Jn 2:1-11 Being In Cana(Click here for readings)
There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there…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.”
This gospel passage has new meaning for me now that I have been to Cana in Galilee. I had the opportunity to see for myself a stone jar. The stone jars that the Lord uses to convert the water into wine are extremely heavy and enormous. They cannot be easily moved. The Jews considered stone purer than pottery; therefore, they were used for important sacred rituals such as Jewish ceremonial washings. That our Lord would use these jars makes perfect sense. That he would use them for a wedding at Cana makes even more sense.
Marriage is a natural institution. It is as natural to man as water is to the earth. It is a universal institution that has been respected at all times and everywhere. Marriage, like water, must be respected, protected and never to be taken for granted. It is a far too important institution that cannot be wasted or polluted.
The Lord and his disciples are invited to a wedding ceremony. We should not take this invitation lightly or superficially. If the Lord presents himself to a wedding then it is for a reason. Marriage is important. He takes water and turns it into wine. As I said above, marriage is a natural institution. Now, the Lord takes this very natural institution (like water) and converts it into a sacred institution (like wine). He purifies marriage by filtering it. He tells his disciples that under no circumstances can a man divorce his wife. It appears as though marriage, over the years, has been getting altered, polluted and misused by man. Sound familiar? Don’t we do that too? Don’t we take what is holy, sacred, and good and throw it to the dogs? When we do, we call it “tolerance”.
Today, marriage is under attack with the same ferociousness as the attack on the elderly, the unborn and the family. The liberal media uses the sacred institution of marriage as a sort of platform in attacking presidential candidates as un-American, un-Christian and out of touch with society. Out of touch with modern society? Hah! This term really means absolutely nothing. It is so relative. In reality, the day we really become modern will be the day we are born with three eyes, three ears, three arms and three legs! The day we become “modern” will be the day we are no longer human! And if it means anything, it means we have become monsters!
The Lord visits his friends, his neighbors, his enemies and his people in their most intimate moments. He visits us in our sacred institutions, in our families and in our Church. Let us not throw out this admirable, honorable, and holy guest. Let us keep the Lord in our lives now and forever, for the Lord takes delight in his people! Amen.
