As we reflected last week-end, the wedding feast at Cana,
which we celebrate today, is the third and final part, along with the visit of
the Magi and the Baptism of the Lord, of what the Eastern churches celebrate as
the Epiphany, the showing forth of Jesus to the world. The changing of the
water into wine, John tells us, is the first sign that Jesus gives that he is
the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Saviour whom God promised through his
prophets of old.
The miracle wrought by Jesus on this occasion, it is made
clear, is a consequence of faith and obedience. By doing what Jesus told them,
the stewards at the wedding feast were rewarded with a new supply of excellent
wine just when they were about to run out, about the worst embarrassment that
could occur at a Jewish wedding feast of Jesus’ time.
It is interesting to note the role of Jesus’ mother in this.
To Jesus she simply says, “They have no wine.” A simple statement of fact;
nothing more. But to the stewards she says, “Do whatever he tells you.” Note
her words: Whatever he tells you.
These words echo down the centuries towards us, as she directs our attention
towards her Son. It is Jesus who is the centre of our faith, and if we wish to
share in the joy of his kingdom for ever, a joy symbolised by the flow of wine,
then we, too, must do whatever he tells us.
Not some or part, or most, but everything; whatever he tells us. Jesus gives us his
all; even to his life, offered up on the cross for our salvation. And he
requires of us to give our all to him. What he wants may be something very
small, or something quite big. We can never give him more than he gives us. But
we can give him whatever he asks of us. Let us heed the
words of his mother today as she fixes our eyes upon him: let each one of us do
whatever he tells us.
Fr. Phillip
