Do whatever he tells you
I believe the line in this week’s Gospel John 2:1-11 ‘Do whatever he tells you’ captures Mary’s unwavering faith. It reflects a confidence, an assurance and a trust that Jesus will act for our good with love. It is the same faith that led her to answer the angel Gabriel with ‘let it be done unto me according to thy word’. It is an example, a role model for us in our journey of faith.
Her words, ‘Do whatever he tells you,’ invite us to a similar posture of trust and surrender in our own lives. Her faith was not passive but active—a complete openness to God’s will, even when the outcome was uncertain. This moment at Cana reminds us that faith requires action on our part: to listen, to trust, and to obey, even when we do not fully understand.
Mary’s confidence in Jesus challenges us to place our own concerns in His hands, believing that He will respond in ways that are best for us. Her example encourages us to let go of our fears and doubts, trusting that, Jesus will work miracles in our lives when we surrender to His guidance.
It is the same trust of a child in her parents. This last week, in response to the funeral of Sandee’s mother, we were blessed with a visit from our daughter and young family, from London. It was a joy to see them, after just a week, from our return from their home in London. It has been a while since we have had the pleasure of the two young girls running about our home.
As I listened to the instructions from the parents and their obedience and trust in mummy and daddy, I was reminded of the Gospel passage. It is the same childlike trust and obedience that Mary demonstrates in her manner. ‘Do whatever he tells you’ is her gentle advice to us to follow her example.
As we start what can be a very challenging year, the Church has asked us to be pilgrims of hope. Mary’s example of faith and hope is a perfect role model for the year. Her guiding words ‘Do whatever he tells you’ can be our motto.
And to do this requires us to adopt a deep personal relationship with Jesus, listening to him in the silence of our hearts, during quality prayer time.