The Wine, the Woman and the Word.
Many of us have heard the story of our Lord’s first miracle over and over again but do you understand the message under the story? Every story begins with a conflict that must be settled. The conflict initiates an action which is meant to correct a situation that is out of control. The participants in the solution have a specific role to play in order to bring about the correction and move life on. In the conclusion there is the satisfaction that all is in order. Now I summarize this special story with three significant words: the Wine, the Woman and the Word.
Consider first the conflict which comes with the statement of our Lady to our Lord: “They have no more wine.” The wine is the fruit of the vine and presents itself through the crushing of a variety of grapes. The Israelites had grown secular and worried most about the comfort of the moment. Life had lost its spiritual zing. Our Lady’s comment at this wedding feast was an evaluation of the world. Our Lord’s answer to this conflict was a clear statement: “What is it to me or to you? My hour has not yet come.”
The production of the new wine of life is a concern of both our Lady and our Lord. Our Lady knew the Word of God well and knew that only through the shedding of blood could the forgiveness of sin take place. She is the “Woman” of obedience and submission who calls upon the Word made Flesh to begin His mission in this world in a symbolic way at this wedding feast. Now she is addressed as “Woman” to remind all of us that the path way back to God is through an obedient woman who understands that the world is in great need of redemption.
In and through Mary the precious Blood was supplied to the Word made flesh. The eternal Word of God required a human means in order to enter this world of ours. He needed a body with blood and this was supplied by the New Eve, our Blessed Mother. Jesus, the new Adam, responds to Mary’s plea with the Word that His Hour had not yet come. That hour is the moment of salvation for each of us who believe and are baptized in His Spirit.
God’s eternal Word is the bridegroom and you and I are the bride in the heart of our Mother Mary. The Word marries us in the closest union possible in this life. For the bride-groom will lay down His life by the shedding of His Blood that that wine of life might flow from that nuptial moment down to this moment. This is the mystery of eternity. All that God says remains forever the same. The Word (God) unites with Flesh (us) in order to restore the divine love (wine) giving life meaning again.
Hence the Woman says to the waiters (the good priests): “Do whatever He tells you.” Obedience and submission lead to a new covenant. This covenant will never be without the wine of Jesus’ blood. All of this took place in Cana of Galilee. Cana translates as an attitude of Zeal while Galilee bespeaks “transmigration”. We must all acquire the zeal to leave lives of vice and cloth ourselves in virtue. We must leave the desire to create an earthly paradise and cling to the promise of heaven. This is possible through the wine offered upon the Cross at Golgotha through the heart of our dear Mother Mary.
This entire endeavor is repeated by each of us as we avail ourselves of the holy sacraments of confession and holy communion. Our marriage to the Lamb of God increases according to our Zeal for the transmigration of our souls to the eternal love of God. We can conquer the world of politics only with the world of the Spirit. May we overcome all in the Name and Precious Blood of Jesus.
In the hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
Fr. Voigt
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