The “disciple Jesus loves” has a masterful way of conveying two meanings in a message—one which appears on the surface and one hidden deep beneath. With the opening words, “In the beginning,” the Gospel of John establishes a parallel with the book of Genesis, encompassing Creation, the Fall, and Redemption, and nestled in all three, is the “woman.” This pattern continues in chapter 2, The Marriage at Cana.
On the surface, the setting (a marriage in Cana), guests (the mother of Jesus, Jesus, and his disciples), problem (“the wine failed”), and solution (an intercession and a miracle) all reveal a powerful graspable lesson. Yet, beneath the surface, layers of symbolism run deep. Through it all, through every hidden treasure, one thing is evident: the Messiah’s mission is linked to the figure of the woman, Mary.
~ Kelly Wahlquist (Lesson Five Reflection)
Nicki, I loved your reflection. In thinking about how the Messiah’s message is linked to a woman really struck me this morning. When I was reading I felt like it immediately was saying Mary was present at the wedding,..oh and by the way Jesus and his buddies too. Mary identifies the problem and then gives the command to the servers to do whatever he says. I read that as to say they obeyed, because Mary specifically told them.
I surmise that people people of God. I think that is precisely why I love WINE. It’s a beautiful witness to women saying yes. You want to watch and see what happens when people do whatever he tells them and then can be inspired in your own life to do the same.
Actually, in the last three weeks this has really lived out in my life. Three weeks ago I was introduced to a woman named Ann. She is a friend of a friend. Ann is what I think of in my head as a WINE woman (yes, I am making that a verb). She is a woman who is doing what He tells her.
Just three weeks ago Ann shared with me her fiat. For 5 years she has been feeling called to begin a magazine about Theology of the Body, but not theological writings, but rather stories of everyday people living out TOB. It took her 5 years to say yes and once she said yes it took her 10 months to launch, Today, on the feast of St. John Paul II, she launches her campaign to get Embodied Magazine rolling. I am in in awe of this woman and her bold yes. I feel blessed that just 3 weeks ago, this woman I never knew, I get to journey with her and be inspired to go find what He is telling me to do,
Amber thanks so much for sharing. That is so exciting to hear about examples of real life people living out the “yes” and the blessings that flow to and through them. I am very much looking forward to learning more about this magazine centered around Theology of the Body! How exciting!
It seems that after I reflect and comment on the scripture of our lessons, I have a difficult time commenting on the author’s lesson reflection. Of course, I loved Kelly’s reflection on this poignant scripture, but what really stood out to me (as prior to reading the reflection, I read the scripture and commented right away on the thread) was how Kelly pointed out John’s highlight of Our Blessed Mother being the most special wedding guest. It really resonated with me reflecting on Kelly’s point of how Our Blessed Mother “opens” the invitation to the guests and to us!!! We know, as St. Louis de Montfort says, that Mary is the surest way to Jesus!!
Kelly, I love your reflection!! Although I had a few similar thoughts about the “communication” between Mary and Jesus, your reflection helped me to see more of what was going on here.
I did not initially pick up on the emphasis that Mary was at the wedding… oh, and Jesus was invited, too. Mary is the central figure in this scene; she is the significant person. Why? I like to think this is to remind us that her role in salvation history, up to this point, is the most important. It was her “yes” that made this all possible. Due to her complete trust in God and her love, Jesus was brought into the world and was raised to adulthood, so that we could all be saved. Without her yes, what would have happened? Now, it was time for Mary to step back and give her son center stage. “Do whatever he tells you”… Now it is all up to Jesus.
All mothers reach that point in time, when they have to let go and watch their child enter to world and whatever is out there for them. We are all aware that it is not all good times and that there will be hardships and negative experiences. But, Mary also had the word of Simeon, which she has pondered all these years… A sword will pierce her heart… Sounds a bit more than your ordinary tough times. And yet she still trusted in God.
I pray that I will always have the same kind of trust in Him that Mary has!
I like to read the scripture verses before the reflections (which are all so rich!) and see what “speaks” to my simplistic nature. I got a late start this week, Monday being my first reading but was blessed right away with the examples of trust that spoke to me. First, Mary brought a situation to Jesus’s attention but didn’t hang around to see what He would do. Wouldn’t I have at least wanted to be peeking around the corner?! Jesus took action even though He did not believe it to be His time (at least originally). And then Jesus, who was both God and man, performed His first miracle but there is no mention of Him taste testing the water turned wine! To me, these were three examples of a high and somewhat unnatural level of trust,
The past couple of years I have been navigating through a most challenging and heart heavy situation….one that made me think originally ‘I am not going to be able to sleep well for years now!” I am sure I have lots of company among you when I say my response was to deepen my faith in all kinds of ways to cultivate a stronger trust in God. It stills feels almost miraculous to me, that I sleep peacefully nearly every night in spite of no significant change in the situation I continue to deal with! I am so grateful that God rewards our trust with inner peace!