The Wedding at Cana (Jn. 2:1-12)

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 [And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. 9 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 10 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.” 11 Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him. 12 After this, he and his mother, [his] brothers, and his disciples went down to Capernaum and stayed there only a few days. 

Jesus performed two signs in Cana of Galilee.  The first was at the wedding feast (Jn. 2:1-12) and the second was when he cured the royal official’s son (Jn. 4:46-54).  In John, Jesus’ public ministry began in Cana where “he revealed his glory and his disciples began to believe in him (v. 11).”  The wedding took place during the Jewish feast of Pentecost which, for the Jews, originally marked the end of the harvest.  It was called originally the feast of Weeks.  Later, it became a celebration of the covenant and the giving of the Torah.  There is the biblical backdrop of a messianic wedding feast and an abundance of fine wine (Is. 25:6).  

There are several interpretations of “On the third day (v. 1) one of which is the third day after John the Baptist gave witness about Jesus (Jn 1:35-42), but it could also be a reference to the day God gave Moses the 10 Commandments (Ex. 19:16) which would tie in with Pentecost.  There may also be a relationship between the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2 and this passage. Jesus had just chosen the disciples and their faith was weak. Throughout his ministry, Jesus pointed out that faith based on signs alone was not deep faith.  

Wedding feasts were large social events and it would have been a breach of hospitality and shameful for the groom to run out of wine at his wedding feast. Wine was a significant element of a Jewish wedding celebration.  Jesus’ mother made him aware of the situation and the decision as to what to do about it was left to Jesus. There is no clear explanation of his reply although his response, “My hour has not yet come,” appears to be a reference to his crucifixion and glorification.  Mary’s response “Do whatever he tells you,” is reminiscent of the Israelites' response to Moses, “Everything the Lord has said, we will do (Ex. 19:8).” Jesus commanded the servants to fill the large stone water jars used for Jewish purification rituals and take some to the head waiter.   The head waiter was unaware of the miracle that Jesus had performed and complimented the bridegroom on the superior quality of the wine.  

The messianic age had arrived and Jesus performed this miracle to reveal his glory and to deepen the faith of his disciples.  The servants, the disciples, and Mary could attest to the miracle.  The true groom at that messianic banquet was Jesus ‘inaugurating’ his bride the church (Mk. 3:29-30).   Jesus’ family and the disciples went with him to Capernaum.

Almighty God, your plan of salvation began the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed you and reached its fulfillment in the death and resurrection of Jesus.  We rely on your mercy to lead us out of our darkness into the light of redemption.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.

                Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.