READINGS: Isa 62:1-5; Psalm 96:1-3,7-10; 1 Cor 12:4-11; John 2:1-11
THEME: THE NEW WINE OF CHRIST IS HERE!
- “THEY DO NOT HAVE WINE”
The mother of Jesus, Jesus and his disciples were all together in a wedding feast. They were invited guests. In the course of the celebration, wine finished. Ordinarily, that wine gave out had nothing to do with Jesus and Mary. As a matter of fact, Jesus expressed it when he said to Mary, “what concern is that to you and to me?” (Jn 2:4).
Outside being a guest who had no business with what finishes and what remains, Mary was able to discover when their wine finished. But not only that Mary was sensitive to the need of the people, she also sought for solution without being asked or begged for it.
The statement “they do not have wine” is not just an information. It is not just asituation report, rather, it is a report that calls for action. In this kind of situation, the giver of the information expects the receiver to do something in order to help the situation.
Hence, Mary telling Jesus “they do not have wine”, she was expecting Jesus to do something to save the situation. We have similar situation in John 11:3 when Mary and Martha sent for Jesus regarding the sickness of Lazarus and they said to him “Lord, the one whom you love is sick”.
The two sisters were not just giving Jesus a situation report just for him to be aware. Rather, in informing him about the situation of their brother, they expected him to come and heal him.
This is why when Jesus delayed in going, and Lazarus died from the sickness, the two sisters, each on different occasions, said to Jesus, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (Cf Jn 11:21,32).
Jesus understood that Mary was indirectly telling him “do something about it…give them wine” and he reacted “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me”.
- “WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU, DO”
A mother knows her child. Mary knows Jesus and knows that Jesus will never hear a request from her and not do it. Even though Jesus cautioned her (cf Jn 2:4) and even explained to her that his hour has not come (Jn 2:4b), Mary still went to the servants and said to them “whatever he tells you, do.” “whatever” in this statement can be translated as “anything at all”.
Mary knew that on the part of Jesus, there is no question of whether he would carry out her request or not, but that the problem is whether the servants would do their own part. For some miracles to happen, the servants must do everything Jesus requests.
By Mary telling the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them, she already prepared them how to live in order to get Jesus help them in their situation. Mary not only attracts Jesus to our problems and difficulties, but she also gets us prepared that we do not become obstacle to the work of God in our lives. Mary commands us, the servants, to do anything at all Jesus tells us. She does not expect half measure from us but that we adhere totally to every word that comes from Jesus.
In the entire gospel according to John, and of course, in the entire gospel, this is the only place Mary addressed us, the servants, and this is the only request she made and makes of us: “Do whatever he tells us.” In keeping to these words of a mother to us, lies our own salvation. Are you doing everything Jesus has said?
- THE BEST WINE SHOULD HAVE COME FIRST
The obedience of the servants to Mary’s instruction changed the situation at the wedding. From the story, Jesus did not do anything extraordinary outside that he said to the servants “fill the jars with water” (Jn 2:7).
Immediately the servants were done filling the jars, Jesus said to them “now, draw some out and take it to the chief steward” (Jn 2:8). Hence, we can say that the greatest part of the miracle lies in the servants keeping the words of Jesus. When we do what Jesus tells us, miracle happens.
When the chief steward drank the new wine from Jesus, he reacted against the bridegroom: “everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk….” (Jn 2:10).
The steward said this to the bridegroom because he thought the wine was coming from the bridegroom who, being the celebrant, was responsible for bringing wine to his guest. So, we can rightly say that the words of the steward were directed to whoever provided the new and the better wine at that point in time.
Hence, we can say that the steward was indirectly talking to Jesus, the provider of the wine. The words of the steward were therefore indirectly accusing Jesus of bringing better wine when people have gotten drunk of the old and less quality wine. The steward was representing everyone of us in our life experiences.
He was like helping us to question Jesus: “why do you sometimes allow us to go through a bitter and less quality life first before giving us a taste of heavenly sweetness?” Yes, on a normal, people give out their best first. But this is not the way God acts.
Sometimes God allows us to go through painful, bitter, sad, and ugly experiences first. Sometimes, he even allows us to live in lack of even that little we are managing. For God, no hour is late. Yes, we always pray and wish that the best wine of our lives come first.
However, sometimes, the better life which we have worked for and prayed for can come towards the evening of our lives, when we are already drunk of, struck down by, tired of, and wearied from an ugly situation.
- THE OLD WINE ENDS FOR THE NEW WINE TO BEGIN
The new and better wine from Jesus became possible when the old and less quality wine was done with. Jesus came to replace the old wine, the old self, the old life of sin, with new wine, new and better self, new and better life.
However, for this newness and better quality of things to begin, the old way of life must give way, it must be entirely done with. Hence, “they do not have wine” of Jn 2:4 in this sense of our analysis can be said to mean “they are done with the old things, they are now ready to receive the new and better life which you have come to give.” Let the old life of sin and slavery give way, so that the new life of righteousness and freedom brought by Christ may begin.
- A NEW AND BETTER WINE OF CHRIST
One will never know how less in quality something is in comparison to another, until he/she tastes another one, better and high in quality. For wine to finish means that the people at the wedding feast drank them all. They enjoyed the wine and drank it all.
However, the chief steward was able to observe that the wine they had been drinking was not the best after all, only after he drank the new and better wine provided by Jesus.
In the same way, we may think that the life which we are living now, the worldly life of slavery to passion and material goods which we live now, is the best we can have, until we decide to have a taste of life in Christ, life of total surrender to God, and of total control of our sensuality and passion.
Have you given a life of sincerity, humility, purity of heart, forgiveness, etc a taste? Have a taste of the wine of the new life of Christ, then you will understand that you have been living below the standard of life you have been called to live.
The new and better life of Christ has been shared to us. It is a life that acknowledges whatever gift whatever gift we have as a sharing in the gift of the Spirit of God.
It is a life that gives thanks to God for the numerous gifts which we find in others and not be jealous for what people have. It is a life that calls for unity and love, working together with the various gifts of the Holy Spirit in us, in order to make our society a godly one.
When we begin to live this new life of Christ, the old things will be forgotten, and a new name will be given to us, a name not of the one forgotten or forsaken by God, but God’s Delight (cf Isa 62:4)
Wishing You a Very Wonderful Sunday and a Happy New Week!
Fr. Henry Chukwuezugo Nnamah
Catholic Diocese of Aguleri.