The Second Sunday After The Epiphany, The Gospel John.2.v.42.The Wednesday Meditation: A Plaine Path-Way To Heaven By Fr.Thomas Hill 1634

CALVAERT, Denys 
The Marriage at Cana 
1592

GOSPEL (John 2:1-11) 
At that time, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to him: "They have no wine." And Jesus saith to her: "Woman, what is that to me and to thee? My hour is not yet come." His mother saith to the waiters: "Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. Jesus saith to them: "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus saith to them: "Draw out now and carry to the chief steward of the feast." And they carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water: the chief steward calleth the bridegroom, And saith to him: "Every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse. But thou hast kept the good wine until now." This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

Wednesday

Saint Marie Magdalen, when her brother Lazarus was sick, sent to Jesus this message: whom thou loves is sick: no more but so, not so much as once praying him to come, and cure him of which St. Augustine saith: she needed to say no more to him that loved them both so dearly as he did, the least notice in the word, is enough to him that loveth: he cannot love, and neglect.

A man beggeth sufficiently of one, that loveth him if he do but insinuate his want a far of. This manner of begging used the blessed Virgin Marie at this marriage, she being desirous, (there wanting wine) that Christ would furnish them by miraculous changing water into wine, she said no more but this unto him, they have no wine; Christ understanding her mind, seemed to answer her somewhat short, saying. woman, what is that to me, and thee? my time is not yet come; she not withstanding took it for no repulse, but expecting the miracle, bid the servers do what he commanded; them the bid them fill the pots full of water; he turned it into wine, and better wine then the other.

Out of this compassion, and readiness of our blessed lady to supply the vat of wine, being never spoken to, nor it being anything to her, as appeareth by the words of Christ, saying what is that to thee, and me? We may learn how ready she is, to be our Advocate to her Son, for us in all our wants, especially if we call devoutly upon her; and how much she can do with her son, both in regard of his love, fa above that to saint Mary Magdalen, and her brother Lazarus: as also for the reverence, and duty, which in regard he had chosen her for his mother he obliged himself unto: which made her confident he would turn the water into wine, what soever he said.

And if his time were not then come, (as he said it was not) then was his respect unto her so much the greater, that he would at her instance do it, before his time: as also in that he made it better wine then the other: which was an evident testimony, that he did it to grace her so much the more, the company knowing he did it for her words, or rather for half a word of her mouth, as is aforesaid.

Who will not now be confident in such an Advocate in heaven, that was so potent with Christ here on earth: and especially being our lady, and Mistress for so her name Maria doth signify, any our Mother, for so Christ made her even hanging upon the cross he commended her unto St. John for his mother, and him to her for her son; a Catholic being by vocation that which Saint John was by his proper name (John) children of grace, and consequently Christ commending his mother to be the mother of Saint John, he commanded her in his name as it were in a mystery, to be our mother also: as if Christ had said to his Mother; I commend thee to all the children of grace for their mother, & them to thee for thy children of grace for their mother, & them to thee for thy children: neither have we any reason to think that Christ hanging upon the cross in so great torments, and speaking so few words, as he did, and those of great importance, did mean those words only of the recommending our blessed lady, and Saint John one to another, as Mother, and son or temporal aid, and comfort, which was a matter of small importance, but of some other great matter besides, which was a matter of small importance, but of some other great matter besides, which could be no other, but that aforesaid, of making her our general Mother, to make intersession for us in heaven as she did here for turning the water into wine at this banquet, and doubtless as Saint Paul said, of Christ that his father did hear him upon the cross for his reverence sake: so Christ will always hear his Mother for her reverence sake, he having under gone the commandment of honoring, and reverencing his parents, as well as we; for he came as he said himself not to break, but to fulfill the law.


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