In today’s Gospel Jesus works his first sign. It involves the transformation of water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana. There are a number of “signs” in John’s Gospel. Some people saw the signs on a physical or natural level, but Jesus is focusing on the spiritual level. As an example, in the sign of the loaves and fishes, the disciples see Jesus satisfying physical hunger, but Jesus is pointing to the spiritual hunger of the people.

       At the wedding feast of Cana, Jesus transforms water used for ritual cleansing into wine. The meaning is found in the abundance of the new wine. There was enough wine for several wedding feasts. The abundance of wine was a symbol of the mercy and love of God. Jesus is the new wine.