Why should we always ask for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary when we pray? Let us examine the question from a Biblical point of view. Chapter 2 of St. John's Gospel, often called the Wedding at Cana, is an illuminating example of Mary's role as the preeminent intercessor to Our Lord on behalf of the Universal Church.
Mary is very aware of Her surroundings in the scripture. She notices that there is no wine left at the wedding feast (John 2:3). If someone were a guest at a wedding, they would not normally worry about the catering; it would be a concern for the hosts. Mary, however, is sensitive to the needs of those around Her. She turns to Her Son for His help. This is how the Blessed Virgin intercedes for us! Mary sees or is presented with a need, and out of love and compassion asks Her Son to fulfill that need. At Cana, Our Lady did not even ask Jesus to perform a miracle, She simply said to Him "They have no wine". Such is the relationship between the Mother and Her Divine Son.
After Our Lady tells Her Son that there is no wine left, He says to Her in John 2:4 "Woman, what is that to me and to thee? my hour is not yet come". At first this verse can read like a rebuke, as if Christ were saying something like “begone woman, you’re annoying me, I don’t want to do this”. If Jesus was rebuking Mary, however, Her natural reaction (submission to the will of God) would be to go from His side. Why then does She say to the waiters: "Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye” in John 2:5? The Wedding at Cana is the start of Jesus’ public ministry. He laments that “my hour is not yet come”, because He knows that when He reveals himself as the Messiah and starts this ministry that He will also start His journey to Calvary. Despite this, He loves His mother dearly and He does what She has requested. G. J. Brow identifies "What to me and to you?" as a Semitic phrase that was usually a response to someone's request to get involved in something that was none of their business. According to Brow, it can be impolite, but not always. The context of the verse is essential in determining its tone. The phrase is used sparingly in other books (2 Kings 3:13, Hosea 14:8) and these examples are more impolite. In comparison, Jesus' words in John 2:4 are entirely respectful and appropriate considering the situation in which they were used (see St. Augustine, Tractates). They are typical of a loving rapport between parent and child in which the child appears to argue or complain while they are already in the process of carrying out their parent's wishes.
Mary is very aware of Her surroundings in the scripture. She notices that there is no wine left at the wedding feast (John 2:3). If someone were a guest at a wedding, they would not normally worry about the catering; it would be a concern for the hosts. Mary, however, is sensitive to the needs of those around Her. She turns to Her Son for His help. This is how the Blessed Virgin intercedes for us! Mary sees or is presented with a need, and out of love and compassion asks Her Son to fulfill that need. At Cana, Our Lady did not even ask Jesus to perform a miracle, She simply said to Him "They have no wine". Such is the relationship between the Mother and Her Divine Son.
After Our Lady tells Her Son that there is no wine left, He says to Her in John 2:4 "Woman, what is that to me and to thee? my hour is not yet come". At first this verse can read like a rebuke, as if Christ were saying something like “begone woman, you’re annoying me, I don’t want to do this”. If Jesus was rebuking Mary, however, Her natural reaction (submission to the will of God) would be to go from His side. Why then does She say to the waiters: "Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye” in John 2:5? The Wedding at Cana is the start of Jesus’ public ministry. He laments that “my hour is not yet come”, because He knows that when He reveals himself as the Messiah and starts this ministry that He will also start His journey to Calvary. Despite this, He loves His mother dearly and He does what She has requested. G. J. Brow identifies "What to me and to you?" as a Semitic phrase that was usually a response to someone's request to get involved in something that was none of their business. According to Brow, it can be impolite, but not always. The context of the verse is essential in determining its tone. The phrase is used sparingly in other books (2 Kings 3:13, Hosea 14:8) and these examples are more impolite. In comparison, Jesus' words in John 2:4 are entirely respectful and appropriate considering the situation in which they were used (see St. Augustine, Tractates). They are typical of a loving rapport between parent and child in which the child appears to argue or complain while they are already in the process of carrying out their parent's wishes.