This week’s Gospel tells the story of the wedding at Cana. This reading documents the first miracle performed by Jesus and shows how Jesus honored His Mother’s wishes despite His own wants. The aspect that I want to focus on is the invitation Jesus received to attend the wedding along with His mother.
Just imagine what it would be like to have Jesus and Mary at your wedding. Most people would be thrilled to have the pope, a high-ranking priest, or even a celebrity in attendance. But having Jesus and Mary there? That would be a dream come true.
For Jesus and Mary to be present in our lives, we first have to invite them. An invitation requires communication, and in this case, that communication comes through prayer. The more we engage in meaningful prayer, the closer we grow to them. Prayer is the bridge that strengthens our relationship with Jesus and Mary.
Marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and a woman. While a priest or deacon isn’t required for the sacrament to be valid, it was important for my wife and me to make Jesus and Mary central to our wedding day. We chose to marry in Jesus’s house, the church, and during the ceremony, we did something special. In addition to giving a rose to each of our mothers, we also placed one at the foot of a statue of Mary. This was our way of inviting Jesus and Mary into our marriage.
Too often, couples plan their weddings with great attention to detail—the perfect venue, beautiful music, delicious food, and flowing drinks—but overlook inviting Jesus. Without Him, something always feels missing.
We shouldn’t just want Jesus and Mary to be part of our weddings; we should invite them into our daily lives. Personally, I’d rather approach the gates of heaven and hear, “Welcome, Matt!” than, “Who are you?” At first, our relationship with Jesus might feel one-sided, but as we draw closer to Him, we begin to notice the ways He communicates with us. Life becomes more bearable, more meaningful, and filled with joy when we invite Jesus to walk with us.
