Wedding in CanaSample

Timing and faith

When Jesus is at the wedding party in Cana, somewhere in Galilea, something special happens. The announcement comes that the wine has nearly run out. How that happened is not directly clear. There is the possibility that the newly-wed couple and their families were not really well off. There is also the possibility that the guests were having a really good time and drinking too much wine, or maybe more people had come than had been planned. Whatever the reason, Mary, Jesus’ mother, was also at the party and noticed the problem. She whispers to her son that the wine had run out: ‘What do you want from me?’, Jesus asked. My hour has not yet come.’ (John 2:4). In another translation the sentence is translated, ‘Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me?’ 

Just imagine someone saying this to you. It seems like an awkward tension between Jesus and mother, especially in a culture where respect for one’s parents is very important. Throughout the centuries people have wondered about this. As you should know, mother Mary has an important role in the life of Jesus and even so in the early years of the church. Why is she addressed so bluntly?

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Mary really liked to show something about her son. Being so eager to show that he was not an ordinary man, but that he came from God. The timing of Jesus is different. Mary does not have to remind him and does not have to indicate the right time.

However, it is beautiful and instructive to read what she does next. She has no influence on an eventual miracle, no influence if something special is going to happen or when. But she anticipates, in case Jesus is going to act. She instructs people to follow his instructions, if he asks. Whether this will come, she does not know, but she knows they need to be prepared. Now, she has to wait patiently for the right time to come. Timing is out of her hands.