Sunday Scriptures

A Look at Mary’s Role in Christ’s Ministry

 by Father Michael W. Panicali

This past feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I accompanied my Men’s Ministry and other parishioners to a Lynbrook movie theatre to see the Marian Fathers-made film, “I Am The Immaculate Conception,” a docudrama detailing the events in the life of Mary and Jesus that, in a nutshell, have allowed for us sinful humanity to be saved, and ultimately enter into eternal glory.

I was particularly struck by the scene portraying the Wedding Feast of Cana, which happens to be our Gospel reading this weekend. There have been many artistic representations of this Second Luminous Mystery of the Holy Rosary throughout our over two-millennium history, in all modalities.

While these representations are generally happy and inspiring, showing a beautiful miracle unfolding, the depth of Christ’s power over earthly substances, and his concern for this wedding couple, what was striking about this film’s portrayal was its
seriousness. I would even say it was one of the more solemn moments in the film.

Catholics believe that the Blessed Mother is, of course, intimately linked with the salvific role of her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. To say that Mary signals in the Cana dialogue between her, Jesus, and the head wedding steward that it is time for Jesus’ public ministry to begin would be an adequate read and analysis of the events enfolded in the Wedding Feast at Cana, a pivotal event in John’s Gospel. For this reason, the film does the scene its due justice.

It is Jesus who, by saying, “My hour has not yet come,” is basically deferring to his mother as to when his public ministry of preaching, teaching, and, yes, suffering and death is to begin. It is Mary who, by saying, “Do whatever He tells you,” is signaling that the time has indeed come.

The film portrays this as quite somber because, of course, Jesus’ public ministry ultimately leads to his passion, crucifixion, and death. We Catholics hearken back to the words of the wise and elderly Simeon at the Fourth Joyful Mystery, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, when he declares to Mary that a sword will pierce her immaculate heart.

We do not need to extrapolate just how much Mary suffered in seeing her divine son be tortured and killed and then leave this earth and this fleshy existence so as to reign in heaven. While she exalted in Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension, Mary would no longer have her divine son at her physical side for the remainder of her time on this earth. She undoubtedly felt Jesus’ physical absence as any mother would.

It is for this reason that it is truly right and just to hold the Blessed Mother as the greatest of saints, to look for wisdom and consolation in her motherly suffering, and to pray through her intercession, as Our Lord directs us to when Mary is at the foot of His Cross. This is abundantly made clear in the beautiful yet serious events of the wedding feast at Cana. Our Church continues to bless Mary and uphold her as the “Seat of Wisdom.”


Readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 62:1-5
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
John 2:1-11


Father Michael W. Panicali is the Parochial Vicar for St. Helen, Howard Beach. He is also chaplain of Knights of Columbus, Council 6134, Most Precious Blood-Sts. Simon and Jude, Bath Beach.