The Wedding of Cana
ONE
The Great Feast of Epiphany celebrates three events that reveal to the world that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the World: the adoration of the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus, and the Wedding at Cana.
The Wedding at Cana John 2:1-11
There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. When they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the wedding was all finished, the mother of Jesus said to him; “They have no wine.” Jesus said “Woman, why turn to me? My hour has not come yet.” His mother said to the servants; “Do whatever he tells you.” There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants; “Fill the jars with water”, and they filled them to the brim. “Draw some out now” he told them “and take it to the steward”. They did this. The steward tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from – only the servants who had drawn the water knew – the steward called the bridegroom and said: “People generally serve the best wine first, and keep the cheaper sort till the guests have had plenty to drink, but you have kept the best wine till now. This was the first of the signs given by Jesus: it was given at Cana in Galilee. He let his glory be seen, and his disciples believed in him.
TWO
If Mary wasn’t there the wine would’ve run out. Because she came and interceded there was a tsunami of wine, 180 gallons, 900 bottles - that is what Mary and the Holy Spirit do - they open us to receive a flood of divine life from Jesus
The Catechism (687) tells us it is the mission of the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to us and dispose us to welcome him in faith.
During the visit of the Magi, Mary revealed the baby Jesus to the Magi; at the Baptism of in the Jordan it was the Holy Spirit who revealed to John that Jesus was the Messiah, and at Cana, it was once again Mary who manifests the identity of Jesus by requesting the miraculous transformation of water into wine.
We have an interweaving of the Mission of the Holy Spirit and Mary because the mission of the Holy Spirit is made visible in Mary.
THREE
On July 28, 1935 Kolbe wrote;
“And what about the Holy Spirit? He is in the Immaculata as the second person of the Holy Trinity, as the Son of God is in Jesus, but of course, with this distinction – in Jesus Christ, one divine person, two natures, the divine and the human, are united. In the Immaculata, her nature and person are distinguished from the nature and person of the Holy Spirit. However, the union between the Holy Spirit and the Immaculata is so inexpressibly perfect that He conducts His activity through her only. Therefore, she is the mediatrix of all graces flowing from the Holy Spirit…In honoring the Immaculata, we honor in a special way the Holy Spirit.”
Fr. Rene Laurentin - Summer of 2003
“What the Holy Spirit does as God, Mary does with Him:
She participates with Him as His visible sign.
Mary is the sensible visible presence of the Holy Spirit.”
FOUR
What we are saying is simple but profound: Mary is the manifestation of the mission of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, if we want to be led by the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our lives, we should develop an intimate relationship with Mary.
We have a perfect example to follow – Jesus. He lived a personal relationship with Mary throughout his life.
Practically, what should we do to live in imitation of Jesus' relationship with Mary? Two things. First cultivate an awareness of her presence. The Holy Spirit is everywhere and Mary is everywhere. Each time you see a picture, statue, medal, or icon, let it remind you that Mary, your Mother, is with you. She never leaves you alone.
Then talk to her. Ask her what she wants you to think, to feel, to say and to do. Do nothing without first speaking to her and giving her time and space to reveal to you what to do.
Practice living a personal relationship, moment to moment, day after day with Mary, talking to her and paying attention to her promptings – just like Jesus and the servants at the Wedding of Cana.
FIVE
We worry because we want control.
Instead of worrying, give yourself entirely to Mary. Consult with her about everything before acting. Do whatever is in your power. Then abandon the rest to her.
Amid all troubles and setbacks St. Maximilian Kolbe faced establishing a Missionary Community in Poland, then Japan and venturing into India, his trust in Mary only grew stronger and stronger. “Do you have many worries?” he writes to his brother, Fr. Alfons; “You know, I now worry less and less and I realize that the Immaculata is really much more involved. May she guide all things.” To the Community in Poland he confesses: “I feel in an ever more tangible way that SHE is directing all things.”