it is fulfilled over abundantly. And in giving food and drink Jesus is giving life in this world and in the world to come. Hidden in the water transformed into wine is the life of God and the joy of God, which is offered to us.
Questions to ponder
- What strikes you about this reading? What resonates?
- What do you question? Does this passage have any personal meaning for you?
- A wedding is a celebration of life. Do you find it easy to imagine Jesus eating and drinking, enjoying the party?
- What about the celebration of sex and new life, which is surely implicit in every wedding, can we imagine Jesus taking part?
- How important is celebration? For the Church? For us personally?
- The Church today in our country seems to be lacking many things. Do we think that God will give new life to the churches, or maybe God is giving God’s gifts here, there and everywhere, in the churches and outside of them. What do you think?