Honour the Mother of God this month
Before the month of May comes to end, it’s worth finding a way to revere Mary in a special, unique, and personal way: perhaps by making a pilgrimage with a friend, starting a last-minute novena, making a firm resolution, or placing flowers at the base of one of her images around the city.
She doesn’t need our attention, but it’s a way for us to remember the important role she plays in our faith, and, more important, our life.
The wedding feast at Cana is a frequently referenced instance of Mary’s intercession. It is one of many stories in the Gospel of St. John where Mary passes through the gaze of Jesus, and we catch a brief glimpse of their relationship, and what that means for us.
There are many important details to note. I’m struck by the fact that Mary doesn’t wait for anyone to beg for her Son’s intervention. In many of the other miracle stories, Jesus waits to be invited, approached, called, or begged before He raises the dead, cures the blind, or frees the possessed.
Once at the party, Mary takes initiative. Chapter two of St. John merely says: “When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.'”
She didn’t stop the wine from running out, by getting Jesus to miraculously create a never-ending supply at the start of the feast, before the need was established. Neither did she scold and judge the bride and groom for their lack of preparation.
She took in the details of the situation, immediately got involved, and proactively ensured that Jesus would address the problem.
The process that follows is not instantaneously supernatural. Mary leaves the servers with the instructions to “Do whatever He tells you,” and Jesus tells them to fill the jugs with water.
This exchange leaves room for doubt, and relies on the attentiveness, engagement, and adherence of the servers. If they had allowed their doubt to interfere with their obedience, the end product wouldn’t have been the same.
We have to remember that up to this point, Jesus had not worked any public miracles. He told Mary that His hour had not yet come. This meant the servers had no idea who Jesus really was, and they had no precedent to weigh their options against. Faith was absolutely necessary.
We are told that Mary loves us; we’ve probably all heard this many, many times; but what does that mean in the context of our lives? What personal events and encounters require her oversight, advice, and intercession?
If we allow her to consider our unique situations, are we comfortable giving her the reins, and then following through with whatever her Son tells us to do?
We can be sure that she will notice the items we should prioritize, and ask her Son to diagnose our symptoms. The miracle that will follow will depend on whether we can carry out the instructions given with faith, obedience, and trust.
