As with all of John’s Gospel, this story will provide the patient, careful, and prayerful reader with rich rewards of understanding. This "first of Jesus’ signs" (v 11), in which he graces the wedding celebration at Cana, reaches across all history to touch the eternal marriage of the Lamb and his Bride (the Church) in Rev 21. The "third day" clearly connects this sign to the life-giving paschal sacrifice of the Messiah (see Hosea 6:2; Jn 11:6-7; Lk 24:7). Similarly, although the final "hour" of Jesus has not yet come (v 4), it is time for the preparation in sign, telling of and leading to that hour. The condition for proper preparation is simply "do whatever he tells you" (v 5). It is significant that Mary, who is in the background throughout, is nevertheless the one who both impels Jesus toward his "hour" and sets the stage for it — a pattern of her continued role in the Church.

What is this sign? In this transformation of water into wine on the particular occasion may be seen the "good wine" of messianic fullness — the wisdom and happiness of renewed creation — now present in abundance to those who are aware of emptiness and need (see Is 55:1-3; Joel 2:21-27).

Our approach to Jesus’ signs — in John’s Gospel and in our own lives —must be with a proper sense of mystery. It’s wrong to think that a mystery is merely something that we cannot understand. Rather, it is the beginnings of an understanding of something that we cannot get enough of! Mystery is an invitation to explore and experience the never-ending riches of God’s self-revealing presence and action. Mystery always escapes being defined or explained. The only tool for probing mystery is symbol — a deeper reality contained within and expressed by an outward sign, which may be a person, an action, or an event. And while this tool is usually experienced in community with others, it becomes our own and effective through quiet reflection and prayer.

The wonder of the marriage feast at Cana is not merely that water became wine, but that this sign still speaks to us of God’s saving love in Christ.

The return of the small remnant of Jews from exile is described here as the espousal of God with his formerly abandoned people. The marriage relationship is a fitting sign of the relationship of God to his people because the committed-in-love partners are fulfilled in one another’s presence, and yet never cease to seek fulfillment.

This is an eloquent hymn of praise to God, Creator and Lord of all. Response: "Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations."

Many problems plagued the church at Corinth. In addition to factions and immorality, there was also a temptation to adopt a pagan attitude towards spiritual gifts. Pagan cults could also claim to know God through various trances and ecstasies, resembling the gifts of the Spirit. Paul gives criteria for discernment: signs must be accompanied by (1) true faith in Jesus Christ (vv 1-3), (2) a spirit of unity (vv 4-31), and (3) unfailing love (chapter 13). Gifts claiming to be "of the Spirit," even if they are very impressive, that sow scandal or discord are by that very fact proven false.

1. Reflect on the role of Mary in the life of a Christian in the light of the Gospel passage.

2. What does it mean to discern and understand signs in your relationship as a Christian to God and to others?