Holy Queen, Lesson 2.4

Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God

Lesson Two: Wedding at Cana, Garden in Eden

Lesson Objectives

  1. To appreciate the Old Testament symbolism that forms the deep background to the Gospel account of the wedding feast at Cana.
  2. To understand how Mary is depicted as a “New Eve” in this account.
  3. To appreciate the importance of the Old Testament marriage symbolism for John’s recounting of the “sign” at Cana.

IV. Study Questions

1. How does John describe the coming of Jesus as a "new creation" in the first chapter of his Gospel?

2. On what day of John’s new creation does Mary appear?

3. When Jesus says, "Woman how does your concern affect me?" is He scolding His mother? Explain your answer.

4. What does Jesus mean in addressing His mother as "woman"?

5. What biblical story forms the background for Revelation 12? Give some examples to explain your answer.

6. What does the "woman" in Revelation 12 symbolize?

7. How does Mary as the "New Eve" reverse the work of the first Eve?

8. What Old Testament tradition is evoked by the "wedding feast" at Cana?

Begin Lesson 3

Lesson Outline

  1. Mary in the Gospel of John
    1. First Reading
    2. Sign of a New Creation
  2. The Mother of Jesus
    1. Scolding Mary?
    2. Woman of Revelation
  3. The New Eve
    1. Mother of All Living
    2. The Messiah’s Wedding
    3. New Covenant Bride
  4. Study Questions

Other Lessons

  • Lesson One: A Biblical Introduction to Mary
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To understand the basic outlines of the New Testament’s witness to Mary.
    2. To appreciate how the Old Testament forms the essential background for what the New Testament teaches about Mary.
    3. To understand “typology” and its importance for reading the New Testament texts concerning Mary.

    Begin Lesson One

  • Lesson Three: The Ark of the New Covenant
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To see how Mary’s visit to Elizabeth parallels David’s bringing of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
    2. To understand how the book of Revelation uses the startling image of the rediscovered Ark of the Covenant to introduce a vision of the Mother of Christ.
    3. To understand why the New Testament writers see Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant.

    Begin Lesson Three

  • Lesson Four: Mother Crowned in Glory
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To see the importance of the Queen Mother in the Davidic kingdom of the Old Testament.
    2. To understand the duties and privileges that came with the position of Queen Mother.
    3. To see how Mary fills the position of Queen Mother in the kingdom of Christ.

    Begin Lesson Four

  • Lesson Five: The All-Holy Mother of God
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To understand the relationship between Catholic teaching about Mary and the Scriptural portrayal of Mary.
    2. To understand the biblical foundations of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception.
    3. To appreciate how Catholic belief in the Immaculate Conception flows from the New Testament portrait of Mary as the “New Eve”

    Begin Lesson Five

  • Lesson Six: The Queen Assumed into Heaven
    • Lesson Objectives
    1. To understand the biblical foundations of the Dogma of the Assumption.
    2. To understand the deep Old Testament symbolism and imagery in Revelation 12, and its relation to Catholic beliefs about Mary.
    3. To appreciate how the biblical portrait of Mary is reflected and interpreted in the Church’s liturgy.

    Begin Lesson Six