The wine failed. In our circumstances we might be inclined to joke about such an occurrence, especially as some writers have suggested that it was the coming of the Disciples to the feast that caused the shortage, which must have been unexpected. But it was a grievous disaster for a Jewish family. These festivals were saved up for, stinted for, the whole prestige of the family hung on doing things in reasonable style. Failure at that moment would represent a crowning humiliation. The attentive eye of Mary perceived the crisis before any of the guests, before even the chief steward saw it. She must have intercepted some pained exchange of glances. Even then, before “her hour”’ she is shown to us as the mother of men, poised (so to speak) to anticipate the needs of her children.
      She reacted in an extraordinary way, which the Gospel recounts to us. She went to her Son and said to Him, “They have no wine.” Historic words! We might be inclined to think: why should she not go to Him whom she knew to be the Creator, the Master of nature, the worker of miracles? On the other hand it is not told that Our Lord worked any miracles before then ... definitely there had been no public miracle.

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