Reflection The Wedding in Cana 

19th January 2025 

“SUCH EXTRAVAGANCE” 

By Rev Dr Fei Taule’ale’ausumai 

In Samoan culture and I’m sure in most cultures, it is always good to over cater rather than under cater, better to have left overs than people going hungry at a special occasion. Whenever a Samoan is asked about how an event went especially a wedding people will always comment on the food how much or how little there was, or even whether there was a large variety and whether there was seafood and how many pigs etc.  Correct me if I’m wrong but I think palagi weddings are not so much into quantity but quality like fine dining.  However, regarding the catering it’s not always easy to guarantee who has rsvp’d and coming and who hasn’t rsvp’d but is still coming.  Many people turn up forgetting to rsvp and this can cause problems with seating and catering.    

I had a phone call from a colleague who was getting married that weekend and he verbally invited me on the phone to come he was quite persistent that he really wanted me there even though he had forgotten to send me a paper invitation.  So, I went along to the wedding ceremony.  As I arrived, I noticed table settings were displayed in the foyer for the reception, which was to be at another reception lounge, and I looked for my name and couldn’t find it.  My other colleagues that I was sitting with said to me, just come its ok they will find you a seat.  I decided not to go to the reception as it was a bit embarrassing if I was left standing without a seat, so I decided to go home.  I gave my present to my colleagues and went home a little disappointed and realized that the groom probably forgot to add my name after inviting me verbally.  Nevermind these things happen.  Sadly, this groom passed away last year quite unexpectedly, which was a shock to many.    

One thing is for sure, most weddings have an open bar and even when the end is near there should always be good wine available no matter what time of the night.  It’s always good to know that there is always plenty to go around from start to finish of a function.    

A marriage feast in Israel usually runs for seven days. During that period, the host family receives and entertains many invited guests and well-wishers. It is a serious embarrassment if the supply of wine for the entertainment of visitors were to run out. Such embarrassment is often not short-lived. The intervention of Mary when the wine ran dry points to her family’s closeness to the host family.  

In this miracle story unique to John’s gospel, Jesus’ ministry gains the public’s awareness at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. The disciples are there, as is Jesus’ mother, Mary.  The story itself begins simply enough, it was probably a normal family wedding day, no major cause for concern at the outset.  Jesus turned up just like all the other guests and took his place at the table.  There is no hint that a miracle was about to occur. Suddenly, “the wine gave out,” an embarrassing predicament for the hosts.  But Mary calls on Jesus to help; I wonder what she expected him to do?  Jump on the donkey and go down to the bottle store?    

I wonder why Mary called to Jesus to help?  Jesus and His disciples were also invited to this wedding, but the question remains “did they rsvp their invitations?” Jesus was a relative, Mary was a relative, possibly John, but the other disciples were unknown. I wonder if this invitation to Jesus’ friends might have been a last minute thing. Jesus had been in the wilderness, and He had been calling the disciples. Where was Jesus when the invitations went out? Maybe this would explain the reason they ran out of wine. These great big fishermen show up. “Well, yes, go ahead and invite your friends, Jesus.” “Oops, we don’t have enough wine. May be Mary was saying to her son in a Suttle way, see that’s what happens when you don’t rsvp, the caterers haven’t catered for you and your friends.  

Jesus reply to his mother was “Woman, do not tell me what to do, my hour has not yet come”.  Oh my gosh if I or any of my siblings addressed our mother like that, we would have received a sharp slap and stern words, and our mother does not believe in violence.   However, some scholars disagree over Jesus’ use of the term woman in Jesus’ reply to Mary. Some cite it as a term of respect, while others claim it would have been unusual for a son to refer to his mother in this way in that culture. Whereas other scholars understand this dialogue symbolically, pointing to Communion, with the wine alluding to Jesus’ blood, and the “hour” referring to Jesus’ death. Some suggest that this brief conversation with Mary provides evidence to John’s readers that through Jesus, salvation is at hand.   

This being the first miracle of Jesus, one is tempted to wonder what led Mary to ask Jesus to intervene, obviously, miraculously. She knows that her son is not ordinary. Apart from the experience of His special birth, she received messages about Him through Simon, Anna, Zechariah, the shepherds, the Magi etc. and treasured them all in her heart (Luke 2:19,51). She knows He is the Messiah although her understanding of His mission may not be far removed from that of other Jews – “But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel (from Roman oppression)” (Luke 24:21). Was she trying to push Him to launch out? Was that the reason for Jesus’ response, “My time is not yet”? For, once Jesus commences His ministry, He begins the journey to the cross. Mary’s words to the servants confirms her absolute faith in Jesus. He is able and He will.  

The stone pots were used to store water for ceremonial purification. By changing the ceremonial water into wine, Jesus may be alluding to the newness of life He has come to give all who believe in Him. He has come to bring new life, abundant life.  

There’s a question in Mary’s voice as she points out to her son Jesus that the wedding guests have run out of wine. Perhaps it’s a question that we may sometimes carry deep within ourselves, a question familiar to many of us: Will I have enough? Are we running out? Are we rich enough? Safe enough? Good enough? Will we go over the budget?  Can we put dinner on the table and keep the wolf from the door?  It’s a question of scarcity in Mary’s voice, and Jesus answers it, as he always does, with abundance.  

This story is one of the fourth gospel’s so-called “sign” stories, one of the ways John presents Jesus as one who offers abundance. Jesus, as the one who embodies God, who shows us God, is one who shows us abundance. John’s story about the wedding feast at Cana is a story about the discovery of true abundance.  

Abundance. How much is enough? This is a critical question, not only as we might look at our own bank balances, but as we make our way in our world and in our Christian faith. The question of abundance is an economic question, the question of quantity, one that demands the calculations of dollars and barrels and percentage points.  

What is truly amazing in this story is the abundance of wine Jesus offers the wedding party. Imagine about 568 litres or 150 gallons (about twice the volume of a bathtub) of wine, and of the highest quality! Jesus provides the best wine at the end of the feast. This would have been unheard of in that time – a reversal of expectations.   

As the host said, most people serve the good wine first and the ordinary wine for later in the day when no one will notice.  The steward hosting the wedding is confused about where this good wine came from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.   

Through the turning of the water into wine, Jesus is revealed. This miracle speaks of God bringing extravagance and abundance into everyday activities. God’s purpose through Jesus is revealed to the disciples.   

As God’s people, we live with an abundant spirit that stands in contrast to many of the world’s realities. From the devastating fires in Los Angeles resilient people are emerging.   Many have lost everything, but they have found compassion, grace and love.  We now wait with bated breath to see how the ceasefire in the middle east will emerge.  There is no abundance, there only scarcity, there isn’t enough.  A confirmed ceasefire and the exchange of hostages from both sides as promised will be the miracle if it is honoured.  

How do we measure abundance and extravagance beyond materialistic things?  Whatever we have no matter how small, being able to share it with those who have nothing is for them to receive from   

our extravagance and abundance which to us may seem insignificant and small but to them is affirming and compassionate.  A sign  of God’s compassion and love. Our challenge is to be the face of God’s love and abundance in the midst of the scarcity and needy in our neighbourhood and our communities with whatever we have large or small.  Amen.   

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