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Catholic Bible Study
Luminous Mysteries: The Wedding at Cana
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Do you desire to grow in your understanding and devotion to the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary? Join Dr. Ben Akers and Dr. John Sehorn as they walk through these biblical mysteries and seek to grow in love for Christ through them. This episode on the Wedding at Cana is the second episode of a five-part series on the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary.
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- [00:00]
A
Hello and welcome to form. Now, my name is Ben Akers. And joining me today is John Seehorn, a professor at the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology. Thanks for joining me, John. And today we're going to be talking about the luminous mystery known as the Wedding of Cana. The Luminous Mysteries is a series we're doing. We're doing a Bible study on these five luminous mysteries, these mysteries of light that were given to the church by Pope St John Paul II in 2002. He wrote an apostolic letter where he talked about where he named Rosarium Virginis Maria, the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And in that letter, he encouraged the Church to focus on mysteries of Christ's public ministry. In the Joyful Mysteries, we focus on Jesus infancy and his early hidden life in Nazareth. And then in the Sorrowful Mysteries, we jump to the mysteries related to Christ's passion and death. And in the Glorious Mysteries, we meditate on the glorious mysteries of Christ's resurrection and the crowning of his mother after assumption into heaven. And there was a. Seemed to be a hole, according to St. John Paul II of the Public Ministry. Of the Public Ministry of Christ. And he proposed five mysteries. In the last study, we talked about the first mystery of Light, which is the baptism. And the second mystery of light is known as the Wedding of Cana. And that's found in John, chapter two, verses one to 12. So if you'd like to get your Bible and follow along, we're going to be talking about the Wedding of Cana. John, the first question I have for you is why do you think this. Out of all the things that Jesus does in his public ministry, why does John Paul II pick this one? The Wedding of Cana.
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B
Yeah, that's a great question, Ben. Maybe I should take your advice and.
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A
Open it in your Bible. It's John, chapter two, if you're looking for it.
- [01:43]
B
Yeah, verses one to 12. John, chapter two, verses one to 12. And you know, if you look at kind of the chronology of Jesus ministry according to the Gospels, what you find is this is actually Jesus first public miracle. And John the Evangelist sort of points our attention to it in a special way, especially at the end of it. And this is a verse that we'll talk about a bit more later on. But if you look just at the end of this story, in verse 11, St. John writes this, the first of his signs, right? So there's that important sort of inaugural character of this miracle Jesus did at Cana in Galilee and manifested his glory. Manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him Right. And this sort of kicks off Jesus self manifestation that we'll continue to read about in John's Gospel, coming to culmination, of course, in his paschal mystery, in his death for our salvation, his resurrection.
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A
So if our reader is not familiar with this story, and hopefully they will when they get their Bible and follow along. Can you give us the details, just generally what happens in this story?
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B
Yeah, so we're actually not given a lot of the details we wish we had. In fact, if you're interested in archeology and so forth, we're not even exactly sure where Cana is. There are a couple of different candidates for where ancient Cana is. It's somewhere in Galilee. It's not that far from Nazareth, where Jesus grows up, or really from Capernaum, where he's going to sort of set up when he enters his public ministry. But he goes to a wedding there. We don't know whose wedding. But John wants us to know that his disciples are with him and also that his mother is with him. And this again will become important. So what happens is, I mean, anybody who's been to a wedding reception knows what a big deal that is. The big party celebrating the bride and the groom who've joined their lives together and want to celebrate with their family and friends. And in this case, something really embarrassing happens, which is that they run out of wine.
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A
Okay, so it's not the apostles dancing in some weird way at the dance floor. It's actually the wine runs out.
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B
The wine runs out. That's right. That's right. And so sort of in response to this, Mary draws Jesus attention to the fact that they're out of wine. Jesus sort of seems to almost rebuff her, like, kind of like say, what are you talking about? But then nonetheless, he responds by performing this miracle where he changes water not just into enough wine for the party, but into an absolutely gigantic amount of wine, a superabundance of wine. And then when the master of the feast is the way it's translated here in the English Standard Version, Catholic edition, tasted it, he didn't know where it came from, but he said to the bridegroom, wow, this is even better than the original wine. And he kind of suggests that usually people give people. You know, people would provide the good wine first, and then when people had had a few glasses, then they would give them the bad wine. They wouldn't notice.
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C
Right.
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B
And so that's sort of the mysterious ending of this story, other than John's remark that in doing this, Jesus has manifested his glory.
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A
So let's unpack that. But what does it mean to manifest the glory? But I'm guessing that there's something to do. If this is Jesus first public ministry, it comes in the context of John 2. So Jesus has gathered all the disciples, but this is the first time we see them kind of all together, hanging out with some of them. Yeah, with some of them. With Mary, his mother. Are there any Old Testament echoes here? Because often when I read the New Testament, I know that there's usually some illusion that I'm getting or not getting in the story.
- [05:33]
B
Yeah, there are several. You know, a really interesting one since you asked about the manifestation of Jesus, glory is back in Exodus. So you can stick your finger there in John 2 and turn back to Exodus chapter 19. And this is a really important scene in the Old Testament, right? This comes sort of at the end of God's work of rescuing Israel from Egypt. They've come out of Egypt in the Exodus, they've crossed the Red Sea. God has begun to provide both manna and water, food and water for them in the desert. He's protecting them from the attacks of enemies. And now they've come to Mount Sinai, right? Which if you go back to Exodus 3, when God first calls Moses, you know, is actually that's. That's the point is to come and worship him at Mount Sinai.
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A
So God is delivered on his promise to Moses.
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B
That's exactly right. And so we can see what an important moment this is if we just look at what God says to the Israelites. I'll start in verse four really quick. He says, you yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, right? Those who had oppressed Israel, held them in slavery, held them in bondage, prevented them from living in the freedom of the children of God. And how I bore you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself. Now, therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples. For all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Okay, so this is a decisive moment in God's relationship with Israel. He has saved them. But he doesn't just save them and say, okay, now go on and live your lives. He wants a special relationship with Israel. And if we look later at the writings of some of the prophets In Hosea chapter two and Ezekiel chapter 16, what we find is that this scene of God bringing Israel into the desert ends up being seen as an espousal, as a marriage, okay?
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A
So there's a passing, right? Sure.
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B
You can start to see the connections.
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A
There's a big if. There seems like a conditional clause. These things will happen if you do this.
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B
There is. And so. Well, let's keep reading. Ben, verse seven.
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C
Right.
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B
Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. All the people answered together and said, all that the Lord has spoken, we will do. Now, if you have gotten your Bible out and looked at John chapter two, you'll notice that that line, israel's promise there to do all that the Lord has spoken is echoed by our blessed Lady. So she points out to Jesus that they're out of wine. Jesus says, woman, what does this have to do with me? We can come back to that, right? My hour has not yet come. But then notice what Mary says in verse five. His mother said to the servants, do whatever he tells you. And so we hear Mary sort of echoing this promise that we know that Israel didn't always keep of doing whatever God taught. But now we hear Mary telling the servants and really telling us, do whatever Jesus tells you.
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A
That's fascinating. That's a beautiful connection. So Mary is representative here of Israel in some way.
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B
Yeah, I think Mary, and this is something actually that especially Luke and John both show us in different ways, is that Mary really represents faithful Israel. Right. You know, it is important to remember Israel's chronic failures across the history of the Old Testament. Certainly the sacred writers don't hide them from us, but it's also important to remember that God always preserved a faithful remnant. And it's so important to look back and actually, I mean, in Catholic tradition, we've largely lost it, but there's a deep and ancient tradition of venerating the saints of the Old Testament, our fathers and mothers in the faith. And we can see Mary sort of standing at the culmination of all of these faithful patriarchs and prophets and prophetesses, all these amazing men and women, the Old Testament. So, yeah, she sort of speaks on behalf of Israel here.
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A
That's beautiful. Is there anything, any other echoes of the John story that would point us to Mary and Israel's connection?
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B
Yeah, I think so. Especially, you know, when you keep going, well, you know, what's going to happen now? You know, the Israelites say, yeah, we're ready for this. We're going to do whatever God says. And then what happens? Moses starts giving them instructions for God to show up and speak to them. And he tells them in verse 11, be ready for the third day. For on the third day, the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. And then if you continue reading to verse 16, you see on the morning of the third day, there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast so that all the people in the camp trembled.
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C
Right.
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B
So once again, you can see echoes in John chapter 2.
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A
Because the wedding of Canaan starts. The story begins on John, chapter two, verse one. On the third day.
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B
On the third day.
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A
Interesting allusion. Yeah.
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B
And then, just as God manifests, reveals his glory, right. In this spectacular way at Mount Sinai to his people. John says that maybe in a subtler way, but in a no less real way, Jesus manifests his glory to the disciples at Canaan.
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A
That's beautiful. So this. Okay, this is. There's a lot here in this, what looked just like a regular wedding party that Jesus and his mother were invited to. There's a lot more going on in the scene.
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B
Yeah, for sure, for sure.
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A
Is there anything else in Exodus 19? Because I have a question about Jesus calling his mother woman.
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B
Oh, sure, go ahead.
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A
Why is he calling his mother woman? That's not. When I'm reading the Old Testament that I don't see, you know, prefigurements of this or it doesn't seem like a regular occurrence. And then if I think back to my own life and I called my own mother woman, I don't think it would have gone too well.
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B
No, don't do it.
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A
So how do I. What's going on in this part of the story?
- [11:56]
B
Don't do it. Yeah. Okay, so let's go back here for a moment to chapter two, verse four. Okay. So Jesus, first of all, as you notice, doesn't say mom. He calls her woman.
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C
Right.
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B
Which. Which might at first seem to be disrespectful and could be. You could read it that way if you sort of read it in isolation. And then he says, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come. Now, I actually think it's important not to, like, soften the blow too much here.
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C
Right.
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B
This is actually kind of a pattern in how we see Jesus speaking to his immaculate mother, who's been set apart from all eternity by God, predestined to be the mother of God, and therefore to be the mother of the whole body of Christ, to be the mother of the church. And one of the things that we see really in all four gospels in how Jesus talks about his mother and talks to his Mother is not just him patting her on the head and saying, congratulations, you're immaculate.
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A
Yeah. And you're my. You're the best model to see.
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B
You're the greatest. Right. I mean, in a way, it reminds me of what Hebrews chapter 12 says about the way that God disciplines all of us, that like a good father, God disciplines the sons that he loves.
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C
Right.
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B
In order not just to punish them, but to train them, to prepare them to fulfill their vocation as the sons of the Father. And in the same way, we see Jesus here teaching Mary, drawing Mary along in her own participation in his mission.
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C
Right.
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B
And so notice what he says here. He says, my hour has not yet come. Right. Well, what does that imply? If Mary has said, hey, Jesus, maybe you could provide some more wine for them? And Jesus said, hold on, My hour hasn't come. It suggests that when his hour does come, he'll be providing wine.
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C
Right.
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A
So an hour does seem to be my reading of John's gospel hour comes up pretty regularly in the gospel.
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B
It does.
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A
It's not here yet. It's not here yet. And in a key moment, he says, yes, my hour is here.
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B
Right.
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A
So what is his hour?
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B
His hour just. I won't keep you in suspense, Ben.
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A
How do you get to that part of John's Gospel yet?
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B
It's the crucifixion, okay? It's the crucifixion.
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A
It's the passion.
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B
It's the Passion. And so it's fascinating. If you want to turn forward for a minute to that part of the story, the crucifixion, we'll go to John 19. In John chapter 19, right, when Jesus is hanging on the cross, he's going to say to his mother and to the disciple whom he loves. This is verse 26. They're standing by. And he says to his mother, woman, behold your son. You see that title again because you see, Jesus is drawing our attention to the fact that Mary's motherhood of Jesus is not just this private thing.
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C
Right.
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B
Mary's motherhood of Jesus calls her to be the new Eve, to be the new mother of all the living, those who are living now, not just a natural life, but. But the supernatural life that our Lord offers us. And so actually, if we understand it in the context of all of scripture, this is a great honor when he calls her woman. And notice what he says then. Woman, behold your son. Then he says to the disciple, behold your mother.
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C
Right?
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B
So calling her woman, identifying her as the new Eve, is one of the ways that Jesus is pointing out to us that she is all of our mother if we belong to him as members of his body. And then if we keep reading in John, chapter 19, we'll see in verse 34, that after Jesus dies, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. And this, of course, symbolizes what we receive in the Holy Eucharist.
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C
Right.
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B
When the Lord gives us his blood as wine, as the wine of the wedding feast of the Lamb.
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C
Right.
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B
And is this beautiful sign and reality of his closeness to us.
- [15:55]
A
That's incredible. That's a lot for us to chew on and meditate. It really is. That's a beautiful reflection. So just to summarize, then, so you're saying that when Jesus promises new wine, that there will be a wine at this hour that he's talking about, the hour is the crucifixion, and the wine that flows from his side is his blood. And then we receive that in the Eucharist.
- [16:19]
B
It's a lot to put together. And, you know, one other thought as you pray with this mystery, pray the rosary, and contemplate the mysteries of our Lord with Our lady, is to think about how this applies to us. And the fact that the Lord didn't just teach this to us, he showed it to us in the context of a real marriage of real people, and they're not named. And I think it's actually important for those of us who are called to marriage to see ourselves in there and to see that the Lord wants to manifest his glory in our marriages as well, and to take the kind of water of our human nature, just, you know, what we've got, and infuse it with his love, with his grace, and bring it into that mystery of the wine that he provides.
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A
That's beautiful. And for married couples to draw that strength to turning the water to the wine through his gift of His Eucharist.
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B
Absolutely.
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A
So praying together at Mass, going to eucharistic adoration together, and learning to love.
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B
Each other as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.
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C
Right.
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B
As St. Paul says in Ephesians.
- [17:22]
A
Thank you, John, for joining us and reflecting on this wonderful mystery of light, the wedding of Cana. And as we're going through this Bible study on the luminous mysteries, and as you've gone through the Bible studies with us on Formed, you see, there are so many echoes to the Old Testament, so many allusions to these wonderful stories. So it's important to know the story of salvation history, to know that Jesus takes those stories and fulfills them in ways that we can't even anticipate. And we just that are marveling. And we could spend so much more time on this scene. But the reason we're doing this Bible study is so you can take this mystery, get a little taste of what you can meditate on during this wonderful Thursdays of meditating on the luminous mysteries. Pope St. John Paul II said this about this mystery. When Christ changes water into wine and opens the hearts of the disciples to faith, it's due to the intervention of Mary, the first among the believers. So we turn to Mary in this mystery of the rosary, and we thank her and we join her in meditating on the mystery of Christ's life. Thank you for joining us.