Imaginative Contemplation on Wedding at Cana

Imaginative contemplation - by Sue

If God is everywhere and we are seeking to use our entire lives and bodies then it follows that we should be able to use all our minds – both the intellectual and the imaginative to try and come closer to God. Ignatius encourages people to use their imaginations when they are reading the Bible as a way of entering into the passage. I think in the days before mass literacy it would have been a good way of teaching and helping people to remember Bible passages as well as thinking about what it means for us personally. As ever not everyone will find it easy or feel comfortable with this method – but for others it can open a new way of seeing things.

Particularly appropriate for meditating on various passages about the personal encounters individuals had with Jesus and as it is one of the passages read at the Epiphany season I have chosen the Marriage at Cana – 1st miracle for this evening.

Settle down comfortably but not too comfortably – need to be attentive.

Began with a prayer, then read through the entire passage and then guide us all through the meditation section by section leaving silence between each one.

Prayer
God, our inspiration, we ask for grace that each of us may hear your voice in this passage, and for grace to respond.

Marriage at Cana, John 2 1-12
Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.”
4 Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.”
5 She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”
6-7 Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim.
8 “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,” Jesus said, and they did.
9-10 When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!”

Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also.

Imagine yourself coming to the wedding – you might be guest, perhaps one of the neighbours, or perhaps one of the servants. What does the home look like? Are you inside or outside? Who are the other guests? What kind of family is this? How are things laid out? Can you smell food – what is it? Are you eating or drinking? Does it taste good? Are you touching the table, the food?
Can you see the couple? Can you see Jesus ….. Mary?

When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.”
4 Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.”

Have you tasted the wine? What was it like?
Can you hear Mary? How does she look, what is her tone of voice?
Can you hear Jesus reply? How does he look?

5 She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”

Can you see the servants? How do they look? How does Mary speak to them? What do you think about this?

6-7 Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim.

Where are the waterpots? What shape are they? What colour? Do you touch them?
Where is jesus? Can I see what is going on? How do they fill up the jars? How long does it take? Can you hear the water going into the jars or is it too far away.

8 “Now fill your pitchers from the waterpots and take them to the host,” So they did.
What is Jesus doing and saying – how do the servants respond? Can you see what is happening?
9-10 When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!”

Do you hear the host? Or does someone tell you the story later? Have you got some of the wine? Can you taste it? What does the comment make you think? How are the guests and servants responding? What is Jesus doing? Where is Mary?

Silence

What is my response to this passage?
Was there anything new you noticed in imagining the piece?
How does it make you feel about Jesus?
Is there anything you would want to say to Jesus?

Group discussion
In small groups of two or three share something of the experience of the meditation.
Either share any new thoughts or ideas that have come to you
Or share how the meditation felt – was it difficult or easy, helpful/unhelpful, how might you do it slightly differently.