Wedding at Cana

Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding at Cana underlines the resemblance between the vows spouses make to each other and God’s covenant with us.

In the Hebrew Testament, the “Covenant” was the binding contract between God and the Chosen People, the Israelites. God pledged, “I will be your God and you will be my people.” He delivered them from slavery and guided them through the desert into the Promised Land.

In return, His people were to obey the Commandments, which defined the people’s relationship to God and to one another.

In the Christian Testament, God extended His love and care to all. And everyone, as individuals and as community, now has a relationship with God.

And His Son, who became one of us, issued a “new commandment,” that we love and serve one another as He did in offering His life for us.

The Apostle Paul likened this new relationship to the way spouses relate to one another. He, of course, used the terms of his day to explain how spouses were to love and serve each other.

In the Gospels, Jesus’ presence at the wedding at Cana emphasizes both personal and communal nature of the New Covenant.

And His turning water into wine so the celebration could continue demonstrates how the New Covenant of service and forgiveness is a happy, joyful one.