Let us notice that Mary was present at the start of Jesus’ public ministry as well as the end of His public life. We are thus told in our Gospel that Mary played a major role concerning the Wedding Feast of Cana and we are later told that she was present at the cross when her Son came to breath His final breath.
When our Blessed Mother makes her request our Blessed Lord states back to her: “Woman what is that to me? My hour is not yet come.”
Each time that our Lord uses this word, hour, He does so in reference to His death. It would be three years later that this hour would come to pass. In this hour this wine changes into His blood for He comes to die upon the cross for us. From the cross He looks upon His mother and addresses her with this same title: “Woman, behold, your son.”
There are some who see the use of this word “woman” to lower the importance of Mary or to show disrespect unto her. This could not be further from the case. If we were to go all the way back to the Book of Genesis we would notice that Eve, prior to the Fall, was always referred to as woman. It was only after the Fall that she was referred to as Eve. Therefore, the use of this word, woman, does not show disrespect to Mary, but reveals so much concerning her.
The use of this word, woman, takes us back to a world which did not know sin and death. So too we know and profess that Mary was the pure and spotless vessel which was prepared by God to bring forth the Savior of this world. Mary was immaculately conceived and she never came to know the stain of sin. She is truly the New Eve for she restores that which was lost in the Garden and further prepares the way for the Lord’s coming.
Devotion to Mary is most important for each of us. As some would say “to Jesus through Mary.” Even at the Wedding Feast of Cana we would notice that this was being made manifest. When the problem arose that the wine had run short they did not come to a servant, but they came to Mary with their plea. She took the needs of those around her and she in return brought them to her Son.
Likewise, let us come to foster such perfect devotion to her. She after all is known as being the Mediatrix of All Graces. As the Second Vatican Council document, Lumen Gentium, testifies: “By her motherly love, she takes care of the brothers of her Son who are still in pilgrimage and in dangers and difficulties, until they be led through to the happy fatherland... This however is to be so understood that it takes nothing away, or adds nothing to the dignity and efficacy of Christ the one Mediator.”
Therefore, let us come to her with our needs, in order that she may bring them before her Son. All our hardships, joys, sorrows, and disappointments should be brought unto her in order that we may go “to Jesus through Mary.” Through devotion to her may our heart grow more in love with Christ and the desire to dwell with Him always.
