Homily for Saturday Devotional Mass - Holy Mary, The New Eve

 

Rev 21:1-5

Responsorial: Is 61:10-11, 62:2-3

Jn 2:1-11

 Christ the King Catholic Church, Iowa Park, TX

 

As early as the 2^nd Century A.D., the Blessed Virgin Mary has been understood by the Holy Roman Church as the New Eve. Both St. Justin Martyr and St. Irenaeus wrote of this intimate connection she shares with her son, Jesus Christ, the New Adam (1 Cor 15:45). It is through her mediation, that she becomes a co-operator in Christ’s work of salvation, both as the new Eve and as the Mother of God. St. Irenaeus inspired one of Mary’s titles as the ‘undoer of knots’ when he wrote “the knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by Mary’s obedience. The bonds fastened by the virgin Eve through disbelief were untied by the virgin Mary through faith.” (Adversus haereses, 3:22, 4)

In the Gospel of John, Mary appears only twice. Once at the wedding feast in Cana, as we heard today, and again at the foot of the cross. This is not an accident. Mary’s two appearances in John’s Gospel point to the spiritual truth about her role and relationship to Jesus in God’s plan of salvation. At Cana, Mary is the embodiment of the faithful and obedient people of God. Recalling the events at Mount Sinai in the Book of Exodus, when the people of Israel ratified their covenantal wedding with God by proclaiming “we will do everything the Lord has told us” (Ex 24:3, 19:8, 24:7), Mary exemplifies the perfection of the new covenant by instructing the servers at the wedding to “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5) By these words of Mary, John is pointing out to us that Mary has a twofold role. First, she is the model disciple who subordinates herself to her Son. Second, by bringing the needs of the wedding couple to Jesus and by encouraging the servants to be docile and obedient to his commands, Mary is the intermediary, the intercessor between the household and her divine Son. St. Thomas Aquinas affirmed her dual role as mediatrix – interceding with her Son, and instructing the servants to listen to Him. (Commentary on the Gospel of John 2.1, section 344)

At Cana, Mary’s role as the New Eve is highlighted. God’s covenantal marriage with his people on the third day at Mount Sinai has been renewed in the eschatological marriage (the ultimate destiny) of the Messiah with his people, personified by Mary, on the third day at Cana. It is important to note that the old covenant has not been discarded and thrown out. Rather, it has been transformed into the wine of the Gospel in the Word made Flesh – Jesus Christ.

At Cana, a new dimension of Mary’s motherhood has been revealed. Her care and solicitude for all human beings as a mother is spiritual, and not just of the flesh. Mary places herself between her Son, Jesus Christ, and all of mankind, in the midst of our needs, our wants, and our sufferings. As the Mother of God incarnate, she has the right and the duty to do so. St. John Paul the Great writes that “As a mother she also wishes the messianic power of her Son to be manifested, that salvific power of his which is meant to help man in his misfortunes, to free him from the evil which in various forms and degrees weighs heavily upon his life.” (Redemptoris Mater, 21)

For me, the most interesting thing about the interchange between Jesus and Mary is what it reveals about Mary’s role as mother, mediatrix, and the new Eve. In their banter, Jesus implied that while it was not part of God’s plan for him to use his power to solve the crisis of the shortage of wine at the wedding, Our Lady’s motherly request and intercession on behalf of her spiritual children moves Him to act. Let us therefore not be neglectful in approaching our Blessed Mother to intercede on our behalf. She will listen to our prayers and bring them to her Son. It is as if a peasant approaches the king with the gift of a lowly little apple. Mary takes that apple and places it on the finest golden platter and offers it to the King of Kings with her own hand, and the tiny apple becomes the grandest of gifts. As we honor or Blessed Mother in this Eucharist, let us always strive to heed her words and so become true disciples: “Do whatever He tells you”

Holy Mary, Our New Eve, Pray for Us!