Despite the recent warning by the Surgeon General about alcoholic beverages, I won’t hide the fact that I occasionally like to have a glass of red wine after dinner, and Bailey’s Irish Cream for my coffee. In fact, Santa delivered a giant bottle of Baileys during the Christmas. That should last me a long time. Having made that disclaimer, I’m going to reflect on the Cana event, where Jesus miraculously changed water into wine. He didn’t produce a few liters for the final toast, but a hundred and fifty gallons. And it wasn’t cheap wine or grape juice, rather the best quality wine. Isn’t it ironic that while Fundamentalists advocate a literal interpretation of the Bible, on this miracle, they interpret wine to mean mere grape juice?
The abundant supply of wine in today’s miracle surprises, indeed. Did Jesus not know that the evil one uses alcohol to enslave people so he could spread misery in their lives? However, the second reading answers the question by illustrating the abundance of spiritual gifts—shining light on the spiritual meaning of the miracle. After the Pentecost, some observers accused the apostles who had emerged from hiding, saying: “They have been drinking too much wine” (Acts 2:13). Peter countered that “these men are not drunk since it is only the third hour of the day” (Acts 2:15). He spoke about the spirit that the Lord promised through the prophets that He would pour out on His people, which would be like new wine. The relationship between the Cana event and the Pentecost has been noted and studied: (1) The Mother of Jesus was a central figure in both events, (2) Each arose out of a needy situation, and (3) The gifts were meant for others. These points can certainly be elaborated further.
The miracle at Cana is a Gospel passage many would-be couples choose for their wedding. Many crucial points can be drawn from the miracle. The hosts of the event, the bride and groom, sent out invitations to many, including Jesus, His apostles, and His Mother. It does matter who we invite to our homes, our lives, or families, and by extension, our society. Because we often face inevitable embarrassing situations where our lacks, insufficiencies, and limitations reveal themselves, we need people around us who can supply those needs that we cannot fulfill by ourselves all the time. We cannot give ourselves love, life, happiness. Married people have needs they cannot fulfill for themselves. Hence, it won’t hurt to invite God, the author of all good things into our lives, our homes, and society.
Dr. Frank Luntz, a secular Jewish statistician, wrote a book titled, “What Americans Really Want...Really,” comparing and contrasting quality of life among people who practice their faith and those who don’t, or don’t have any. After an extensive research, results reveal that, “in general, people who have God in their lives are happier, healthier and more content compared to nonbelievers and non-practitioners. They are more likely to be happily married and more likely to spend time with their children. They are more likely to do volunteer work and less likely to engage in anti-social activities. They are better adjusted and closer to family and friends.” Dr. Luntz concludes: “Every type of positive pathology that we believe is good for the human condition has a direct correlation with sincere religious activities.”
We can adduce from the miracle at Cana that we need, not only God in our family, but also several members of the court of heaven. Those who say Jesus is enough for them are partially right; but they also need Peter, Elizabeth, Anna, Joseph, and especially Mary—for the times when Jesus may need to be persuaded to act, as He was at the Cana wedding. We need the Church too as a community of saints where we share life and love. And as a promise, God’s wine will be abundant.
Fr. Chukwudi Jo Okonkwo