John the Beloved ~ The Wedding at Cana

What is his Message? 

 

The Wedding at Cana

 On the third day, there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”  This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

 – John: 2

 

Scholars agree that the Gospel of John was the last of the four to be written. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are synoptic gospels, meaning that they are “seen with one eye.” They have a common view. As it was explained to me, “Matthew, Mark, and Luke told the story. John explained it.” 

In John: 2, Saint John tells us the story of the Wedding at Cana. In his narrative, he wrote, “Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples.” He does not tell us who, of the twelve apostles were with Jesus but it is fair to conclude, from his description of the event, that he was there. Also, the wedding was not mentioned in the synoptic gospels but Saint John believed it was an important occasion. This short story had much to teach us or it would not have been included.

 

Importance?

Saint John tells us that the turning of water to wine was Jesus’ first miracle (sign). There is much symbolism in this. The jars were “filled to the brim.” Of course, they were! When we give our lives to Jesus, He fills us with His love. He will take an empty life and it will overflow with Grace. Water to fine wine.

So, perhaps, Saint John is telling us how much we have to gain by giving ourselves to Our Precious Lord. Reflecting upon this passage, one will find more symbolism; rich, beautiful symbolism.

 

Her Last Words in Scripture

John’s Guidance: Listen to Mary

In Scripture, the last words spoken by Our Lady are in this passage:

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

Saint John Paul II beautifully clarified this seemingly simple sentence when in a homily, he said, “The words Mary addresses to the servants come to crown the wedding of Cana: “Do whatever he tells you” (v. 5). It is curious: these are her last words recounted by the Gospels: they are the legacy that she hands down to us. Today too Our Lady says to us all: “Whatever he tells you — Jesus tells you, do it”.

The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved

Saint John referred to himself as “The disciple whom Jesus loved.” Theologians may disagree on who was Jesus’ favorite, or if He loved one apostle more than another. One thing we know is that John was the disciple He chose to care for His mother and the years John spent with Our Lady had to have been reflective and enlightening. It was John the Beloved who, more than the others, had an understanding of Jesus as Son of Mary, and, with this understanding, he gave us the beauty of his sensitive, symbolic Gospel.

“In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

 – 1 John 4:10

Also, see THIS.

This article is thanks to Marilyn Nash for the Holy Apostles

Our Lady of the Apostles, pray for us.

 

 ad Jesum per Mariam

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