John's ahistorical but fascinating theological gospel begins with the Prologue, an addition tacked onto the front end of the manuscript to give the reader a sneak preview of who the protagonist is, namely the Word of God, in this radically different gospel. Following the prologue, we have seven "sign stories " These vignettes address seven issues that were expected to reveal the Messiah. (Remember that seven is the number symbolizing perfection in Judaism; and that mainstream Jews had generally failed to convert to the Jesus Movement long before this very late gospel was released.)
Today we have the first sign story [John 2: 1-11]. Although the casual reader of scripture in trans- lation will not notice, the story begins with comedy. Mary, Jesus, and his followers, are attending a wedding party. (Such a party often lasted for days and was the most important of social occasions.). One of the cardinal rules of hosting a wedding party during the first century in Palestine was never, never run out of wine. Showing herself to be the quintessential Jewish Mother, Mary says to Jesus: "The have no wine." Jesus tells her that is not their problem, and this isn't his time. In response, she turns to the servants present and says, "Do whatever he tells you to do." Jesus gives in and turns the water into wine. When the head steward has tasted it (part of his job description), he asks the groom why he has waited until everyone is drunk before bringing in the good wine! So Jesus' disciples are blown away. End of story.
When I was a child, I was taught that the significance of the story was proving that Jesus could do magic. Wrong. Nor is it about providing more alcohol to a bunch of people who are three-sheets-to-the-wind. As usual, literal interpretation fails to convey the meaning of the tale. This story is actually about the Messianic Banquet long ago predicted in the book of Isaiah. There we read that the world-to-come will feature a fabulous meal served to all God's People, and that the principal feature of that feast will be the serving of fine, well-aged wine that never runs out. Message: God can meet the needs of all.
That is to say, Jesus can turn the water of our despair into the wine of hope, the water of sadness into the wine of joy, the water of failure into the wine of victory. Old, ordinary life can give way to new, abundant life. But what do we need in order to see that happen today? Our Lady has answered the question: "Do whatever he tells you to do."
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