On Sunday 18 January, celebrations were held in Cana of Galilee, today’s village of Kafr Kanna, for Jesus’ first miracle during the Wedding at Cana.
The Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, visited the local parish, accompanied by the Custodial Treasurer, Fr. Agustin Pelayo Fregoso, and the Deputy Head of Mission of the Apostolic Nunciature in Israel, Msgr. Nicola di Ponzio.
As written in the Gospel, Jesus took part in a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee, together with his mother Mary and some disciples. In the middle of the celebration, however, the wine ran out. At that point Mary asked her son for help, and he replied, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come" (John 2, 1-11). Mary, however, knew that her son was capable of great things and, turning to the servants, asked them to do whatever Jesus told them, an invitation that remains relevant and speaks to Christians all over the world.
Jesus, called upon to resolve the situation, ordered that six large jars be filled with water. When the steward of the banquet tasted the liquid contained in these jars, he was astonished, noting with surprise that the bridegroom had kept the good wine until the end, instead of serving it at the beginning, as was customary at that time.
The Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, was welcomed in Cana by the friars, the sisters, and many faithful from the local community. The feast of Jesus’ first miracle was celebrated in the Church of the Wedding at Cana, which for the occasion was filled with faithful of all ages.
In an atmosphere of joy and celebration, the Custos presided at the Mass, in the presence of priests from the Melkite and Greek Orthodox communities of Kafr Kanna.
In his homily, Fr. Francesco Ielpo first emphasized the clear and steadfast faith of Mary, which remains firm even in the face of Jesus’ seemingly ambiguous response. The behavior of the Virgin Mary offers a powerful example of how to entrust one’s life to God without needing to understand everything, but simply by trusting in Jesus.
Furthermore, the Custos of the Holy Land stressed that the good wine is a sign of God’s grace. Indeed, in moments when "the wine runs out", when joy is lacking, God transforms human life into a great feast and restores happiness, asking only that we entrust ourselves to him.
After the Mass, the Catholic community of Cana celebrated together with the Custos, sharing a festive meal in an atmosphere of joy and fellowship.
Riccardo Curti
