Fr Matthew Reese

“When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you’.” —John 2:3-5

Dear Friends,

Surely today’s Gospel lesson (John 2:1-11) is one of the most famous and perplexing scenes in John’s account. Famous because the turning of water into wine is Jesus’ first miracle, at the wedding at Cana in Galilee. Perplexing, because Jesus’ state of mind seems totally opaque—Our Lord is not exactly the definitional wedding guest here…

There are many ways of reading the passage—historically, narratively, allegorically.

We note for instance, that Jesus is turning an enormous amount of water into wine—and good wine at that. These huge vessels contain the water “of the Law,” that is, they are used for the ritual purification required by Deuteronomy and Leviticus. In transforming this water into wine (cf. the last supper) Jesus is demonstrating a continuity of redemption from God’s first Covenant with Israel (through Moses), and the New Covenant that he literally embodies.

But why this curt response to his mother?

This interaction is not as rude as it seems to modern ears. “Woman,” (like “Madam,” or “Sir”) was not an impolite address. The other time Jesus calls his mother this is from the cross, as he nods to the beloved disciple and says, “Woman, behold, your son.”

But “what concern is that to you and to me,” is a Semitic phrase that basically means “mind your own business.” I would’ve been grounded for that line…

Jesus’ reflection, “my hour has not yet come,” which recurs a half-dozen times in the Gospel, instead points us to the cross and resurrection, and the revelation of his Glory. And with no further response, Mary simply says, “do whatever he tells you.”

What does she know?

This puzzling scene demonstrates to us that no human being—not even Mary, the mother of God—can jumpstart the plan of salvation.

Jesus acts in his own good time… at the appointed time. And yet God’s plan requires the participation of humankind. Jesus doesn’t perform his miracle right when Mary asks him to, but in essentially telling the servants, “wait, trust, believe!”, Mary demonstrates that she knows that he will.

Yours in Christ,

—Fr Matthew