About This Lesson Plan on the Wedding at Cana
This Mother Mary lesson plan on the Wedding at Cana will help youth understand the role of Mary as our mother and an intercessor for us. We will also discuss the importance of the phrase "Do whatever he tells you".
Opening Game for Mother Mary
Start by playing Mary Says. This is just Simon Says, but using the phase "Mary says..." instead.
Follow up with a couple of questions:
- Do you listen when your mother tells you to do something?
- Do you think Jesus listened to his mother?
- Have you ever asked your mother to pray for you? What about our Blessed Mother Mary?
We are used to asking friends and family to pray for us. We also ask the saints in heaven, including our Blessed Mother, to pray for us. This is called intercessory prayer, when on person prays for another. Today we will discuss why we ask Mary to intercede for us in this way.
Scripture Reading for Lesson Plan on Mother Mary
Read the Gospel:
John 2:1-11 (The Wedding at Cana) - the Gospel Reading for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C
There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, ""They have no wine.""
And Jesus said to her, ""Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.""
His mother said to the servers, ""Do whatever he tells you.""
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, ""Fill the jars with water."" So they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them, ""Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter."" So they took it.
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from - although the servers who had drawn the water knew -, the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, ""Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.""
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.
John 2:1-11
Discussion about the Wedding at Cana
We don't have much recorded about the interaction between our Blessed Mother Mary and Jesus. With the exception of a few incidents, most of the time before Jesus started his public ministry is an unknown. We don't see him in the home at Nazareth taking out the trash or helping get ready for dinner. We don't see his parents telling him when he needs to be back home. We have no recordings of banter between him and Mary and Joseph. But he had a relationship with his parents just as you do.
This story from the Gospel of John provides some insight.
The first thing to note is that Mary has no issue asking Jesus to do something. They are out of wine, which would have been a great embarrassment for the family hosting the wedding. Mary points this out to Jesus, clearly expecting him to fix the problem. She is interceding for the wedding hosts, asking Jesus to help them.
After some back and forth between Jesus and Mary, Jesus does what his mother asks. At first he seems to resist. Although there are many interpretations of his response, too many to go into here. But the important point here is that Jesus asks on Mary's request - her intercession. And as a result, he performs his first public miracle. Just because his mom asked!
But Mary's role in this account does not stop there. She tells the servers to "Do whatever he tells you." Jesus will need their cooperation. And Mary expects those she is interceding for to respect her son and his instructions.
In the same way, we should hear Mary's voice telling us "Do whatever he tells you." She will ask Jesus to help us, but we must also cooperate.
Close your eyes and picture this scene: Jesus tells the servers to fill the jugs with water. (Pause.) They discuss this with each other, asking if this is the best use of their time right now. They have plenty of other things do do for the wedding. (Pause.) They tell Jesus they just don't have time and walk away. (Pause.)
Reflection Questions for Lesson Plan on Mother Mary
- Does this change your view of intercessory prayer?
- What would have happened if the servers at the wedding had not cooperated?
- What are some ways we can know what Jesus is telling us to do?
Challenge for Intercessory Prayer
This week, think of something you want to pray for. Pray for it yourself, but also ask Mary to talk to Jesus about it. Then hear her saying "Do whatever he tells you." Be open to how Jesus is asking you to act on the matter. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you hear his voice. And then follow his instructions.
Prayer
Conclude by offering petitions and praying the Hail Mary.
Resources for Mother Mary Lesson Plan
Why Do Catholics Pray to Mary and the Saints?
This lesson plan will help youth understand that it is like asking a friend to pray for you. And it points out that prayer is not the same as worship.
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