Today (01/22/2024)* marks the Feast of the Wedding of Cana. Recorded by St. John in John 2:1-12, when Jesus was at a wedding in Cana of Galilee with St. Mary and His disciples. When the wine ran out at this wedding, Jesus instructed the servants to fill up six waterpots of stone with water, and once they did, He turned it into wine. The master of the feast then proceeded to taste this new wine, and he concluded this was better than the good wine that was already served. Though it is a minor feast, it is nonetheless significant because “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory” (John 2:11). This miracle is chronologically the first miracle recorded directly performed by Jesus found in the Gospel.
There are many points of interest and takeaways from this Gospel reading. The first is the miracle of water transformation. In a sermon given by Metropolitan Youssef, His Eminence points out that there are two times when water was transformed; one is during the Wedding of Cana of Galilee, and the other is by Moses when he turned water into blood (Exodus 7:14-24). There are many similarities and contradictions between the two. While Moses turning Nile’s water into blood inflicted pain on the Egyptians, Christ’s first miracle of turning water into wine brought joy to the wedding attendees. This miracle comes to show how Jesus came to bring joy to the world His word and salvation.
Additionally, there is strong symbolism behind the waterpots. In a sermon given by St. Augustine, each of the six waterpots is representative of a time period: “Now the six water-pots signify the six ages**, which were not without prophecy. And those six periods, divided and separated as it were by joints, would be as empty vessels unless they were filled by Christ. Why did I say, the periods which would run fruitlessly on, unless the Lord Jesus were preached in them? Prophecies are fulfilled, the water-pots are full; but that the water may be turned into wine, Christ must be understood in that whole prophecy.” (Tractae 9). In his sermon, St. Augustine emphasizes how the filling and transformation of these pots symbolizes Jesus Christ fulfillment of what is said in the Old Testament and how He came to build upon what is said in the Old Testament.
Finally, it is important to recognize the obedience and faith found in this Gospel. In this passage, Jesus instructs the servants at the wedding to fill up the pots with water and then asks them to draw wine out to the master of the feast. To their knowledge, they thought only water was in the waterpots. After all, they went and drew water as was previously instructed. This serves as an important reminder that when we have faith and are obedient, God can work through us to perform miracles. Similar to the Feeding of the Five Thousand, when we give our all, have faith, and are obedient, God can work in us.
May we continue to be like the servants, who are obedient and have faith in God.
*: As with any Coptic feast, the date is determined by the Coptic Calendar. The feast is celebrated on the 13th of Tobe. Normally, the 13th of Tobe coincides with January 21st, but since 2024 is a leap year, the 13th of Tobe coincides with January 22nd.
**: The six ages that St. Augustine mentions are the age from Adam to Noah, Noah to Abraham, Abraham to David, David to the Babylonian Exile, the Babylonian Exile to St. John the Baptist, and St. John the Baptist to the end of the world.
Sources/Further Reading:
- CHURCH FATHERS: Tractate 8 on the Gospel of John (Augustine) (newadvent.org)
- CHURCH FATHERS: Tractate 9 on the Gospel of John (Augustine) (newadvent.org)
- Chapter 2: Part 1 – Holy Gospel According to St. John – Bible Study – His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef
- John 2:1-12 ESV – The Wedding at Cana – On the third day – Bible Gateway
- Exodus 7:14-24 ESV – The First Plague: Water Turned to Blood – Bible Gateway