“When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’
And Jesus said to her, ‘O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” — John 2:3–5 (RSV-CE)
The Wedding at Cana is a story of joy, crisis, and divine intervention. It is a story of family, celebration, and the glory of Christ revealed in a quiet Galilean town. But at its heart lies a profound exchange between Jesus and His mother that has stirred the thoughts and prayers of Christians for centuries.
“Woman, my hour has not yet come.” What does Jesus mean? Why does He speak to His mother in this way? And why does Mary, after this seemingly hesitant reply, persist with the confident words: “Do whatever he tells you”?
This moment is not simply about wine at a wedding. It is about God’s plan of salvation, the unique role of Mary, and the faith to obey Christ. Let’s take a closer look.
The Title “Woman”
When Jesus addresses Mary as “woman,” it can sound cold to modern ears. Yet in the biblical world, it is not an insult but a title of dignity. We see this most powerfully at the Cross:
“When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’” — John 19:26–27
Here, in His dying moments, Jesus once again calls Mary “woman.” He is not rejecting her, but elevating her—linking her to the “woman” foretold in Genesis:
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” — Genesis 3:15
Mary is the New Eve. As Eve’s disobedience opened the door to sin, Mary’s obedience opened the way for salvation. To call her “woman” is to acknowledge her role in the divine plan: she is not only Jesus’ mother but also the woman who stands at the centre of salvation history.
“My Hour Has Not Yet Come”
The “hour” in John’s Gospel always points to Christ’s Passion and glorification.
“The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified.” — John 12:23
“Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father.” — John 13:1
“Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee.” — John 17:1
At Cana, Jesus is signalling that His full mission—the shedding of His blood, His death, and Resurrection—is not yet. His public signs are glimpses of that ultimate “hour.”
And yet, He chooses to act. Why? Because His mother intercedes. Her request does not change the divine plan but becomes part of it. By responding to her, Jesus shows that God’s providence includes the prayers of His faithful—and above all, the prayers of His mother.
Mary’s Role as Intercessor
Mary does not argue with her Son. She does not demand. She simply says: “They have no wine.” She notices the need before others do and places it before Jesus.
Even after His reply, she trusts Him. Turning to the servants, she says: “Do whatever he tells you.”
These words are her final recorded words in Scripture. They are not just a command to the servants at Cana; they are an instruction to us all. Mary’s whole mission is to lead us to Christ.
And here lies the heart of Catholic devotion to Mary. We pray to her not because she is God, but because she is the Mother of God. She knows our needs, even before we can express them. She brings them to her Son. And she tells us, always: “Do whatever He tells you.”
When we pray the Hail Mary, when we turn to Our Lady of Lourdes or Our Lady of Fatima, when we kneel before a statue or light a candle before her image, we are not stopping at Mary. We are entrusting our needs to the one who has the ear of Jesus. She intercedes, just as she did at Cana.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it beautifully:
“This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly … she continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation … Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.” (CCC 969)
The Miracle: From Water to Wine
Jesus orders the servants to fill six stone jars with water. They fill them to the brim, and He transforms the water into wine—better wine than what had been served before.
This miracle is not a mere act of hospitality. It is a sign filled with symbolism:
The six jars, used for Jewish purification rites, point to the old covenant—soon to be fulfilled and surpassed.
The abundance (around 120–180 gallons) points to the superabundant grace of God.
The quality of the wine, the best saved for last, points to the surpassing glory of the new covenant in Christ.
As John concludes:
“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” — John 2:11
The wine at Cana prefigures the Eucharistic chalice. At the Last Supper, Jesus would again take wine and transform it—not into something finer, but into His own Blood:
“This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” — Luke 22:20
At Cana, the shadow of Calvary already falls.
Praying to Mary in Our Needs
So what does this mean for us? It means we can—and should—turn to Mary with our petitions. Just as at Cana, she notices our needs. She brings them to Jesus. And Jesus listens.
Have you ever found yourself praying, “Mary, help me”? Many Catholics do this instinctively. In sickness, in family troubles, in struggles with faith, we whisper to her. And like the good mother she is, she brings those whispers straight to her Son.
This is why the Hail Mary is so powerful:
“Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”
At Cana, she interceded for the newlyweds. Today, she intercedes for us. No prayer to Mary ever stops with Mary—it always ends with Jesus.
A Devotional Reflection
Lord Jesus,
At Cana you revealed your glory at the request of your mother.
Teach me to trust Mary’s intercession as the saints have always done.
Through her prayers, help me to bring my own needs to you with confidence.
When I am lacking—in faith, in hope, in love—let me hear her voice again:
“Do whatever He tells you.”
Fill my heart with the new wine of your grace,
And make me a servant ready to obey your word.
Amen.
A Poem: Mary at Cana
A mother’s eye, so quick to see,
The need that hides from you and me.
A whispered word, a quiet prayer,
She knows her Son will answer there.
“Woman,” He says, “my hour’s not near,”
Yet still she trusts, her heart sincere.
She turns, she speaks, her voice so true:
“Do what He tells you—He’ll act for you.”
The jars are filled, the water flows,
A greater gift, His power shows.
And in the wine, both rich and fine,
We taste the promise of the Vine.
So when my soul runs dry again,
And prayer feels empty, weak, and plain,
I call on her, who points to Him,
And grace o’erflows my cup to brim.
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At Cana, Mary’s intercession moved Jesus to act. At Calvary, she stood faithfully beside Him. 
Today, she continues her role as Mother of the Church—bringing our prayers to her Son and urging us to obey Him.
The lesson for us is simple and profound: trust her, speak to her, and let her lead you to Christ. For at Cana and beyond, Mary teaches us what all true discipleship is: to do whatever He tells us.************
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