Wedding at Cana - St. JPII

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I believe St. John Paul II was blessed in many ways to “behold” and “to take Mary into his life” and then to share his blessings with the whole Church in his encyclical, “Redemptoris Mater” and in his other writings. Continuing this encyclical, this morning I was blessed to read :

1. From this point of view, particularly eloquent is the passage in the Gospel of John which presents Mary at the wedding feast of Cana. She appears there as the Mother of Jesus at the beginning of his public life: “There was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples” (Jn. 2:1-2). From the text it appears that Jesus and his disciples were invited together with Mary, as if by reason of her presence at the celebration: the Son seems to have been invited because of his mother. We are familiar with the sequence of events which resulted from that invitation, that “beginning of the signs” wrought by Jesus-the water changed into wine-which prompts the Evangelist to say that Jesus “manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him” (Jn. 2:11).

Mary is present at Cana in Galilee as the Mother of Jesus, and in a significant way she contributes to that “beginning of the signs” which reveal the messianic power of her Son. We read: “When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come’” (Jn. 2:3-4). In John’s Gospel that “hour” means the time appointed by the Father when the Son accomplishes his task and is to be glorified (cf. Jn. 7:30; 8:20; 12:23, 27; 13:1; 17:1; 19:27). Even though Jesus’ reply to his mother sounds like a refusal (especially if we consider the blunt statement “My hour has not yet come” rather than the question), Mary nevertheless turns to the servants and says to them: “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn. 2:5). Then Jesus orders the servants to fill the stone jars with water, and the water becomes wine, better than the wine which has previously been served to the wedding guests.

What deep understanding existed between Jesus and his mother? How can we probe the mystery of their intimate spiritual union? But the fact speaks for itself. It is certain that that event already quite clearly outlines the new dimension, the new meaning of Mary’s motherhood. Her motherhood has a significance which is not exclusively contained in the words of Jesus and in the various episodes reported by the Synoptics (Lk. 11:27-28 and Lk. 8:19-21; Mt. 12:46-50; Mk. 3:31-35). In these texts Jesus means above all to contrast the motherhood resulting from the fact of birth with what this “motherhood” (and also “brotherhood”) is to be in the dimension of the Kingdom of God, in the salvific radius of God’s fatherhood. In John’s text on the other hand, the description of the Cana event outlines what is actually manifested as a new kind of motherhood according to the spirit and not just according to the flesh, that is to say Mary’s solicitude for human beings, her coming to them in the wide variety of their wants and needs. At Cana in Galilee there is shown only one concrete aspect of human need, apparently a small one of little importance (“They have no wine”). But it has a symbolic value: this coming to the aid of human needs means, at the same time, bringing those needs within the radius of Christ’s messianic mission and salvific power. Thus there is a mediation: Mary places herself between her Son and mankind in the reality of their wants, needs and sufferings. She puts herself “in the middle,” that is to say she acts as a mediatrix not as an outsider, but in her position as mother. She knows that as such she can point out to her Son the needs of mankind, and in fact, she “has the right” to do so. Her mediation is thus in the nature of intercession: Mary “intercedes” for mankind. And that is not all. As a mother she also wishes the messianic power of her Son to be manifested, that salvific power of his which is meant to help man in his misfortunes, to free him from the evil which in various forms and degrees weighs heavily upon his life. Precisely as the Prophet Isaiah had foretold about the Messiah in the famous passage which Jesus quoted before his fellow townsfolk in Nazareth: “To preach good news to the poor…to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind…” (cf. Lk. 4:18).

Another essential element of Mary’s maternal task is found in her words to the servants: “Do whatever he tells you.” The Mother of Christ presents herself as the spokeswoman of her Son’s will, pointing out those things which must be done so that the salvific power of the Messiah may be manifested. At Cana, thanks to the intercession of Mary and the obedience of the servants, Jesus begins “his hour.” At Cana Mary appears as believing in Jesus. Her faith evokes his first “sign” and helps to kindle the faith of the disciples.

No wonder St. John Paul II suggested the “Luminous Mysteries” of the Rosary, and included the Wedding at Cana. By God’s Grace, he heard much more in pondering the words of Jesus and Mary and the union between them at that Wedding, than most have heard or heard deeply enough. Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.

 

[Crusaderbear]

Quite inspirational.

 

[MariaChristi]

Quite inspirational.

Dear Crusaderbear,

Thanks for your reply and for your openness to the wisdom God gave St. John Paul II. It was such a blessing for me this morning, to read what I believe the Holy Spirit taught him in his prayerful listening to John’s account of the Wedding at Cana. There is much to ponder!

 

[Fiasco]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I believe St. John Paul II was blessed in many ways to “behold” and “to take Mary into his life” and then to share his blessings with the whole Church in his encyclical, “Redemptoris Mater” and in his other writings. Continuing this encyclical, this morning I was blessed to read :

No wonder St. John Paul II suggested the “Luminous Mysteries” of the Rosary, and included the Wedding at Cana. By God’s Grace, he heard much more in pondering the words of Jesus and Mary and the union between them at that Wedding, than most have heard or heard deeply enough. Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.

Thank you!
i took a screen shot of just St John Paul’s words…and downloaded the encyclical.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thank you!
i took a screen shot of just St John Paul’s words…and downloaded the encyclical.

Dear Fiasco,

Good for you!!! Thanks for your reply and the encouraging news that you will be reading this wonderful encyclical. It is amazing to read the gifts of wisdom God gave Pope Saint JPII for the Church. Sad to me that so few Catholics read his encyclicals but so happy to know you are interested. May God bless you abundantly!

 

[Fiasco]

Dear Fiasco,

Good for you!!! Thanks for your reply and the encouraging news that you will be reading this wonderful encyclical. It is amazing to read the gifts of wisdom God gave Pope Saint JPII for the Church. Sad to me that so few Catholics read his encyclicals but so happy to know you are interested. May God bless you abundantly!

Dear MariaChristi,
Thank you in turn for your reply!
You took the time to put it there for our benefit, so you, and others like you, should be acknowledged and encouraged to keep digging.
God is Love, and it’s a good change to come across something like this encyclical when we’re surrounded by so much unwholesome stuff.

In the mid-1980s, the late Malcolm Muggeridge (died in 1990) called Pope John Paul II “that remarkable philosopher who leads the Catholic Church today.”

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear MariaChristi,
Thank you in turn for your reply!
You took the time to put it there for our benefit, so you, and others like you, should be acknowledged and encouraged to keep digging.
God is Love, and it’s a good change to come across something like this encyclical when we’re surrounded by so much unwholesome stuff.

In the mid-1980s, the late Malcolm Muggeridge (died in 1990) called Pope John Paul II “that remarkable philosopher who leads the Catholic Church today.”

Dear Fiasco,

When I find something like this encyclical, I want to share it because I rings so “true”. Yes, much of what we can read or hear may be far from the wholesome food we need to nourish us. Pope St. John Paul II, was above all, it seems to me, a man who continued to grow in his prayer, i.e. his relationship with God.

He certainly did not have an easy life growing up but he prayerfully used the gifts God gave him and he continued to grow – grace upon grace. It may have been in reading his book “Crossing the Threshold of Hope” that I read he was given a copy of St. Louis De Montfort’s treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin” and he said that reading it was a turning point in his young life.

His love for our Mother Mary and his understanding of the unique role God has given her in salvation history continues to bless me. Yes, the late Malcolm Muggeridge spoke truly of Pope John Paul II as a “remarkable philosopher” but the more we read this Pope’s works the more we appreciate all the wisdom God gave St. John Paul II to lead the Church.

Thanks again for your reply. I’m continuing to read the encyclical, slowly, a section at a time, Have you continued to read it as well?

 

[Fiasco]

His love for our Mother Mary and his understanding of the unique role God has given her in salvation history continues to bless me. Yes, the late Malcolm Muggeridge spoke truly of Pope John Paul II as a “remarkable philosopher” but the more we read this Pope’s works the more we appreciate all the wisdom God gave St. John Paul II to lead the Church.

St John Paul and other great teachers have opened their minds to Truth, and we can all benefit from it. We’re like lenses: clean or dirty.
It’s a relief to be able to say we’re not on our own: we’re children with a Father…and a Mother. The Church’s teachings are anything but sterile. As Scott Hahn says: we’re Family. God binds Himself to His Covenant with us. And we squabble!

I’m continuing to read the encyclical, slowly, a section at a time, Have you continued to read it as well?

Right now, i’m stalled by a vicious attack of depression, but it’s here, and it’s something to look forward to later on. It’s a matter of trying to resurface.

It’s after 1:00 AM here!

 

[MariaChristi]

St John Paul and other great teachers have opened their minds to Truth, and we can all benefit from it. We’re like lenses: clean or dirty.
It’s a relief to be able to say we’re not on our own: we’re children with a Father…and a Mother. The Church’s teachings are anything but sterile. As Scott Hahn says: we’re Family. God binds Himself to His Covenant with us. And we squabble!

Right now, i’m stalled by a vicious attack of depression, but it’s here, and it’s something to look forward to later on. It’s a matter of trying to resurface.

It’s after 1:00 AM here!

Dear Fiasco,

Yes, we’re Family! We are a human family, however, and we suffer from the consequences of original sin. Jesus has conquered sin and death and so we are re-born in Baptism into the Divine Family of the Trinity. We’re were cleansed of original sin (and if baptized as adults – personal sins as well) but the consequences of original sin have left us with darkened intellects and weakened wills.

We fight a spiritual battle every day but with faith in Him, hope in Him and love for Him Who first loved us. Attacks of depression can come but by God’s Grace, you can resurface and breathe free again. When tempted, my first prayer is: Jesus, I trust in You. And my second is: Mary, my Queen and my Mother I am all yours. Keep me guard me as your property and possession.

I’ll remember you especially as I pray the Divine Mercy chaplet tonight.