Gospel – John 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,
and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran short,
the mother of Jesus said to him,
“They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her,
“Woman, how does your concern affect me?
My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servers,
“Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,
each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told the 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,
without knowing where it came from
— although the servers who had drawn the water knew —,
the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,
“Everyone serves good wine first,
and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
but you have kept the good wine until now.”
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.

Reflection on the Gospel

Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
Jesus’ life was definitely a life on the move. Right from the very beginning of his ministry, it is clear that Jesus and his disciples will be moving around Palestine with a great deal of frequency. This continues in the Gospel accounts all the way to Pentecost when he instructs the disciples to go back to Galilee to preach, teach, heal, and save.

The distance from Capernaum to Cana was about 26km or 16 miles. This was a good distance for Jesus and the disciples to travel for a weekend wedding celebration. When you visit the Holy Land, it doesn’t take long to notice the unforgiving nature of the terrain you have to travel. Lots of hills, lots of rocks, the unrelenting sun, little to no water, food, or shelter. In the ancient world, most people die within three miles of where they were born. The reason was obvious: not only was it uncomfortable but in many ways you risked your life when you changed addresses!

Yet for Jesus and the disciples their calling demands movement and hence moving from one uncomfortable place to another to ensure that the Father’s will gets executed. Even in this passage when Jesus wants to relax and just enjoy the party, his mother calls on him to help the host to avoid a very embarrassing situation. Who doesn’t plan ahead enough for their guests to have enough to drink at a wedding?

The whole idea of seeing our lives as itinerant is something worth being with in prayer on hearing this Gospel today. At many times in our lives, we would much rather hunker down and stay where we are, not just physically, but also psychologically and spiritually. We all need that firm yet fair mother in our lives who says to us “I know you are having a good time here, but for the sake of the others, and yourself, it is time to move.”

Let’s then take the opportunity to pray in a special way for this Grace this Sunday. Lord, create in me a heart that lets me be led by the spirit. Let me see my life as a journey to always explore and experience new people, new ways to grow, and new ways to serve you. Let me not be stricken with complacency, doubt, fear, and cynicism which all stifle the spirit. Bring me to the freedom that requires me to move beyond my borders. Amen!

Brother Michael Andrejko, FSC
Director of Contacts – District of Eastern North America

Saint John Baptist de La Salle – Pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts – Forever.