The Wedding Feast at Cana

[hcruz402]

I have a question about the story of the Wedding Feast at Cana, in the Gospel of John (John 2:1-12). Particularly, when it comes to this excerpt, below.

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.”

My question is this: From Mary’s words (“Do whatever he tells you.”), how did she even know that Jesus was going to do something about this couple’s situation?

I apologize if this question comes off as being goofy, but based on the dialogue here, I am just trying to understand this part of the story a little more.

 

[Gorgias]

My question is this: From Mary’s words (“Do whatever he tells you.”), how did she even know that Jesus was going to do something about this couple’s situation?

She was His mom. He didn’t say “no”. In general, a mother knows her son better than he realizes she does…

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

The following is an excerpt from a reflection by a Sister from a nearby congregation whom I greatly respect:
“…we hear the gospel account of an exchange between Mary and her son Jesus. The conversation happens at a wedding – a neighbor’s joyful celebration.

Mary notices that the wine is running out. Her solution? Find her son whose potential she knows all too well. Maybe she also notices his hesitancy to act. So she acts.

She minces no words. “They have no wine.” Succinct. Mary doesn’t explain to Jesus that the neighbors will be embarrassed if they have no wine. She doesn’t say to him, “Isn’t there something you can do?” Mary knows Jesus’ gifts and recognizes it is time for him to bring them all into play, to be the self he was called to be.

Jesus’ response? “Woman, how does your concern affect me?” It’s a puzzling question for a good son to ask his mother. Could it be that Jesus was giving his mother grief, talking back to her, saying (in so many words) “So what? Not my problem.” Or could it be Jesus doesn’t know what the concern has to do with him?

Mary doesn’t even bother to answer, doesn’t dignify his question with a response. She knows he knows how her concern affects not only her but their friends and neighbors and Jesus himself. She knows she has taught him better than that. And she expects him to do the right thing.

She issues her challenge to Jesus without explaining, without spelling out the consequences, without telling him what to do. Mary simply addresses the stewards: “Do whatever he tells you.”

Mary’s message was: “Your choice, son.” “Figure it out for yourself.” Maybe her voice even had a mild tone of “Grow up.”

We know the end of the story. I like to think that, in that moment, Jesus recognizes Mary’s confidence in him. Her confidence gives him confidence. “Fill the jars with water…draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”

We know what happens. The water becomes wine. Do we know how? No. Does it matter? I don’t think so. What matters is that Mary recognizes the potential of her son to be providence and challengeshim to be teacher, healer, and neighbor. Jesus rises tothat challenge. The result? The gospel tells us. “Jesus did this …and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.”

 

[jburns513]

 I think that Jesus’ saying “my time has not yet come” is way of reminding His/our Blessed Mother where this public miracle was going to lead...to a hill outside Jerusalem three years hence.  I think it was His way of saying to her “are we ready for this, now?”
 His first public miracle was the beginning of the public ministry of more than a preacher and teacher, but a wonder worker with the power, more power, than the prophet Elijah.  This was a path that would lead to what Mary will have expected since she heard the words of Simeon at Jesus’ Presentation 30 years before “...and you yourself a sword shall pierce.”
The miracle was at the request of Our Lady, to help someone, just as the many requests He has fulfilled when we ask for her patronage.

 

[John_Martin]

Jesus’s words to Mary are an idiom meaning, “Why are you early? It isn’t time yet to start; 'my hour hasn’t come yet.”
The demons said the same idiom to Jesus, “What to us and to you, Son of God? Have you come to torment us before the [appointed] time?”

An early arrival for a dinner appointment might sound like this today:
“Why are you here? You are early; our lunch was to begin at 1 PM, but it is 11:30; it isn’t time yet.”
“Honey, the guest is here early; let’s start the festivities.”
Or in Greek idiomatic usage:
Doorbell: “what to us and to you, neighbors? Our hour has not yet come. Have you come to dine before the [appointed] time?”

It is part of the idiom, that the person saying it will do whatever the early person has come for, even though it is too soon. So Mary knew it was time even if not yet time.

 

[Dan_Defender]

My question is this: From Mary’s words (“Do whatever he tells you.”), how did she even know that Jesus was going to do something about this couple’s situation?

She knew him very well and she was exercising her gift of intercession here.

 

[dochawk]

Could it be that Jesus was giving his mother grief, talking back to her, saying (in so many words) “So what? Not my problem.”

And the next day’s headline in the Nazareth Tattler: “Jesus Says, ‘OK, Boomer’ to his Mother!”

 

[CaptainPrudeman]

I, personally, see it as an act of full faith in God. Jesus’ “Woman, how does your concern affect me?” is Him saying, “So? What does that mean to you?” and Mary prays that Jesus will rectify the situation. Her full faith that Jesus will perform the miracle leads to the miracle. She entrusts everything to God and lets Him handle it.

 

[Sarcelle]

Jesus’ response? “Woman, how does your concern affect me?” It’s a puzzling question for a good son to ask his mother.

We really do not know the tone and the facial expressions of Jesus when said this to his mother.

We tend to think of Jesus as always being serious but I don’t doubt he enjoyed a good laugh once in a while. This is a wedding, a celebration. He was probably laughing with his friends when his mother told him of the lack of wine.

He could have said it in a light hearted joking tone and with a smile.

His mother gets the hint and smiling herself tells the others to do what Jesus tells them to do, confident in the notion that her son will always do the right thing.

Whenever I pray the rosary, meditating on the Luminous mysteries, this is how I imagine it.

 

[CoffeeCatholic]

Whenever I read this story I picture my son and I. Mary knew her son… and I can see his face and hear his voice (in my son) as I picture him saying “Woman, how does your concern affect me?” (but knowing full well he is going to listen to his Mom) - and I can see myself looking at him, smiling, and turning towards the servers to tell them to do whatever he tells them to. Because I know my son. And I think Mary knew hers.

 

[Gorgias]

Jesus’ response? “Woman, how does your concern affect me?” It’s a puzzling question for a good son to ask his mother. Could it be that Jesus was giving his mother grief, talking back to her, saying (in so many words) “So what? Not my problem.” Or could it be Jesus doesn’t know what the concern has to do with him?

Mary doesn’t even bother to answer, doesn’t dignify his question with a response.

Oh, brother.

That particular translation is a rather odd way to translate the idiom “Tί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, γύναι;”…! The NAB suggests that this is a “denial of common interests” – we might suggest that “what does that have to do with us?”

Mary knows Jesus’ gifts and recognizes it is time for him to bring them all into play, to be the self he was called to be.

Wait – Mary knows Jesus’ mission and timing better than He does? Hmm… not so sure about this idea…

Mary’s message was: … “Figure it out for yourself.” Maybe her voice even had a mild tone of “Grow up.”

Wow. Just… wow.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

I have to admit, it was much better in full form and in context. This excerpt may leave some misunderstandings that were clarified in other places that I didn’t include above. Nonetheless, I still think it’s a viable way to explain a question I’ve never had a decent answer to until this.