Second Sunday after the Epiphany 2025

John 2:1-11

Rev. Neli Miranda

 

On the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, we travel from Judea to Cana of Galilee, to participate in a special wedding celebration and witness Jesus’ Epiphany. Here, according to John the evangelist, Jesus performed the first of his signs… “and revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him” (2,11).

In contrast to the other evangelists, John uses the term “sign” to refer to Jesus’ miracles, underscoring that these acts are not merely displays of supernatural power but visible manifestations of Jesus’ divinity—Epiphanies. In using this term, John emphasizes that the importance of Jesus’ extraordinary deeds lies not only in the acts themselves but on what they signify: the manifestation of God among the people.

In Cana, a small, remote village in Galilee, a wedding is taking place today.  Mary, Jesus’ mother, is there. Jesus along with his disciples have also been invited to the wedding. One might expect Jesus’ first sign to take place in the midst of a great religious gathering, in a renowned city, filled with splendor; however, according to John, Jesus’ first sign unfolds in a daily life event, within a familial and communal setting—a wedding taking place in a humble village. It is Cana, an unassuming village that receives Jesus’ blessing today witnessing Jesus’ first sign!

John’s account is rich in symbolism and there are two key points that enhance our understanding. In the holy Scriptures, the joyful image of a wedding banquet is a symbol of the expected Kingdom of God.  Wine holds great significance as well; being the usual beverage at meals and festivities, it represented joy (although excess leading to drunkenness is condemned throughout scriptures). In the Old Testament, the abundance of wine symbolizes the joyous arrival of God’s new era.  No wonder, John choses this significant event to tell his audience of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry!       

John begins by describing a situation at the feast, the lack of wine, which not only threatened the celebration that could lasted at least 7 days, but also signified a serious loss of honor for the bridegroom and his family. Mary, Jesus’ mother one of the key figures in the narrative and likely one of the women serving in the wedding, noticed the lack of wine. So, with confidence, she approached Jesus stating, “They have no wine,” indicating a concern for the celebration and the family’s honor.  Jesus’ response to Mary may indicate that she is seeking his help. While the exchange between Mary and Jesus, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come” may seem rude to us, Jesus is actually telling his mother, “My lady, the right moment to begin my ministry has not yet arrived.” 

In response to Jesus, Mary gives instructions to the servants at the feast, saying "Do whatever he tells you."  She is a believer; she knows that Jesus’ presence at the feast will bring blessings and joy to the community.

Encouraged by his mother’s intercession, Jesus addresses the community’s need. He instructs the servants to fill with water six stone jars used for the Jewish purification ritual, each holding 20-30 gallons. The six stone jars are significant in the narrative, as they represent ritual purification, hence the Jewish Law observed by the Jews.  In Jewish tradition, the number seven symbolizes completeness and perfection, while number six, being one short of seven, signifies the human condition—imperfection and incompleteness.

Is Jesus the seventh jar at Cana?  Jesus, God’s revelation, brings completeness to our imperfect humanity!

The presence of Jesus at the wedding in Cana results in a celebration with the equivalent of 120-180 gallons of the finest wine. What an abundance of wine! What an abundance of joy! Life and joy flow bountifully from the stone jars, telling us that our human condition can be filled with new content, God’s grace. The transformative power of Jesus brings new life, joy and fulfillment to our lives announcing the presence of the Kingdom of God among us.

Indeed, our communities must invite Mary and her Son into our celebrations to receive the new wine and experience the joyful presence of the Kingdom of God. Without Jesus, our celebrations are empty, routine, and meaningless. It is time to bring new content to our Christian spirituality, to the six stone jars stored in our communities. It is time to bring joy to our world threatened by pain, suffering, and sorrow. It is time to taste the new wine, God’s presence in our lives.

Jesus’ disciples, present at the wedding, understood the significance of the new wine. They tasted the joy and fullness of God’s presence in their midst and believed in Jesus. Have you tasted the new wine, the presence of God in your life?

John concludes this passage saying, “Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.  Do you believe in him?

Amen.