Gospel in Art: There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee

The Wedding Feast at Cana, by Paolo Veronese,1563 © The Louvre Museum, Paris

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 19 January 2025
John 2:1-11

At that time: There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' And Jesus said to her, 'Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding seventy or one hundred litres. Jesus said to the servants, 'Fill the jars with water.' And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, 'Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.' So they took it. When the master 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 master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, 'Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.'

This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

Reflection on the painting

Many of us have received invitations to weddings, often from those we hold dear, be it the bride, the groom, or both. Such invitations are meaningful as the show that the couple values us and wishes to include us in their joy on their significant day. When we accept, we step into their circle of love and happiness, sharing in a joy so profound that it cannot be contained by the couple, but overflows to embrace those who have been important in their lives.

In today's Gospel reading, we hear about a wedding in Cana of Galilee where a young couple extended such an invitation to Jesus, his mother, and some of his disciples. Their presence at the celebration reveals the couple's esteem for them. This event marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry in the Gospel of John. It is compelling that his gospel starts with Jesus sharing in the joy of a couple starting their married life and ends with him mourning the loss of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha. Just as Jesus rejoiced with the newlyweds in Cana, he also stood with the grieving family in Bethany. This juxtaposition reminds us that Jesus lived fully among the people, sharing both their moments of intense joy and their deepest sorrows.

Probably one of the most spectacular and theatrical depictions of the wedding feast of Cana, is Paolo Veronese's canvas, now in the Louvre Museum. It is a monumental ( 6.77 m by 9.94 m; 267 in by 391 in.) masterpiece that vividly captures the biblical scene of Jesus turning water into wine, his first miracle. The scene unfolds in a bustling, opulent banquet setting, with over 130 figures, including Jesus and Mary, placed at the centre of the composition amidst a lavish feast. Veronese masterfully combines biblical narrative with contemporary Venetian society, as the attire, architecture, and customs depicted reflect 16th-century Venice. The painting is infused with dynamic energy, featuring musicians, servants, and guests engaging in lively interactions, while subtle details, such as the water jars, point to the miraculous moment unfolding. So much to look at! The painting was commissioned on 6 June 1562 by the Order of Saint Benedict, to decorate the far wall of the monastery's new refectory, designed by the architect Andrea Palladio, at the San Giorgio Monastery. Among the wedding guests are historical figures, such as the monarchs Eleanor of Austria, Francis I of France, and Mary I of England, Suleiman the Magnificent, tenth sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-2-1-11-2025/