A New Genesis

The Gospel of John today depicts an interesting scene to initiate Jesus' ministry: A wedding. The more I read the Gospel of John the more I am convinced that John sees the coming of Christ as a new Genesis. He begins the Gospel not at the beginning of Jesus' life with the infancy narratives but at the beginning of creation: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (Jn 1:1). 
              Chapter 2 of the Gospel of John is the reverse of the fall. A woman, the unnamed, the mother of Jesus, "tempts" him. However, unlike Eve, this time the woman "tempts" Jesus to do something for others - not for themselves.
In Genesis, Adam named all the animals but he did not name Eve until after they sinned. Part of Eve's punishment would be that Adam would "rule over her." (Gen 3:16)  Jesus and John, the author of the Gospel, exalts Mary's sinless nature by not naming her. He simply calls her "woman" which is what Eve was called before the fall. Adam did not dare name his equal like he had just named the animals.
We also see in the Gospel of John that Mary also acts like a queen of Israel bringing the concerns of the people to her Son the king: "They have no wine." We see there is no strife between the King and Queen. Mary knows the heart of her Son and simply tells the people: "Do whatever He tells you." As the fall of humanity began with temptation to disobey God, the restoration of humanity begins with a command to obey Him. Interestingly, both the fall, and the redemption of humanity, began with the temptation or the encouragement of a woman. And Jesus and Mary, our new King and Queen, begin their work of restoring humanity's communion with God at the very foundation of human society - at a wedding.
God bless,
Fr. Scott