Pastor’s Corner 19.02.2025 - The First Miracle of Jesus
According to the Gospel of John, soon after His baptism when Jesus was declared by John the Baptist to be the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), Jesus chose His first disciples. His first miracle follows directly after. John recorded that Jesus and His disciples had been invited to a wedding in a little town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was present, likely because she knew one of the wedding families.
According to the Gospels, Jesus performed 37 miracles before his crucifixion. Seven of them are in John’s Gospel, but he doesn’t call them miracles. He calls them ‘signs,’ because they all point to something profound about God and our relationship with him.
Today, John gives us the story of Jesus’ first recorded miracle, at the Wedding at Cana. It’s sometime around the year 30AD.
In a time of much hardship and poverty, everyone in town looked forward to a wedding as one of the relieving joys of life. The wedding took place in the evening after a feast. By that time it would be dark and, with a canopy over their heads, the newly-married couple would be conducted through the village streets in the light of torches to their new home. They were taken by the longest route, to be seen and wished well by as many people as possible.
On a deeper level, Judaism saw in the joy of the wedding feast a figure of the Messianic age. Wine was, then as now, a bond of friendship when used in moderation to rejoice the heart of people. To run out of wine at a wedding was more of a humiliation for the couple than it would be today. For one thing, hospitality in the East was a sacred duty; for another, ‘running out of wine would show poor planning, or “— worse — the couple’s lack of prosperity, which would mean the absence of God’s blessing. In those days, such celebrations typically lasted for seven days, however this time the wine is running out. It’s a grave embarrassment for the hosts and an insult to the guests. So Mary decides to do something about it. Her motherly concern is awakened. Remember, no one went to her for help. She sensed the need and knew her son Jesus would do something to address the problem, at her request. Her deep trust in Jesus literally forces Jesus to perform His first miracle. This miracle is proof of motherly concern of Mother Mary and her intercessory power.
On a very deep level, we can apply today’s lessons to the wedding party that is our life because Jesus cared about people and wanted them to enjoy themselves and be happy: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (Jn 15:11).
Therefore, we are called today to emulate the examples of Christ and Mary. They used their gifts for the growth and edification of the people of God. Also, we must constantly ask our lady for intercession as those at the wedding did. Most importantly, we must be ready to take her advice: “Do whatever He tells you to do!”