Wedding at Cana, Creative Icons By Irina, nd.

Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them,“Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine……  John 2:7-9.

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Jesus’ first miracle, in John’s gospel, is set in Cana, near Nazareth where Jesus grew up. Of all his miracles, this is perhaps the most social, if you like, sparing the happy bride and groom deep embarrassment on their wedding day from running out of wine. And Jesus did not want anything to do with it judging from the somewhat curt response to his mother who asked him to do something to save the situation: “Woman, how does your concern affect me? One also wonders if addressing one’s mother as “woman” was socially acceptable at that time… Or was he upset that this situation did not fit into his picture of himself as Messiah, the Anointed of God, being asked to turn water into wine! And then there is the question of wine itself. I did a little research on viticulture, and if it produced anything like what we call wine today. Well your first question might well be, was it alcoholic? The answer is yes. It is thought that usually it was not especially strong, perhaps 3% proof, way below our usual 14%, but some experts say that there is evidence for much stronger wine, even up to today’s levels of alcohol. Whatever it was, it was still strong enough to get drunk on: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.” as St. Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus (5:18). How old is viticulture? It dates back almost 8000 years! It originated, it is thought, in the country now known as Georgia and spread from there throughout the Mediterranean region. Almost all the experts say that regular wine back then tasted horrible, which would certainly account for the headwaiter to say following the miracle: “you have kept the good wine until now”. Note also that Our Lady ignored her son’s reluctance to save the day: “Do whatever he tells you” she told the servants, clearly knowing he would respond appropriately to his mother’s wish. Mary the Intercessor! And finally, taking the cue from today’s first reading, God blesses rejoicing and happiness in the union of two people for life, even with a little help from an alcoholic beverage (though with about 150 gallons of wine at the event in Cana there can be very little doubt about that).

The second reading also talks about spirits – but this time with a different meaning! Jesus in today’s gospel is clearly still pondering the meaning of being the Messiah, and having the powers of God invested in him. He is clearly able to do anything! Paul, in his first letter to the Christians in Corinth, talks about the talents, the gifts, the abilities the Holy Spirit of God has given to each of us. Obviously, from what has just been said, Jesus is invested with the power of God, and stands supreme as a result. Then each of us is invested with God’s Spirit in some way, manifested in our talents. And everyone is talented in some way or another. It is the sacred job of education to uncover our talents and develop them. Clearly talents have not been distributed evenly – many people are more talented than I am, some less. So be it. Jesus even has a parable of the talents to enlighten us. And no matter how unevenly they might be distributed, from Paul’s letter today it is clear God expects us to recognize them, develop them and serve others with them as God wills. It could be said that it is an insult to God if we do not do that. I recall a young man who was my student when I taught in Washington DC. Teachers can always recognize their most gifted students in the way they respond in class, and some are even more intelligent than their teacher! This fellow was very gifted but idle, refusing to do his work. I last saw him pushing gas on North Capital Street. It was deeply painful to me as it must have been to God. Each one of us has a deep responsibility to recognize and develop those gifts God has been generous enough to give us. They are the strengths with which we will make our way through life responding to God’s call to love God, our neighbor and ourself, even when we might be reluctant, as Jesus himself was in today’s gospel. God calls for acceptance, gratitude and response from each one of us in this life until that day when we hope to hear “Well done good and faithful servant….” 

The Marriage at Cana, Gerard David c.1503, Musée du Louvre, Paris, France.

January 18-25 has been designated a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It recalls that blessed time when all Christians were united under one leadership, all acknowledging the same truths of the Faith and united in belief and peace. We have come a long way since the disgrace of Christians taking up the sword against other Christians in the religious wars which have blackened many years of history. Now we recognize the Christian beliefs of others as worthy of respect even if they differ from our own. So now we pray that the Holy Spirit of God will guide us to a Christian foundation of true partnership and co-operation with the hope of an eventual  type of unity acceptable to all.

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