Veronese, Paolo. *The Wedding Feast at Cana.* 1563, The Musée du Louvre, Paris.

One of our favorite Biblical parables is the first miracle at Cana. We see it as a lovely little Picture of Man.

Mary represents the Awareness, and while she could have been the wife or sister, the role of Mother in this case suggests both Wisdom in her evaluation of the situation, and a certain authority and prestige as well. The essence of feminine Wisdom, performing its function, evaluating and reporting.

Jesus represents the masculine creative power, Initiative, although it is plain nothing would have happened had he been alone. And even though He balked at first (the first time out can unsettle anyone!) there never was a doubt in Mary’s heart for a moment that he would respond to her evaluation.

This story is so beautiful a representation of the Picture of Man. Either one alone would have done nothing to alter the situation. Notice the desire even to alter it was out of consideration for the host, for the party. The entire event was an act of love for others, nothing more. What was done was done quietly, no fanfare was made, and this seems clear because the response was just murmurings from those who noticed the new was superior to the old.

So the Mary the Awareness who noticed people were uncomfortable (nowhere does it say she wanted another drink!) reported this circumstance to Jesus the Spirit. A little Not-I said, “You can’t do that” or “Do it later”, whatever, and Mary in her Wisdom IGNORED it. Her supreme confidence in her partner in this situation resulted in an accurate assessment that something would be done to contribute. (Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. Heb. 11-1) Notice, too, she didn’t tell Him HOW to do it, she just told him WHAT WAS GOING ON. The servants who fetched the water jugs represent the physical body. And of course the deed was done, harmony was restored to the gathering, which itself was a celebration of love.

Happy Mother’s Day!

from FTE Vol I, No 2