The Transformation of Suffering
Reflections on September 11
& the Wedding Feast at Cana in Galilee

The Wedding Feast of Cana

Mary's Statement

    In the course of the marriage feast at Cana, Jesus seems to be trying to discern whether it is time for him to manifest his divine person to the disciples. Perhaps Jesus had in mind a special time to do it, maybe on a retreat or in some sort of private setting. Let us recall that the Spirit operates in us today in the same way the Spirit worked with Jesus' disciples and friends.

    Keeping that background in mind, this incident assumes great significance. Apparently, two acquaintances of Mary have just been married. Jesus and some of his disciples have been invited to the banquet. At some point, the wine is running out. For young spouses, this is a source of great distress. The couple is in danger of being embarrassed because they have not prepared adequately for the refreshment of the guests; Mary, it appears, does not want this to happen. Accordingly, she says to Jesus, "They have no more wine."

    This is not exactly a request, yet, in a way, Mary's statement is the most profound and powerful kind of request. She does not ask anything of Jesus. Rather, she simply states the problem. She leaves the decision to him. Mary manifests a delicate concern for a fairly insignificant problem as we would think of it; but it was a problem for these two newlyweds, just starting life together and trying to make a good impression on their friends and relatives.

    Mary's statement of concern puts Jesus in a difficult situation. He hears what she is saying, but he is not sure that it is the right time to act in a way that would reveal his divinity to his disciples. After all, his disciples at this time were a pretty thick-headed bunch, and it took them a long time to learn anything. To anticipate such a major revelation, he needed to find out in what spirit an act is being suggested that he knew would have great significance and indeed eternal consequences.

    This is why, when Mary remarks, "They have no more wine," Jesus wants to know where her concern is coming from. Is this, he wonders, simply an ordinary concern that his mother has for these young acquaintances of hers, or could it be a movement of the Holy Spirit that aims to transform Mary's casual remark into a major revelation of Christ's divinity to the disciples, who are to pass on his teaching and example to posterity? It is a crucial issue for him. In the present translation of the text the response is somewhat obscure. But the message is clear. According to the text that we read in the liturgy, Jesus says, "How does this concern of yours involve me?" In other words, "I recognize your concern, and I sympathize with it, but why do you want me to get involved?"

    By asking that question, Jesus invites Mary to clarify whether she wants him to solve the problem or is willing to let the matter drop. Notice that Mary does not put any pressure on him. The event is a marvelous example of how to ask God for things. It is better to leave the response to our requests up to God: simply lay out the problem, and then let God decide what to do, rather than plead with or cajole him into doing what we want. Detachment from our own desires makes the petition all the more powerful. The situation will always be answered, but not necessarily in the way that we want or, expected.

More information can be obtained by reading the book The Transformation of Suffering by Fr. Thomas Keating.  It is offered in our Book Store.