The best Wine

Today’s Gospel Text:  On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. 3 When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6 Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it. 9 When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "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." 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him. John 2:1-11

Reflection: Some really play their trump card first or if they were to make a speech then they would prefer to start with a bang and put forward the punch line first.

Yes that is how we must operate in order to be successful: When you sit for your exams you answer what is high scoring and better known first and then go for the rest of the questions.

You go for an important date or interview you will put on the best clothes for the occasion.

A grocer may sell what is best first in order to attract customers or if he sells what is best last then too it is for a reason; so that he can get a better price for quality.

But when in it comes to certain things of life, for eg. wine and alcohol people behave differently, they give what is best last. Why?

We are here, many a times, with our sinful self, only to impress and deceive. 

The worst is that we even deceive ourselves without realizing it, we do not give ourselves the best that we can actually have. In other words the best that we actually avail ourselves of, even though we may be convinced about it, is not in reality the best that we give ourselves.

The wedding feast story is a reminder that God always wants to give us the best and that the best wine that humans help themselves with, even if it is first, is not the best.

Jesus came precisely for this reason, so that we may have the best wine; the wine that defeats every human standards of joy, happiness and pleasures of life. 

What is more, it surpasses it to an extent that even if we are not in a state of right judgment due to our inebriated condition we will be able to say: "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."

To those who have eyes to see and believe; the best wine comes to us through the mediation of Mary! Alleluia! 

Prayer: Lord, we need a constant taste of your wine to keep us on the path of righteousness, so as not to walk in self-deception.

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