The Mother of Jesus was there

"The Mother of Jesus was there" (Jn 2:1) The evangelist St. John introduces the ministry of Jesus with the miraculous event at the wedding banquet in Cana - where the Lord turned water to wine. St. John specifies that this was the first miracle that Jesus performed. This first miracle was worked in order to save a family. It is with this manifestation of glory that the beloved disciple testifies further that here "the disciples began to believe in Jesus." And there is something still significant in the account: "The mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.'" (John 2:1-3) Though Jesus was there it was Mother Mary who had sensed the dire need of the family and sought to address the situation. In the Jewish wedding banquets those days, wine was a very important item. In fact, there was a great symbolism attached to it. Wine signified the love in the marriage that would begin that day. If the wine served was tasty and sweet, the guests would be happy and with a smile on their lips they would bless the couple, telling them: "So sweet will be the love in your marriage." If however, they ran short of wine, the atmosphere would completely change and so would the interpretations. Therefore calculations never failed. Special care was always taken to provide plenty of wine for all to drink and make merry. So it was the unimaginable, in fact, what one could have never afforded to risk - that had taken place at Cana. The wine jars had become empty! A dark cloud was forming and soon the celebrations of the wedding would have a dismal end. With this horrifying prospect before them, no one knew where to turn to.But Mother Mary knew where to turn to. She turned to Jesus and presented to Him the situation: "They have no wine." Surprisingly Jesus turned back to his mother and retorted, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." (John 2:4) The pain of that family was the concern of Mother Mary. Strangely, it does not seem to be the concern of Jesus. Here arise some big questions that have left the theologians wondering - "Jesus was there. Was He not concerned about the need of the hour? Did He not care for what could happen to that family?" The family was in deep trouble. They stood helpless before this nightmarish situation. It does indeed seem a very valid question: "Did not Jesus care? Or was the loving care of Mary greater than the loving care of the Son of God?"