The Wine That Was Missing

In the story of the Wedding at Cana, the detail of the lack of wine is not accidental. In Jewish culture, wine was a symbol of joy, abundance, and divine blessing. During a wedding feast, which could last up to seven days, the lack of wine represented not only a practical problem but also a failure to ensure the joy and fulfillment of the celebration.

This event speaks to us profoundly about the Sacrifice of Jesus. Without His Blood, symbolized by wine, there is no basis for reaching the True Feast: that of Eternal Salvation. Just as wine was essential to complete the days of celebration, so the Sacrifice of Jesus is indispensable for entering the Seventh Day, that is, Rest and Eternal Joy with God. This concept reminds us that without the shedding of Blood there is no remission.

Mary, in this scene, is an image of the Church, which confidently awaits the revelation of Salvation. Her intervention is not accidental: with a simple phrase, “They have no more wine”, she expresses a profound spiritual awareness. It is as if the Church, through prayer and waiting, were saying: “Lord, the world needs You, without You true Joy is missing”. This ties in with what Paul writes about the desire of Creation to see the manifestation of the sons of God.

Finally, we cannot ignore how the first sign performed by Jesus, turning water into wine, anticipates the New Covenant. The Word reminds us that the wine represents His Blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins. It is this Blood that transforms our “water” (insufficient human nature) into an existence rich in Joy, Meaning, and Salvation.