The Marriage Feast is spread; and lo, we see
The Lord of Heaven will bless it, courteously.
And Heaven's dear Queen is called upon to be
An Intercessor with her Son, that she
May be acknowledged such, eternally.
Not openly before the guests; but she,
Whose tender heart and ready sympathy
Perceive at once the Bridegroom's poverty,
And conscious that her Son would willingly
His mighty aid afford - yet wondrously
Waits for the asking - therefore, secretly
And heard by Him alone, with modesty,
Knowing His Will and Ways - thus prayeth she
In accents humble, yet entreatingly:
'They have no wine.' Tis all she saith. And He
Briefly replieth - as though seemingly
The prayer implied unheeding - answereth He:
'O Woman, what is this to Me and thee?'
Why holds He back? Hath He less sympathy
In all our little joys and woes, than she?
No: rather may we learn that even He
Delighteth in our importunity;
Delighteth in our faith, whenever we
Kneel at His Mercy-seat undoubtingly,
Sure of His Love and tender Sympathy.
The Canaanitish Woman, verily,
Might deem Him hard; and yet, in verity,
He did but kindle ardour, constancy
And faith unwavering, when before Him she
Poured forth her prayer, her daughter to set free.
Yet in each case, the Saviour willingly
The supplication entertained; and He,
Whom best His Mother understood, would be
As certain of complying, as that she
Could act in nothing unadvisedly.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote