19 January 2012: The first miracle at Cana

“On the third day” after Nathanael’s interview, “there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the Mother of Jesus was there. Also invited were Jesus and his disciples.” (cf Jn 2:1-2)
Why did Jesus honor this humble marriage with his presence?
First, to fulfil a duty of friendship and regard towards his Mother’s family. The bridegroom was Simon the Canaanite, son of Cleopas, St Joseph’s brother, who became one of the twelve Apostles.
Second, to show his esteem for virtue in a modest life.
Third, to promote honor and respect for the marriage contract, ordained by God since Creation, and soon to be raised to the dignity of a Sacrament.
“And the wine running out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine’.” (Jn 2:3) Two points emerge --
Our Lady’s hospitality and confidence in addressing her Divine Son. Sensing that the usual beverage for guests was exhausted, and would be embarassing, she made the casual remark.
It was not a request, but a mere statement of need. Although he sounded indifferent by his reply, “Woman, what is it to me and to you? My hour has not yet come” (Jn 2:4), still she told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5).
Our Lady shows compassion in even the most trifling matters and also her influence with God, who wills to grant all things through her intercession. Our great confidence in her is because she can avail of her Divine Son’s infinite power.
Mary’s expectation was rewarded. Jesus, for her sake, worked his first miracle in public, changing into wine the water with which he had caused six stone jars (each 20-30 gallons capacity), to be “filled up to the brim” (Jn 2:7). “Thus did he manifest his glory” [or divinity], “and his disciples believed in him.” (Jn 2:11)
The miracle at Cana, Jesus repeats daily in a more wonderful manner. By the ministry of his priests, he changes wine into his Blood, and gives it for us to drink, with the promise that whoever drinks it shall never die.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp356-8

Love triangle
The bride, the groom, and Jesus -- the perfect love triangle. The presence of Jesus in both husband and wife is crucial.
Jesus is compassion incarnate and this leads him to compassionate ‘action’, to compassionate ‘justice’. A married couple who learn to live by mutual compassion will be just and fair to each other -- ‘their way of life’.
Trouble in marriage can be prevented if the couple invite Jesus. But they must first fill ‘to the brim their empty jars’. Jesus will perform a miracle only if they cooperate.
Ref: Fr Ruben M Tanseco, SJ, “God’s Word Today”, “The Philippine Star”, 14 Jan 2001

Our Lady at Cana and at Calvary
Mary is a mother who is more attentive to all our needs than any mother on earth ever has been or ever will. The miracle at Cana takes place because Our Lady interceded by her plea. If she “acted thus without being asked, how would it have been if they ‘had’ asked?” (St Alphonsus Liguori, “Abbreviated Sermons”, 48: “On Trust in the Mother of God”)
Saint John calls Our Lady ‘Mother of God’ twice: at Cana and on Calvary -- the start and end of Jesus’ public life. She was present in all of Our Lord’s work; and highlights her concern for all men.
At Cana she intercedes when the time seemed inopportune. “On Calvary she offers the redeeming death of her Son, and accepts the mission that Jesus confers on her of being the Mother of all believers.” (Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 58)
Our lives, like the water, were flat without the ferment of purpose until Jesus entered our lives. He transforms our work, sorrows and joys.
All he asks is to do our duties ‘to the brim’ -- finishing them off well so that he can work a miracle. If all of us were to do our work with human perfection and a Christian spirit, our world would drastically be much better.
“At Cana is shown only one concrete aspect of human need, apparently trivial ... but has symbolic value: this coming to the aid of human needs, means bringing those needs within the radius of Christ’s Messianic mission and salvific power. Thus there is a mediation.
“Mary places herself between her Son and mankind in their wants, needs and sufferings. ... as mother, she puts herself ‘in the middle’, acts as a mediatrix not as an outsider. She knows in this way she can point to her Son the needs of mankind, and in fact, she ‘has the right’ to do so.” (cf John Paul II, “Redemptoris Mater”, 25 March 1987, 20)
At the foot of the Cross very close to Jesus are his Mother and John, the youngest of the Apostles. Jesus, after giving himself in the Last Supper, now gives us what he loves most on earth, the most precious thing that still remains to him -- Mary -- to be our Mother.
“Thus, the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully persevered unto the cross, enduring with her only-begotten Son the intensity of his suffering, associating herself with his sacrifice in her mother’s heart, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this victim born of her. Finally, she was given, by the same Christ Jesus, dying on the Cross, as a mother to his disciple.” (cf Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 58)
“Do whatever he tells you” are Our Lady’s last words in the Gospel. Could there be a more valuable advice?
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:53-7; 2:285-6

• Personality -- “A great sign appeared in Heaven: a woman adorned with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars about her head.” From this, you and I and everyone may be sure that nothing perfects our personality so much as correspondence with grace.
“Try to imitate the Virgin Mary and you will be a complete man or woman.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 443)

• Interior Life -- “Without Our Mother’s aid, how can we manage to keep up our daily struggle? Do you seek it constantly?” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 692)

• Our Lady of Gimont, near Toulouse. This church of Citeaux is much celebrated in the country for its miracles. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar); (Triple Couronne, n 34)
• Our Lady of Gimont (near Toulouse). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of Gimout, Citeaux, France. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• “Notre Dame de Gimont”. Citeaux, near Toulouse, France. Cistercian monastery. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Quarry (Italy, 1518). (http://mariedenazareth.com)