Was Cana just a matter of proof?

The first miracle said to be performed by Jesus is the changing of the water into wine at a marriage feast organised by a bridegroom in Cana. Said bridegroom wasn't a great organiser, it seems, as he ran out of liquor halfway through the proceedings.

Jesus's mother Mary was a guest along with her son, and she asked him to help out and save her host's blushes.

It is reported that the wine produced by Jesus was of a much better quality than the first lot. If the 'wedding wine' sold in the tourist shops of Cana today is any indication of the quality of what had been served, that wasn't such a big deal. It is rough tack, by all accounts.

Like many of the Holy Land sites, there were several candidates subsequently for the location of that particular event. The town which has the gig, so to speak, is about 7km from Nazareth. The church which is the Catholic pilgrim focus is along a 'Street of the Churches', a narrow alley in which there are other churches of various denominations. A modern edifice off a small courtyard, it is built over other crypts and grottos dating back to the Byzantine era. It is a pleasant place to meditate for a few minutes.

There's an opportunity here for couples to renew their wedding vows if they wish, and a number in our party did so. Part of the deal is they get to buy a bottle of Cana wedding wine. Maybe this is from the second batch, reserved for a second commitment?

Perhaps because it was the end visit of a long day of going to holy sites, but it seemed to this pilgrim that Cana was the least interesting of the venues so far. Maybe even the least credible.

But who am I to say? After all, it's the story, not the place, that carries the faith.

Pictures from the trip.

Reported from Cana by the Accidental Pilgrim.