Great Lent is a time for change, for
transformation. The Maronite Church begins Great Lent with Cana Sunday, a
commemoration of the transformation of water into wine at the wedding feast of
Cana at Galilee. This change prepares us for the evening when we change wine
into his blood and bread into his body.
Cana is situated 750
feet above sea level. It is known as Cana of Galilee in order to distinguish it
from Cana in Coclo, Syria. Saint Jerome said that he was able to see Cana from
Nazareth. Cana of Galilee was the town of Nathaniel and it is to this town that
Jesus will return to heal the son of the royal official.
The actual
circumstances of the wedding are unknown. Perhaps Nathaniel had invited Jesus
and his followers to the wedding feast in his village. Some say the groom was
related to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, or was one of the friends of Jesus. In the
Middle Ages, legend held that it was the wedding feast of John the Beloved.
According the Jewish
law, the wedding of a virgin was to take place on a Wednesday. The wedding was
to be followed by eight days of celebration and an abundance of food and drink
was essential. At this the wedding wine began to diminish. Fortunately for the
groom and his guest, Jesus and his Mother were there. Mary had only to mention
to Jesus that something was going wrong: "They have no wine." Jesus understood
that his Mother was not simply making an observation, but was seeking his
powerful intervention. On her part, Mary was confident that he would listen to
her. She had given birth to him and had lived with him for thirty years, so she
had faith in him. At first, Jesus responded with an apparent refusal, "Woman, (a
term of respect which he would also use on the cross) how does this concern of
yours involve me?" The reason for his response was that his hour had not yet
come, namely the hour of his death and resurrection, after which he could answer
all the prayers of his Mother.
Jesus came into the
world for a definite purpose and task, as we all do. He did not see his life in
terms of the immediate needs of any particular moment, but only in terms of his
purpose and the eternal plan of the Father. All of his needs had to correspond
and lead to the ultimate fulfillment of his life.
Mary knew that her
prayer would not be refused; she told them to do whatever he told them. Mary
trusted her Son and her request was fulfilled. She told the servants as she
tells all of us: do whatever my son tells you. Jesus instructed the servants to
fill the six water-pots. The number six might be significant because in the
mentality of the time, six was an imperfect number. (Seven was considered
perfection.) The six water-pots can represent the imperfection of the old law,
which Jesus is to fill with the wine of the Gospel and of his grace. The
imperfection of law was transformed into the perfection of grace. These jars
held 180 gallons of water, which was to be transformed into excellent wine. What
was originally lacking is now to be found in superabundance.
Aside from the rich
theological significance of the transformation of water into wine, let us
reflect on the simplicity and "homeliness" of the act. Jesus knew that the lack
of wine would be a source of embarrassment to the groom and misfortune for the
guests. He did not rejoice in the misfortune of others, but used his great power
to save a simple man of Cana from humiliation. Let us imitate his example and be
concerned with the simple needs of those around us and how we can fulfill them.
