More
and more people are becoming familiar with the Internet and have some
idea of what webpages look like. For example, if you log into your
favorite newspaper you will get headings with a few lines of text
and then a symbol or icon on which to click. This opens up a more
in depth account of what was indicated in the heading.
The story of
the wedding feast at Cana of Galilee could be compared to a web page.
It gives you a simple straightforward story but you could click in
on almost any line of it and write a book on it. Let us click on a
few of these lines.
"There was
a wedding in Cana of Galilee." Cana was a remote village. The
wedding was a simple one but there are two bridegrooms, the one getting
married and Jesus, the long-awaited bridegroom of Israel. Jesus has
come to claim Israel, his bride. Jesus will transform this private
Jewish sign into a great era that will show that the time has come
when God will take his people to himself in a new way. This new era
will surpass the old as wine surpasses water.
The mother of
Jesus was there… When they ran out of wine… the mother of
Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." Mary is quietly
present in the background of her son's ministry. She notices that
the wine is running short and knows that this would be very embarrassing
for the hosts. She presents her concern to Jesus and thus gives us
a model of petitionary prayer similar to what Jesus teaches us later
in the garden, "Father, if it is your will, take this cup from
me; yet not my will but yours be done." Jesus seems to rebuff
Mary yet she has the assurance to say to the servants, "Do whatever
he tells you to do." These are the last recorded words of Mary
and may be seen to be left to us as a final order. If you want to
please me and my son, do what he tells you to do.
There are six
large stone jars of water nearby which the Jews used for their ritual
cleansing. Jesus tells the servants to fill these to the brim, and
after they do they find that they are filled with wine. For the Jews
six was an incomplete number, but when Jesus comes around there is
completion and abundance which surpasses the Jewish law. What a party
they have with 120 gallons of first class wine! When the steward comes
in he compliments the bridegroom for keeping the good wine until last.
He is complimenting the wrong bridegroom.
The theme of
God dwelling in us, making his home in us, is much emphasized in the
Gospel of St John. The story of the wedding feast at Cana is telling
us that that when Jesus dwells in us we will be transformed and have
life in abundance. The indwelling of the Spirit in us is not something
that will happen to us. It has happened to us and it is only for us
to become aware of it and be present to it. This is what we do when
we meditate, when we be with the ground of our being dwelling within
us.
