[GonzoII]

[svcw]

A little study of culture reveals

This is something many people forget. There is a historical aspect to all the words and phrases.

[MHT]

Also interesting is “Why did Mary care if there was enough wine? After all, she was just a guest and it wasn’t her responsibility.” She may, in fact, have been a relative of the host and feared her extended family wouldn’t look so great if there wasn’t enough to go around. As a distant relative, maybe Jesus could care less but was sensitive to his mother’s and her family’s reputation.

[AnAmericanMother]

Another interesting point is that "Woman" is a term of respect for your mother.

I posted this once before, awhile back:

"This is also true, by the way, of Scots Gaelic. A Highlander in the old days (and may still in the very few places where Gaelic is a first language) would address his mother as "a bhean" - "o woman". And that's exactly what Jesus says in the Gaelic Bible (I had to go upstairs and hunt it out - it's not on line - at least only the Gospel of Mark is on line. If you want to read John, you have to have a hard copy.)"

It also ties neatly into the fact that the Blessed Virgin is "the second Eve".

[Yo-Yo]

Mary was just being a Jewish mother.

[Ciexyz]

Faith sharing bump.

[NewJerseyJoe]

The English word "woman" is meant here in the sense of "Lady" or "Great Lady" -- an honorific term.

"What is it to thee and to Me?" means "why should we trouble or interfere." Not only is not a rebuke, but it implicitly includes Mary ("thee and Me" -- "we") as part of God's plan. Mary shared in all of Our Lord's sorrows and glories. It also demonstrates how Our Lord responds to the intercession of His mother on behalf of others.

[The Great RJ]

This was the Gospel that my wife and I had read at our wedding 30+ years ago.

[SaraJohnson]

This was Jesus’ first public miracle. That is a big deal as once He goes public with this power, everyone knows He’s not just any gifted teacher/Rabbi. He is the Messiah. That first public miracle took His work to the next level of both healing and transformation but also total freak out among the powers that be and a leap towards the suffering that was to come.

The words translated into English don’t match Jesus’ action of responding to the request of his mom. I always wondered about it and figured something was lost in the translation. This explanation of the meaning of our Lord’s response in the context of His culture is interesting.

[Uri’el-2012]

A little study of scripture reveals

For all those who have wondered why Yah'shua changed water into wine
when He could have just gone poof; the answer lies in NUMBERS 19.

The water that Yah'shua changed was not the water we think of,
it was not drinking water. It was the water of purification as detailed in NUMBERS 19.

The water of purification was used to remove sin under the old covenant.
By the act of changing the water of purification into wine, Yah'shua
ended the OT means of removing sin.
This is the beginning of the New covenant as outlined in JEREMIAH 31:31

Yah'shua by this miracle pointed to His power to remove sin.

Yah'shua demonstrated that He was greater than the ashes of the Red Heifer.

Later He would become the Pesach Lamb,
removing sin forever to all who would look to Him and call on His NAME
Yah'shua (YHvH is my salvation) for salvation.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai

[right way right]

He did not rebuke his mother.

He was exposing her heart motive. (as he always does)

She let him know that it was his time, without directly saying it.

Then, left to dwell on it, and what the miracle would result in, Jesus did it.

If it was the will of the Father, Jesus always did it.

So he did it.

[annalex]

This is one of those verses where Protestant translations stumble over themselves to put stuff in Jesus' mouth.

Here is the original and the literal translation.

John
	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)	English: Young's Literal Translation
	John 2
4.	λεγει αυτη ο ιησους τι εμοι και σοι γυναι ουπω ηκει η ωρα μου	Jesus saith to her, `What -- to me and to thee, woman? not yet is mine hour come.'

What rebuke?

This is who created the myth of a "rebuke"

. Note the "I don't care what you think" subtext:

John
	English: King James Version	English: Darby Version	English: Webster's Bible	English: Weymouth NT
	John 2
4.	Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.	Jesus says to her, What have I to do with thee, woman? mine hour has not yet come.	Jesus saith to her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? my hour is not yet come.	"Leave the matter in my hands," He replied; "the time for me to act has not yet come."

The sad part, people read this slander and honestly think they read the Holy Scripture.

Want to know what the Scripture really say? Avoid Protest ant "translations". They didn't just "reform" the Church. They "reformed" the Bible as well.

John
	English: Douay-Rheims	English: New Revised Standard Version	Latin: Vulgata Clementina
	John 2
4.	And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is that to me and to thee? my hour is not yet come.	And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come."	Et dicit ei Jesus : Quid mihi et tibi est, mulier ? nondum venit hora mea.

[Mr Rogers]

From the Vatican:

“[4] This verse may seek to show that Jesus did not work miracles to help his family and friends, as in the apocryphal gospels. Woman: a normal, polite form of address, but unattested in reference to one’s mother. Cf also John 19:26. How does your concern affect me?: literally, “What is this to me and to you?” - a Hebrew expression of either hostility (Judges 11:12; 2 Chron 35:21; 1 Kings 17:18) or denial of common interest (Hosea 14:9; 2 Kings 3:13). Cf Mark 1:24; 5:7 used by demons to Jesus. My hour has not yet come: the translation as a question (”Has not my hour now come?”), while preferable grammatically and supported by Greek Fathers, seems unlikely from a comparison with John 7:6,30. The “hour” is that of Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection, and ascension (John 13:1).”

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PXA.HTM#$3R2

[Salvation]

‘You Have Kept the Good Wine Until Now’

‘You Have Kept the Good Wine Until Now’

January 16th, 2010 by Fr. Jack Peterson

St. John the Evangelist nourishes the Christian at a veritable feast today, a nuptial feast. In the famous wedding at Cana where Jesus performs the first of His signs or miracles, John describes the event with carefully chosen words. He packs into each course a variety of juicy, rich themes that are meant to nourish the soul and please the palate with fresh truth and hope-filled grace.

“They have no wine.” These words of Mary to her Son suggest that the couple, probably a poor one, has run out of wine and will soon be embarrassed before their guests. On another level, John is proclaiming a deeper truth about the human condition. Wine, especially for Jews, symbolizes joy. Human beings, suffering from both original sin and personal sin, have lost the first grace that God poured upon us at creation and the resultant joy that comes from living at peace with ourselves and with God. As human beings estranged from God, we have no wine.

“Do whatever he tells you.” Mary knows that she does not have the answer to either quandary, the wine or the lasting joy, but she knows Who does. She points the wedding servers with confidence and faith to her Son. This famous command defines Mary’s existence in time and eternity. She is the Queen Mother who knows quite well that her Son came to redeem the world from sin and sadness and renew the world with forgiveness and joy. Her desire is to point the whole world to Jesus.

“Fill the jars with water.” Jesus provides the wedding feast with an abundance of choice wine. John makes it clear that the miracle produced about 160 gallons of surprisingly good wine. On a deeper level, our Saving Lord does not come to earth as our Redeemer to offer a bland feast with sparse pickings. Rather, Jesus comes to fill His beloved children with joy and life. “I have come that you might have life, life in abundance” (Jn 10:10). Jesus comes to remove the stain of sin that drags us down, restore us to an unfettered, intimate union with God our Father, heal our broken hearts and restore the joy of life. “You have kept the good wine until now.”

“Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana.” We cannot overlook the fact that Jesus’ first miracle in John’s Gospel took place at a wedding. Jesus’ work at pouring new life and grace into the world had to involve marriage and family life. The family is the pillar of society. Since Jesus came to renew humanity, it would necessarily involve the outpouring of new life into the precious union of man and woman, which is the best, most complete place for the procreation and education of children. It is most fitting that Mary would encourage her Son to perform the first of His signs at a wedding.

The joy that comes from knowing Christ and being created anew dwells in the Christian even in the face of great trials. The saints often bear witness to this deep-rooted joy. St. Maximilian Kolbe, known for giving his life as a substitute for a fellow prisoner at the concentration camp in Auschwitz during World War II, knew a profound joy in the midst of extreme suffering.

After convincing the German soldiers to let him take the place of another man chosen to die as a punishment for the death of a prison guard, he was condemned to die by starvation. He lived much longer than expected and retained a remarkable, positive attitude during this period of torment. He continued to pray with the inmates, hear confessions, sing hymns and maintain a spirit of joy while starving to death. This faith-filled resilience to their torture so disturbed the German soldiers that they changed their plan and killed him with an injection of carbolic acid. St. Maximilian’s faith and the joy that flowed from it were a source of light and hope for many prisoners.

Jesus Christ, through His suffering and death, has restored grace, life and joy to our broken world. Faith in Jesus results in a renewal of the human heart that brings extraordinary strength and joy, even in the face of trials and suffering. Christ’s transformation of water into wine is a great symbol of the new life and joy that God longs to give us. “You have kept the good wine until now.”

Fr. Peterson is Campus Minister at Marymount University in Arlington and director of the Youth Apostles Institute in McLean, Virginia. (This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)

[Salvation]

The Work of God

 

Year C

 -  2nd Sunday in ordinary time

Do whatever He tells you

John 2:1-11

1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."
4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come."
5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim.
8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it.
9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom
10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now."
11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (NRSV)

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

At the beginning of creation there was Adam and Eve. God was pleased with them and sanctified their union by his blessing, therefore instituting the sacrament of union between a man and a woman, which is the foundation of the human race.

At the beginning of my ministry I was pleased to bless this holy sacrament of matrimony once again, by my presence at the wedding of Canna where I performed my first public miracle.

Let the children come to me, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven, do not stop them in the womb, do not destroy human life which God loves so much. I am Life; I rejoice so much at the birth of a new infant.

In my humanity, I was a bit reluctant to start my public ministry which would involve proclaiming my Word, healing the sick, casting out devils and doing many works of mercy for the salvation of men but eventually taking me straight into my sacrifice in Calvary. My mother knew about it and She suggested indirectly that I should do something for that couple and at the same time encouraged me to accomplish my mission. Her request touched my heart and to demonstrate that I will always act at the petition of my mother, I converted the water into wine.

This first miracle was also a testimony of my power as God. It was to demonstrate that I have the power to change not only the elements, but to forgive, to give life, to raise what has come from the dust and to change it into light.

Just as I transformed the water into wine, I consecrated the bread and the wine to be my flesh and my blood, in the sacrament of your salvation.

There is nothing impossible for me to do. Trust in me, allow me to transform your material existence into the spiritual reality, which I have to offer.

 

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

[Salvation]

The Road to Emmaus

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

By Brian Pizzalato *

 

   

First Reading – Is. 62:1-5

Responsorial Psalm – Ps. 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10

Second Reading – 1 Cor. 12:4-11

Gospel Reading – Jn. 2:1-11

Have you ever noticed that Scripture begins and ends with a marital relationship in Genesis and in Revelation? “In the beginning,” after the creation of Eve from the side of Adam, we are told that Adam and Eve were created in a marital relationship: “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Gn 2:24). In the book of Revelation we are told that the “marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready” (Rv 19:7). Marriage is a truth that bookends the books of Sacred Scripture, and in fact, permeates everything in between. This fact is represented by the Old Testament reading and the Gospel reading for this taken, respectively taken from the prophet Isaiah and the Gospel of John.

There are many truths that we could consider regarding the marital covenant between a man and a woman, but the readings for this Sunday draw out one truth in particular, that is, the connection between a human marriage and the marriage between God and his people.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states clearly, “Since God created man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man” (1604). Unfortunately, because of original sin and individual and collective human sinfulness, this image can become obscured and distorted. However, “According to faith the disorder we notice so painfully does not stem from the nature of man and woman, nor from the nature of their relations, but from sin” (CCC, 1606).

The prophets speak of the spousal relationship between God and his people. In this Sunday’s reading from Isaiah we hear, “…as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you” (62:5b). Through the prophet Hosea, God says, “And in that day…you will call me, ‘My husband,’…And I will espouse you for ever; I will espouse you in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will espouse you in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord” (2:16a, 19-20).

In relation to this the Catechism tells us, “Seeing God’s covenant with Israel in the image of exclusive and faithful married love, the prophets prepared the Chosen People’s conscience for a deepened understanding of the unity and indissolubility of marriage” (1611). In other words, understanding the spousal relationship between God and his people can help us understand more fully the truths of human marriage.

Interestingly, when the people violate the covenant union established by God, it is often referred to as adultery and harlotry in the prophets. Hosea says, “Rejoice not, O Israel! Exult not like the peoples; for you have played the harlot, forsaking your God” (9:1). Hosea also says, “They are all adulterers” (7:4).

All of this leads to a consideration of the Gospel reading from St. John dealing with the wedding feast of Cana. In fact, “The nuptial covenant between God and his people Israel had prepared the way for the new and everlasting covenant in which the Son of God, by becoming incarnate and giving his life, has united to himself in a certain way all mankind saved by him, thus preparing for ‘the wedding-feast of the Lamb’” (CCC, 1612).

We must read the narrative of the wedding feast of Cana in light of these Old Testament passages. God is the one who is the divine bridegroom. Notice that the name of the bridegroom at the wedding feast of Cana goes unnamed. In fact Jesus is the one fulfilling the role of the bridegroom on a spiritual level. John the Baptist will go on to identify Jesus as the bridegroom. He says, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom [John], who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice; therefore this joy of mine is now full” (Jn 3:29). Jesus will also identify himself as the bridegroom when questioned about why his disciples are not fasting: “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?” (Mt 9:15). Jesus will also speak of those who reject him as an “evil and adulterous generation” (Mt. 12:39, 16:4). They are rejecting the bridegroom.

Jesus is the divine bridegroom who has come to espouse himself to his people forever. He wishes to bring about a one flesh union with those whom he has married through what the water being turned into wine points ahead toward, namely the feast when he turns bread and wine into his body, blood, soul and divinity.

John the Baptist called Jesus, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29). In the book of Revelation Jesus is referred to as the Lamb over twenty times. This same book ends with the marriage of the divine Lamb to his bride who has made herself ready with righteous deeds. The angel says to John, and to you and me, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev 19:7). Let us make ourselves ready!

[Salvation]

Sunday Gospel Reflections

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Isaiah 62:1-5 II: 1Cor 12:4-11

---

Gospel
John 2:1-12

¹ On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;
² Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples.
³ When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."
⁴ And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come."
⁵ His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
⁶ Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
⁷ Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim.
⁸ He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it.
⁹ When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom
¹⁰ and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now."
¹¹ This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
¹² After this he went down to Caper'na-um, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples; and there they stayed for a few days.

---

Interesting Details

• John's Gospel, a book of signs, is in many ways a Christian Genesis, a story of re-creation. The miracle at Cana is referred to as the first of Jesus' "signs" that leads His disciples to believe in Him, Jesus the Messiah (v.11).
• Jesus replaces the Jewish purification (v.6) with an abundance of wine of excellent quality. Wine represents His wisdom and teaching (Prov 9:1-5).
• (v.1) "The third day" for Christians is an expression of the period between Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. In the Hebrew scriptures, the third day is a common term in the Pentateuch and the Deuteronomic history (Ex 19: 10-11 ... because on the 3rd day the Lord will come down upon Mt. Sinai in the sight of all the people). On the third day of Jesus' public appearance (two days after the call of the first disciples), Jesus reveals His glory with the miracles at Cana.
• The changing of water to wine took place before Passover (v.13), the same time that Jesus would change wine into His eucharistic blood two years later.
• In the Hebrew scriptures the wedding itself was a common prophetic image for the final healing of God's relationship with the Chosen people. (Isa 62:4-5 expresses it: "... for the Lord delights in you and your land shall be married, ... so shall your builder marry you...").
• (v.4) "Woman" is rather like "lady" or "madam"; it is a formal way of speaking. On the Cross, Jesus will use the same word with great affection and veneration (Jn 19:26).
• In calling His mother "woman", Jesus may well be identifying her with the new Eve who will be the mother of His disciples as to the old Eve "the mother of all the living" (Gen 3:20). In this light we can compare the woman in the Garden of Eden who led Adam to the first evil act (Gen 3:6) with the Woman at Cana who leads the new Adam to His glorious work.
• "Hour" is a key word in John's gospel; it is the time of judgment, of darkness, of death, of ultimate fidelity and of resurrection (Jn 5:28, 7:30, 12:23, 13:1, 17:1). Verse 4 reminds the reader that during Jesus' public life, until His hour came, His work was determined solely by the Father's will.

---

One Main Point

The changing of Old Testament water into messianic wine signifies the passing of the old into the new. The messianic era has arrived.

---

Reflections

1. You are there when Mary goes to Jesus for help. What does this tell you about her character? What do you learn from her?
2. Do you think Jesus is upset with His mother? Do you think you understand Him?
3. Is there a time in your life when the "wine" ran out? How has Jesus replenished it for you?

[Salvation]

Sunday Scripture Study

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C

January 17, 2010

Opening Prayer  

First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5

Psalm: 96:1-3, 7-10

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Gospel Reading: John 2:1-11

• In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus, his Mother and some of his disciples are invited to a wedding in Cana, a small village 4-5 miles from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth. Wedding feasts at the time could last more than a week (Judges 14:10-12). The time is right after his baptism (which we celebrated last week), but before he begins his public ministry.

• (Note: in the West, we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany and the visit of the Magi 2 weeks ago and the Baptism of the Lord last week. In the Eastern Church, Epiphany often includes those two events, as well as today’s Gospel reading, the Wedding at Cana. All three events are seen as being an epiphany—or “unveiling”—of Jesus to the world. The appearance of Jesus in Galilee also marks the beginning of God’s promise to restore and bring glory to his people, Israel—see the First Reading.)

• Mary (who is never mentioned by name in John’s Gospel) brings it to Jesus’ attention that the wine has run out—a situation that would be an immense source of embarrassment for the newlywed couple and their families.

• Even though Mary does not specifically make a request for Jesus to intervene, he knows what she is asking. He also knows that performing this miracle in public will make it necessary to begin his ministry and his journey toward the Cross

QUESTIONS:

• Jesus is not yet known as a miracle worker, so why does Mary approach him (verse 3)? What do you learn about Jesus’ relationship with his Mother from this story?

• How does Jesus’ use of the word “woman” (v. 3) point to a parallel between Eve and Mary (Genesis 3:15; John 19:26-27; Revelation 12:1-6, 13-14)? Should it be seen as a sign of disrespect—or a sign of honor and election?

• What associations might be attached to the headwaiters expression “the good wine” in verse 10 (Isaiah 25:6; Amos 9:13; John 6:53; 1 Corinthians 10:16; Revelation 19:7-9)?

• This “sign” (verse 11) is the first of seven that will be highlighted in John’s Gospel (see Introduction to John in the NAB). What “sign” led you (or is leading you) to put your faith in Jesus?

• How unconditionally do you do whatever Jesus tells you to do (verse 5)? Do you ever try to place limits on what he can tell you to do? What spiritual gifts has he given to you and to those around you to help carry out his will (see Second Reading)?

 

Closing Prayer

Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 486, 495, 969, 1335, 1613, 2618

When our hands have touched spices, they give fragrance to all they handle. Let us make our prayers pass through the hands of the Blessed Virgin. She will make them fragrant.   

-St. John Vianney