Nonverbal communication accounts for most of what we say—our tone of voice, facial expressions, the look in our eyes, even our posture—and one of the real challenges in reading the gospel accounts is that they rarely include these sorts of nonverbal clues.
-From Ch. 2 ("Oh, Mother!") of Jesus Journey
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
The wine ran out. Jesus' mother came over to him. "They haven't got any wine!" she said.
"Oh, Mother!" replied Jesus. "What's that got to do with you and me? My time hasn't come yet."
His mother spoke to the servants. "Do whatever he tells you," she said.
—John 2:1-5
I always read the Wedding at Cana scene as a slightly tense exchange between Jesus and his mother, resulting in Mary asserting herself as parent and directing Jesus to help.
I somehow failed to see beyond the text.
The nonverbal moment Trent envisions between Jesus and Mary in chapter two of Jesus Journey changes the entire story. I can absolutely relate—my husband Justin often jokes that my mother and I have whole conversations without saying a word.
It's a communication style that only works in the closest of relationships. What a beautiful moment to imagine between a son and his mother!
As Trent suggests, the hesitation in Jesus' verbal response could be rooted in his deep awareness that his journey as Messiah will ultimately lead him to his death. Yet, Jesus agrees that this is the right time to start that journey.
Taken together, this moment of mixed emotions, a critical part of the story of Jesus' first miracle, is a quintessential example of Jesus' humanity.
"Water is transformed into wine," writes Trent, "a wedding party in Cana is saved, and King Jesus begins his three-year journey to the cross, all of it turning on a silent exchange between a son and his mother."
Today's guest post is by Vanessa Fazio Pasquariello: Vanessa lives in East Boston with her husband and son, she's a parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish, and is also a vital part of the house church that Trent and his wife Bronwyn help to lead. Vanessa works for an ad agency in Boston and serves on the board of ZUMIX, a youth arts organization in East Boston. She's a big fan of The Beatles and all things New Jersey.
(Photo credits: Chelsea Hudson)