The Symbolism of The Cana Miracle

The Symbolism of Cana Miracle
A reflection of the Gospel of John 2:1-12
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry



The Gospel story from John chapter 2 verses 1-12 which many churches today are proclaiming, is filled with a great amount symbolism for us to ponder. The water which Christ turns into the finest of the wine served symbolizes the “Living Water” that Jesus is for us. Christ tells us in John 4:14
“ whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."And in John 6 verse 35 "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”The symbolism should not be lost on us for as John, who was the closest to Christ and is often called “The Beloved Disciple”, tells us in Chapter 7:37-38 ,Christ proclaimed “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”The story of the miracle of Cana ends with the remark of the steward to the bridegroom ‘People generally serve the best wine first, and keep the cheaper sort till the guests have had plenty to drink; but you have kept the best wine till now’. Water turned to a deep red wine, the same color as the water and the blood that flowed from the side of Christ when the soldier pierced his side as he was crucified. The same color as that which we receive in the Eucharist water and wine that has been offered up, as Christ offered Himself up on the cross, and which is turned into the Body and Blood of Christ.
There are two other references to quenching our thirst in Scripture one in Revelations 21:6 "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.” And in Revelations 22:17 "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” Just as Christ freely and obediently obeyed His mother’s request and turned the water into wine, so also does He invite us to partake freely of the bread and water of life that is His word and which we receive in the Eucharist.
Water which is clear and without which one can not survive, becomes the blood red wine which fortifies and strengthens us just as the word of God in Scripture and the Eucharist fortify and strengthen us in our faith.
Another lesson of course found in the miracle of Cana is obedience, Christ responds to His mother “Woman, why turn to me? My hour has not come yet.” Yet He obeys her wishes as she tells the steward ‘Do whatever he tells you’.
The six jars could easily represent the six original churches founded by the apostles after the Pentecost overflowing with Christ’s message of hope, salvation, truth and redemption.
“you have kept the best wine till now” the words spoken by the wine steward also could relate to God’s desire to make His will and truth clear to all as to exactly how we could gain eternal life and happiness for all eternity.
With our Baptism we all become children of God and heirs of heaven and servants of the Lord and as such we have been given the secret of salvation just as the servants who drew the water Christ turned into the best wine were the only ones who knew where this wonderful wine came from “only the servants who had drawn the water knew”
We know the way, we know the truth, and we know that Christ is the light that leads us to the company of God. We have been given the choice to a follow Him and to live in a manner which is in accord with His teachings or to go thirsty and dry up just as our bodies dry up from lack of water.
This miracle convinced the apostles of Christ’s divinity and the glory of God which John tells us in the last sentence “He let his glory be seen, and his disciples believed in him.” If we too believe in Him let us not allow anyone to drive us away or divert us from living in accord with His teachings. Let us not be disillusioned by the actions of those who are supposed to represent Christ which are not in accord with His teachings.
Let us partake freely of the Life Giving Water by which we were Baptized and which sustains us through diversity and sorrow and live our lives by giving thanks to Almighty God by our words, deeds and devotion to God. Let us use the tools and gifts we have been given by God to proclaim His glory and truth to all. Let God’s will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.
Remembering the words of Christ at the Last Supper when He gave us the Eucharist “This is my body which shall be given up for you, take and eat” “This is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant which will be shed for you and for the many so that sins will be forgiven. As often as you do this you do so in remembrance of me” partake of His gift to us in the Bread of life and the cup of salvation by receiving Eucharist as often as possible and go forth living in and for Christ in obedience to God’s will. AMEN