O T II [C] Is 62: 1-5; I Cor 12: 4-11, John 2: 1-11

Little Tommy was so impressed by his oldest sister’s wedding that he announced. “I want to have a wedding just like Linda had.” “That sounds great,” said his father. “But whom will you marry?” Tommy announced: “I want to marry grandma because she loves me and I love her.” “You can’t marry grandma,” his father said. “Why not?” Tommy protested. “Because she is my mother.” ”Well,” reasoned Tommy. “Then why did you marry my mother?”

This week we are at a wedding where Jesus reveals his Divine power by his first miracle. Pope St. John Paul II gave us a beautiful gift when he introduced the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. The second mystery is the subject of today’s Gospel, the Wedding Feast at Cana where Jesus changed water into wine. The miracle at Cana is the first of seven “signs” in John’s Gospel - miraculous events by which Jesus showed forth his Divinity.

The Bible begins with one wedding, that of Adam and Eve in the garden (Genesis 2:23-24), and ends with another, the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9, 21:9, 22:17). Throughout the Bible, marriage is the symbol of the Covenant relationship between God and His chosen people.  God is the Groom and humanity is His beloved bride.  We see this beautifully reflected in today's first reading, where Isaiah uses the metaphor of spousal love to describe God’s love for Israel. God’s fidelity to his people is compared to a husband’s fidelity to his wife. The prophet reminds his people that their God rejoices in them as a Bridegroom rejoices in His Bride and that He will rebuild Israel, if they will be reconciled to Him and repair their strained relationship with Him.     By our Baptism, each of us has been betrothed to Christ as a bride to her Groom (II Cor. 11:2).  And we are called to live a life loyal to the bridegroom.

These jars at the wedding feast were empty. The servants have to fill them with water before the miracle occurs. Jesus is not transforming the purification water that was in the jars into the wine; but he is transforming new water that has been placed in the old containers. "New wine is created in the 'old' vessels of the Jewish purification rites, symbolizing that the old forms are given new content."

 We need to do what the servants did. The servants at Cana experienced God's omnipotence, but they also experienced his closeness. The omnipotence was only unleashed through their cooperation. There would have been no miracle if they had not obeyed him. 

We were created to experience an abundance of life, wisdom, and joy that sin has made impossible; only Jesus can redeem us. To experience that redemption, all we need to do is "Do whatever he tells you."

And he tells us what to do in so many simple ways: in our conscience, in the teaching of the Church, in our normal responsibilities, in the Bible, in his example...

During this Mass, listen for his voice. And when you receive him in Holy Communion, tell him you will do it. Whatever it is.  Promise him.  Don't be afraid.  He is all-powerful.  He will make his glory shine in our lives. We can count on him.