New Zealander’s were ingenious in making good use of old 44 gallon steel drums turning them into everything from outdoor ovens to boundary fences and chairs…you name it. I often think of these drums when I remember that Jesus changed more than 120 gallons of water into wine at the Cana wedding recalled in this weekend’s Sunday gospel. That’s a lot of wine, at least three 44 gallon drums filled with good wine after the wedding guests had already made their way through the usual wedding allocation.

• Message: God does not give us simply what is adequate, but God provides abundantly for those who express their need.

It was his mother Mary who noticed the need. Women often have a sensitivity to such needs, and the mother of Jesus would have also had an awareness of the power her Son had to save the day.

• Message: Turn to the Blessed Virgin, Mary, the Mother of Jesus asking her to help you to see your own need  for Jesus.

Jesus seems not to hear his mother’s concern, so Mary then turns to the stewards to utter the last words we hear from her in the Bible: “Do whatever He tells you.”

• Message: Our abundant life here on earth is found when we do whatever He tells us.

And finally, given that Jesus’ first great miracle happens at a wedding, remember Pope Francis’ words to a couple he married one year ago this week:

• “The wedding rings shouldn’t be too tight, because they’ll torture you, but if they’re too loose, they’ll fall off. So we have to be careful,”