Intoxicating wine of divine charity

Our Lord's first public miracle was the changing of water into wine at the wedding in Cana. Our Lady's heartfelt compassion for the plight of the newlyweds led her to intercede for them and their guests with her divine Son. The merit of the spouses is never mentioned in the text; the glory of God is revealed in the Son's power over nature and in the compassion of His Mother. The married couple is the recipient of a gratuitous miracle for a divine end.

The wine cheered the happy guests rejoicing in the newly married spouses' honor. Therefore, the miracle's practical effect was upon the wedding guests, and fittingly so as the faithful and loving witness of Christian spouses can have an intoxicating effect on their children, their fellow Christians, and even on the greater society. The mystery of Christ's love for the Church is reflected in the vows and lives of the married spouses. Christ elevated the dignity of marriage to the level of a sacrament whereby He confers grace upon the husband and wife through their fidelity to their matrimonial vows.

Our Blessed Mother Mary is concerned for each and every marriage in the world. Her intercession then and now avails much for the changing of the water of unhappy tears into the wine of divinely inspired love between husband and wife. In this morally hazardous time of ours when so many marriages are hurting or ended, our Lady pleads for us with her divine Son, "they have no wine." May we heed her Motherly mandate: "whatever He says, do." Christ is listening to His beloved Mother interceding for us and He is willing to change our marriages into intoxicating signs of His love for His bride the Church.

Originally posted 14 June 2014