The Second Luminous Mystery:
The Wedding at Cana

Mary told Jesus the wine had run out and instructed the servants to do whatever he says. Though not yet his time, Jesus gives in to Mary and turns water into wine. The headwaiter is puzzled that the better wine is served late in the celebration. This first public miracle revealed his glory, “and his disciples began to believe in him” (Jn 2:11).

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ [And] Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servers, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.’ So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him” (Jn 2:1-11).

Mary does not hesitate to intercede with Jesus on behalf of the newlyweds. And Jesus gives in to her request even though it did not fit into his foreordained plans. Our Queen Mother has the ear of her Divine Son. Our Blessed Mother watches over us too and gladly intercedes with Jesus on our behalf. We have recourse to she who is both the mother of Our Lord and our own mother. We have recourse to the entire family of God, to Mary and the entire communion of saints. We naturally seek their help as children of the family of God.

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

Mary instructed the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them. Our Blessed Mother understands that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Our Blessed Mother ever points the way to Jesus. She longs for all her children to learn his ways and follow him; she hopes for all to reflect his light as she does; she deeply desires that each of us become more fully integrated into Christ as children of God. We must follow our Holy Mother’s example; we must obey God in all things, completely trusting him in all things, that we may continue to grow in his way.

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

The generous heart of our Blessed Mother notices the needs of others and promptly seeks the aid of her Divine Son. Our Lord calls us to likewise have a generous heart and to help others however we can. We must also notice the needs of others—those near and far—and seek to aid them through our support and talents, and above all through our prayers on their behalf. We must likewise intercede for others before God and man, seeing in everyone a brother or sister in Jesus and Mary.

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

Our Blessed Mother cherishes each of us and is attentive to all our needs. May we have ever greater recourse to her motherly love and help.

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Jesus and his new disciples celebrated with the newlyweds at Cana. They sang and danced before the Father, joyfully singing a new song before the Lord.

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Jesus’ disciples began to believe in him after seeing this miracle. In the end, though, his words would become even more compelling for them than the signs. Peter would even declare that Jesus has “the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68).