It is clear that in the case of
the Cana account, the first interpretation of the formula is totally excluded;
there is no hostility between Jesus and Mary here. We nevertheless have to
point out that several Fathers of the Church, especially in the Greek
tradition, have understood these words of Jesus as a reproach to Mary.
Irenaeus will say: “to constrain her untimely hastiness,”’ and Chrysostom: “to
expose her vain glory.” It is true that the formula of John is difficult to
explain, and that modern exegesis remains hesitant about its meaning.
Nevertheless, we believe that in the framework of the Bible and in the context
of John, it does not have to be so paradoxical as it may seem to be. (Ignace de
la Potterie, Mary in the Mystery of the Covenant [trans. Bertrand Buby;
New York: Alba House, 1992], 184-85, emphasis in bold added)
The references are “Irenaeus, Adv. Haer., III, 16, 7:
“Repellens eius intempestivam festinationem” (SC 30, 294) and “Chrysostom, in
h.l..: “inanie gloriae” (PG 59, 130).”
