A sermon on John 2:1-11, wedding at Cana

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
St. Mary Catholic Church
St. Benignus Catholic Church 
St. Mary Queen of Heaven
and Holy Trinity Catholic Church

The wedding of Cana reminded me of a catchphrase an exasperated Oliver Hardy said to the dumb-witted Stan Laurel in their movie "Another Fine Mess."

"Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into!" 

This newly wedded couple were in a terrible mess that was hardly "nice."

Jewish weddings lasted seven days. The wedding planner had to get enough wine to last a week. The "party hearty" crowd drank so much wine it ran out before the celebration finished. This would be a terrible embarrassment to the groom and his parents. 

How could the groom provide for his wife if he couldn't even provide enough wine? The parents would look cheap by not buying enough wine.

Into this mess walks Jesus. Mary told Jesus, “They have no more wine.” (John 2:2.) 

I believe the Cana story is more than just empty wine cups. They symbolize our lives when we are at a loss of what to do and feel empty of hope. Too often life can become a "no more wine" moment. The peace you seek has dried up.

It is in those moments that Jesus reveals His glory the most. The glory of Jesus is when He brings His Divinity to make things right when your life is messed up. 

His Glory shines brightest when He makes better broken hearts depleted of joy. At my Black Catholic Communion Church where I preached for 21 years, the worshippers had a saying: "When Jesus touches you, you know you've been touched." 

It expressed their faith that Jesus always brings the very best blessings – the good wine. Jesus never makes cheap wine nor gives second-class grace. 

There is a blessing that I cherish the most, a blessing where I feel the strong touch of Jesus when I experience a "no more wine" moment. 

It is this. 

The faith to believe my problems become God's problems. Even my smallest problem is important to Him. I can face anything in my life knowing that God and I will handle it together. When you accept the authority of Jesus over you, then expect God to give you a "sign" that He is in charge. Jesus reveals God's presence through signs. I call them "Wow moments."

One parishioner calls them, "God winks." I share one with you.

I spent Christmas day with my sister, Michelle. Driving home the following day, I had to pass the Pierce Township Cemetery where my mom and dad are laid to rest. I wanted to visit their grave to wish them a Merry Christmas. I started to walk through the cemetery to locate them. I had an idea of where they were but wasn't sure of the exact spot. I began my search. The ground was so wet I felt like I was walking on a sponge. The further I walked, the more my feet began to sink into the mud. 

Eventually, my entire left foot sunk into muddy ground so deep I fell down. I looked like I was mud racing through the cemetery. I let God know I wasn't too thrilled about this. 

Quoting St. Teresa of Avila, who also once fell in the mud, "God, if this is the way you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few of them."

I crawled through the muddy water to grab a tombstone to help me stand up. When I looked up from the ground, I saw I was holding onto my mom and dad's stone. I think Dad made me fall so I could find it. Then, I recalled the words of my mother who joked with me as a child, "Michael, you could trip over a leaf." 

On that day, Jesus changed my muddy water into the choicest of wines. Happy New Year. (And pray for the victims of the LA fires.)