One of our brethren once told me that as a child he was always more frightened of Our Lady than of God. For this brother, Mary was very much the one watching over us, ready to rebuke. This account in the Gospel is quite a special one, which has attracted much reflection through the centuries, and been the subject for many artists, commentators and writers. The wedding feast at Cana is one of a small number of Gospel accounts where we have words that express directly something about the relationship between Jesus and his mother Mary, an insight into the love between a mother and her son. The message of this passage is often summarised by the words 'Do whatever he tells you'.
So why include such a Mystery in the Rosary? Well, it expresses a tender relationship between Jesus and his mother. And it shows us in particular Mary's role as the one who presents our needs to Jesus, and how powerful Our Lady's intercession is. But what is also shown is the place that Jesus should have in our lives. As Dominicans, we make Profession of obedience to God first of all, but also to Blessed Mary. By doing so we undertake that we will be obedient to the Mother of Jesus, who tells us that we should do whatever Jesus tells us to do. Obedience to Christ is a fundamental part of being a Christian. This obedience is the way by which we may be lead ever deeper into the life giving mysteries of God. In contemplating this mystery with Mary, we are given an example of Christian discipleship, and a reminder of the importance of Our Lady as the one who points beyond herself, guiding us to her Son.
So why include such a Mystery in the Rosary? Well, it expresses a tender relationship between Jesus and his mother. And it shows us in particular Mary's role as the one who presents our needs to Jesus, and how powerful Our Lady's intercession is. But what is also shown is the place that Jesus should have in our lives. As Dominicans, we make Profession of obedience to God first of all, but also to Blessed Mary. By doing so we undertake that we will be obedient to the Mother of Jesus, who tells us that we should do whatever Jesus tells us to do. Obedience to Christ is a fundamental part of being a Christian. This obedience is the way by which we may be lead ever deeper into the life giving mysteries of God. In contemplating this mystery with Mary, we are given an example of Christian discipleship, and a reminder of the importance of Our Lady as the one who points beyond herself, guiding us to her Son.
I love the Wedding at Cana. A couple years ago I attended a Catholic Bible Conference in which this passage was used to demonstrate a technique in reading the Bible.
ReplyDeleteMy eyes were opened, and I used that talk (as it was intended) to pass the info on to others in an RCIA class. And to this day, I can pray that decade of the rosary by pulling verses from John 2.
It's so deep - the layers revealed in the actions of Mary, the fact that it mentions Jesus and the Apostles as secondary to Mary's invitation, the implications of the significance of water, which was used to cleanse the outside, while the change into wine was used to cleanse the interior, from which sin or holiness arises. (This last I learned in my research in prep for my talk). Wow.
OK, I'm going to stop there..
God bless you. And please pray for us in my area. Several of us feel called to become Lay Dominicans, but we have no authentic options.(long story).
may i just ask...
ReplyDeletebecause when i was in a group, some gathering of youth, there was a holy rosary. the mysteries that were used was the luminious mysteries. just asking if we could change the name of the mystery. like, instead of the miracle at the wedding at cana the one that was mention was the self-manifestation of jesus. they said it was similar or the same.
i do not know!
and about the rosary, wasn't it only 150 Hail Mary's, with the new mysteries wouldn't it make 200...
i knew also some who do not use the new mysteries because it would make it 200 instead of 150, like the psalms. is it okay no to use the luminious mysteries on thursday, instead use the joyful?
-robert