Christ’s FIRST sign was based on a single observation of His Most Blessed Mother…
I always feel that I do not have enough hours in my day to get everything done…
This is not the problem of a working-mother, because I have always felt that I did not have enough hours in my day, even when I was a little schoolgirl and did not have to juggle the various priorities of my life right now. In fact, when I was just a little schoolgirl, my teachers would often tell my parents that they were worried that I would “burn out” because I rushed around so much.
I never liked that phrase, “burn out”. After all, I would reason when my parents recounted these words of my teachers, “I am not a candle! And humans do not 'burn out'”. When I left school, my teachers each signed a card for their students to say farewell. In my card, the theme was central to their observations of me – slow down. In fact, my HSC biology teacher wrote, “Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.” And though I have never really forgotten those messages, I have continued rushing around like crazy anyway – constantly being observed to rush around and in need to slowing down.
And so it is, that over the last few days, I have been reflecting on this common observation made about me.
I read a passage in the Gospel the other day, and it reminded me of the first time that Christ used the word “hour” in the Gospel and why. In the Gospel of Saint John, in the story of Christ’s first miracle at Cana, “When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to Him, ‘They have no more wine.’” And in response Christ replied, “‘O woman, what have you to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.’” (John 2:3–4).
I have been reflecting on this interaction between Christ and His Blessed Mother. She did not really do anything at all. She did not even make a request of Her Blessed Son. All that She did was make an observation to her Holy Son – that was all. She did not ask or demand or beg, she merely observed.
She said, “They have no more wine.” And Christ took such meaning from the observation of His Mother…
And what word did He use in His reply? HOUR. “My HOUR has not yet come.” (John 2:4, emphasis added). When I think about this word it strikes me as marvellous. After all, from His response, it appears that Christ was preparing for a momentous HOUR. He was surely waiting for a certain time and space for things to happen the way they needed to...
And yet, based on a single OBSERVATION of His Most Holy Mother, Christ moved His hour forward –for Her…
And so what did He do?
“Now six stone jars were standing there… Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.’… When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine,… (he) said… ‘Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.’” (John. 2:6-10).
All of that – water into wine, which was the FIRST of His signs – based on a single observation of His Most Blessed Mother…
How glorious is God! How wonderful is His Blessed Mother!
Mary, Mother of God I beg of you to please watch me always – for it is through Your lovingly tender eyes that I wish for You to make your observations of me to Your Most Holy Son…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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