Today’s gospel lectionary reading is a very familiar tale. It’s the story of a wedding (John 2:1-11). I love weddings whether officiating or as a guest. They are always such happy occasions. Wonderful times of joy and celebration, full of hope and expectation as another stage of life is embarked on. 

 

This marriage was taking place in Cana of Galilee. I have blogged about this wedding on other occasions. I make no apologies for doing so again as I feel this is a key text in the gospels. It is the beginning of Jesus’ journey. It sets the scene. I also think it is particularly important for any starting a journey into the study of feminist theology and the role of women in the scriptures as Mary is a key player in the passage.

 

The text doesn’t reveal who the wedding was between. However, there are hints that the person getting married was a close relative of Jesus — maybe it was a brother or cousin. I have omitted to include sister as the mother of Jesus was the host so it would be a male relative.

 

I researched Jewish wedding traditions in New Testament times to see which family would be responsible for providing the feast. It would be the groom’s family. As in most cultures at that time, marriage was merely about ownership and the bride was transferred from being the property of father to the property of husband.  In Jewish tradition the betrothment was the bigger event — a decision made together by the fathers of both parties. Money, property and gifts changed hands as, in essence, the groom’s father paid for the bride. This is different from many other traditions where the bride brought a dowry. 

 

If the couple were already of marriageable age the groom-to-be would then prepare a bridal chamber within their father’s house—this would take about a year or even longer. Even the decision about timing was left in the groom’s father’s hands. The bride would not know the time when the groom returned to get her, hence the tradition of trumpet blowing and shouting to give the potential bride a little notice.

 

Before the actual ceremony the bride would take part in ritual cleansings. The ceremony would be followed by a feast hosted by the groom’s family. If there was insufficient food or drink provided it would be a shameful thing and damage the family’s reputation.

 

So back to the text, it is not stated who was getting married. However, the text does suggest that Mary was the host. She was the person to whom the servants turned when there was a problem with the wine.

 

Just as an aside, I want to note that the mother of Jesus remains unnamed in John’s gospel. Sadly, this is common of many of the women. They are designated only by their role in relationship to men rather than as a person with a name.

 

As a second aside, I want to draw attention to the scale of this wedding of which the mother of Jesus was the host. It was clearly an affluent affair with wine flowing freely and servants and stewards attending the guests. Often, Jesus is depicted as hailing from a poor background. Yet, his father, Joseph, was a craftsperson, a carpenter. Nothing about this passage suggests the poverty background often imagined.

 

Returning, yet again, to the text. In the story the wine at the wedding ran out. The servants approached the mother of Jesus, who in turn appealed to Jesus. This is one of the clear indications that Joseph had already died. As the eldest son, Jesus would be the head of the household and thus the one to take responsibility for the feast.

 

I think everyone knows the story, water was converted into wine and guests commented that the best wine was saved until the last. As always when reading this text, what fascinates me is the conversation between Jesus and his mother. It is a significant part of the account and as such would seem to be important.

 

Jesus is recorded as saying it was no concern of his as “My hour has not yet come.” 

It is a strange retort, especially given the cultural relevance of the wine running out. But something deeper was going on, the text implies that Jesus knew that his mother was expecting a miraculous intervention. Yet Jesus was reluctant to reveal his true nature at that point even though he had started to gather disciples around him.

 

Quietly and calmly, Jesus’ mother ignored his protestation that it was not his hour and revealed that now was the time. She told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”  The water was changed to wine. The ministry was launched!

 

It is important that the key role of Jesus’ mother is not under-estimated. This woman was given the task of knowing when it was time for Jesus to start his ministry. And, importantly, Jesus submitted to that revelation. So here, right at the beginning of the gospel according to John is established a key role for a woman. I entitled this blog, Mary’s Day. Although the author of John chose not to name her, Mary’s involvement cannot be forgotten or overlooked. Mary who fulfilled the role of birthing the Christ child now unlocks the door for that ministry to burst forth.