How Does God Bring About Miracles?

Today’s Gospel features Jesus’ first miracle: The Wedding at Cana. There are a couple critical elements of this miracle to point out which show us how God’s miracles can come about.

1. Mary interceded for the miracle. Asking for Mary’s intercession and prayers to Jesus can lead to our own miracles. One of my favorite prayers is “Mary Undoer of Knots” and I really believe that prayer can and does lead to miracles when we give Mary our knots to untangle.
2. Mary instructs us to do “whatever He tells us.” We should be obedient to Jesus’ instructions and give Him control of the situation. We should do what He tells us to do. If we’re not, maybe that’s why the miracle isn’t happening. If we don’t know what He’s asking us to do, perhaps we need more time in prayer and silence to listen for those instructions.
3. Simple, concrete steps preceded the miracle: filling the jars with water and then drawing some water out and taking it to the headwaiter. The same is true with our miracles. We must do the tangible things Jesus directs us to do to make the miracle happen rather than sit around and wait for the miracle with no action.
4. Lastly, God cares about our joy. This miracle of turning water into wine shows us that God cares about our joy and wants us to experience the fullness of life. This wasn’t a miracle of sickness to health, but rather a miracle of abundance at a celebration. 

If you’re waiting on a miracle, perhaps this analysis of the Wedding at Cana can help you see how God works his miracles. Maybe there’s an action there for you like asking for Mary’s intercession, following the instructions God gives you, taking some concrete steps laid out in front of you, or believing in God’s goodness and desire to give you joy.

Whatever it may be, the miracle we witness today has much to teach us about how God delivers miracles.