Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s gospel reading is from the gospel of John. We know that John does not have an infancy narrative or the genealogy of Jesus. Luke and Matthew have these. But that does not mean that John is not interested in the origins of Jesus. Rather, instead of beginning with the earthly beginning of, John begins his story with the eternal existence of Jesus – “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God” (Jn 1:1). John’s Christmas is described in the simple words, “The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us” (Jn 1:14).
Since John does not have an infancy narrative, he does not have the traditional story of the epiphany with the magi either. The miracle at Cana in today’s gospel is John’s epiphany story. That is why this gospel account ends with the words, “Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him” (Jn 2:11).
What shall we make of John’s story? I am choosing to focus on the characters in the story to find inspiration. First, there is the mother of Jesus, then there are the servants, and then there are the disciples.
The Mother of Jesus
It was the mother of Jesus that initiated this miracle. However, she is rebuked by Jesus saying, “Woman, how does your concern affect me?” (Jn 2:4) No matter how hard we try to soften this rebuke and explain it away, it is nothing short of a rebuke. Mary’s reaction in face of the rebuke is the real message of the story. With unconditional trust in her son, she tells the servant, “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5).
Mary’s response is John’s way of showing his readers the correct response to God’s presence. As an aside, let me say that this is also the case in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. In Luke, especially, Mary says, ‘May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). Mary is saying something similar at Cana. By saying to the servants “Do whatever he tells you,” Mary is saying that the correct response to the presence of Jesus is total trust in him.
The Servers
The servers too show extraordinary trust and obedience. They listened to Mary and they were ready to follow Jesus’ instructions. Jesus tells them to fill the jars with water, and the servers filled them up to the brim. Jesus asked them to draw from the jars and take it the steward of the wedding feast. Again, the servers did “whatever” Jesus tells them. Jesus’s command is followed to perfection. Neither the headwaiter not the bridegroom had a clue where this excellent wine came from, but the servers do. The miracle is the result of the servants following to perfection the words of Mary and then the words of Jesus. Once again, John is telling his readers the correct response to God’s presence.
The Disciples
The disciples do not play a part in the miracle. They are observers. Yet, their role is crucial. The words with which this miracle ends tells us the real purpose of the story: “Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him” (Jn 2:11).
On one level, the miracle helped out a newly married couple in trouble. However, they are only external to the story. It is really about the disciples. The miracle should have taught them something. What is it that they should learn? They should learn to have confidence and unconditional trust in him like his mother did. They should learn that the correct response in the presence of Jesus is to “do whatever he tells”. They should learn that unquestioned obedience to Jesus will be crucial to their discipleship. They should learn that Jesus’ command is to be followed to perfection and if they do so, a hopeless world can be redeemed just as that wedding was saved from embarrassment.
But the gospel of John is also written for us. John is showing us the correct response to the life, ministry, and message of Jesus Christ. Jesus asks us to love even our enemies, and we are to "do whatever he tells" us. Jesus asks us to be poor in spirit, be meek, be merciful, be peacemakers, be clean of heart, to hunger and thirst for righteousness and we are to "do whatever he tells" us. If we do whatever Jesus tells us, then every person will be treated with dignity, every war can end, no person will be hungry, and our earth will be like heaven. John is showing that if humanity does whatever he tells us, the end result is salvation.
At every Eucharist it is not just water that is turned to wine, but bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. As we receive Christ, may we trust Jesus like his mother did. Let us be obedient like the servers were. Let us do whatever he tells us.
- Fr. Satish Joseph