Weekend Mass

Dear Beloved Family of St. Anselm,

In this Sunday's Gospel passage of the wedding feast at Cana, there is a theological portrait of Mother Mary and prayer. Let's look at the Gospel along five lines: I. The place Mary has – The text says, There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. Mary almost seems to dominate the scene; the presence of Jesus is mentioned only secondarily. Once the marriage is arranged, she steps back; her final words are: "Do whatever he tells you." How many of us have Mary helped to find her Son and our place at the wedding feast of the Lamb? 

II. The prayer that Mary makes – The text says, When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”  Mary is the intercessor, praying to her Son for others. There are three qualities to her prayer: Discernment – Mary notices the problem like mothers often notice the needs of their children before they do. Diligence – Mary sees the need, gets to pray, and beseech her Son. Deference – Mary does not tell Jesus what to do; she confidently points out the need to her Son: "They have no wine." What wine are you, your children, and your grandchildren lacking now? 

III. The portrait of Mary – The text says, Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come. His mother told the servers, "Do whatever he tells you." Notice three things about this brief dialogue: The title of Mary – Jesus calls her "woman." Far from being disrespectful to Mary, Jesus is exalting her by saying that she is the Woman who was prophesied in Genesis 3:15, from whose "seed" comes forth the Son destined to destroy the power of Satan. The tenacity and trust of Mary – Mary stays in the conversation with Jesus and overcomes whatever tension or resistance exists. She tells the stewards this instruction: "Do whatever he tells you," and leaves it all to Jesus.

IV. The power of Mary's prayer – Mary's prayer and tenacity produced abundant results. Scripture says, But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31). The Catholic tradition of turning to Mary and regarding her as a special intercessor with power is rooted in this passage.

V. The product of Mary's prayer – Many began to believe in the Lord due to this miracle. Mary's role is to hold up Christ for us to see, as she did at Bethlehem for the shepherds (and later the Wise Men) and Simeon and Anna at the Temple. She points to His glory as she does here at Cana. Ultimately, Mary's role is to hold Jesus' body in her arms at the foot of the cross after He is taken down.

Amen.