ISB ~ John 2 v4

woman:Although it might offend the standards of modern etiquette, this was a title of respect and endearment in antiquity (4:21; 8:10; 20:13). There is, however, no ancient example of a son addressing his mother in this way.

• Genesis 3 is the reverse image of the Cana episode. As Eve prompted Adam to defy the Lord and drag the human family into sin, so Mary prompts Jesus, the new Adam, to initiate his mission of salvation. The description of Mary even alludes to Gen 3:15, where Yahweh speaks of a “woman” whose son will trample the devil underfoot (CCC 489, 494). what have you to do with me? The expression is a Hebrew idiom rendered in Greek (literally, “what to me and to you?”). It typically presupposes some perceived tension between two parties having contrary perspectives (Judg 11:12; 1 Kings 17:18; Mk 5:7), though not always (2 Chron 35:21). When the idiom is used in response to a person’s request, either stated or implied, the speaker sometimes capitulates to the expressed will of the other (2 Kings 3:13) and sometimes not (2 Sam 16:10).

Here the former pattern is evident:Jesus complies with Mary’s request (Jn 2:7-8), and Mary herself appears perfectly confident that Jesus will respond favorably to her petition (2:5). In effect, Jesus would not have initiated the miracle at Cana, but neither does he refuse his Mother’s prompting.

My hour has not yet come:The assertion hides an important assumption. The statement would seem exaggerated unless the provision of wine was somehow connected with Jesus’ appointed “hour”. This points beyond the historical hour of his Passion to the commemoration of that hour in the eucharistic liturgy, where Christ is present behind the visible sign of wine (CCC 2618).

See topical essay:The “Hour” of Jesus at Jn 4.