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A Reflection on John 2:1-12

“They have no wine.” (v 3)

Mary’s words here are not a question.  They don’t even seem like a request.  They simply make a statement, with which she reveals the situation to Jesus and her heart to us.  Mary’s heart is for the broken-hearted, the empty-handed.  She sees the weakness that we are encumbered with and she knows just what to do: go to her Son.

Jesus’ words are confusing: “O, woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” And yet, His actions speak clearly.  The next moment, the Word unveils his power over the material world and transforms the water into wine.  What Jesus did not say, he communicated with this miracle: Mary’s heart is his heart.  As she is for the broken-hearted, so is He.  His mission is her mission.  As He has come to bring us into communion with the Father, so has she been given to us as a powerful intercessor for that purpose.

We are not alone.  We have a mother who sees, who brings us to Jesus, and asks on our behalf.  She reminds us, as she reminded St. Juan Diego, “Am I not here, who am your mother?  Are you not under my shadow and protection?”

And she sees.  She sees where we have “no wine,” the dark corners of our souls that are empty, the deep abyss of desolation that we try fervently to fill with cheap substitutes.  And she brings Jesus to us; she shows him our emptiness, and what does he do?  He fills us up with the good and everlasting wine.

What are my places of emptiness?  What am I trying to fill them up with?

Mary, my mother, you see me. My emptiness, my weakness, my quiet desperation.  Please bring your Son Jesus into these places, and ask Him to fill me up where I am lacking, so that I may reflect His glory like you do.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.