Wonder of Wonders and Miracles of Miracles

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL: John 2:1-11 (MESSAGE)

Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.” Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.” She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.” Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim.  “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,” Jesus said, and they did.  When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!” This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

I love this text not for the usual reasons. I love this text not because it is so familiar, not because it is used at the beginning of most wedding ceremonies, not because it is John’s recounting of Jesus’ first miracle.  I love this text because of the interaction between Jesus and his mother.   She tells him what needs to be done.  He dismisses her, just as he did when he was twelve and in the temple and she was panicked thinking he was lost.  She ignores his dismissal and tells others to do what he says.  Finally Jesus does what his mother asks of him.  And what do you know? Water turns into wine and the host is honored and the guests are blessed.  Thank God for Mary!

I love this exchange because it is real, so real in fact that I bet anyone who has a mother has experienced this.  Although this stereotypically portrays the religious (a.k.a. bossy) mother, this is a familiar relationship and one that proves fruitful.  Today, I would like for us to think about God as our mother.  What is God asking of us and what are we ignoring or intentionally avoiding about this request?  Is it not what we want to do?  Is it not who we hope to be?  How are our lives being formed by the question and by our response?

Sometimes it is difficult to respond the way in which we know we are being encouraged to respond.  Sometimes we just want to do what we want to do without anyone intervening or asking us to do something different, something other.  When we do follow where we are being led, when we do what we are being asked, our experience may be miraculous.  It may not be water turning into wine, but it may be acceptance, joy, energy, pleasure, truth, affirmation, or any number of miracles that we need.  Perhaps it may even turn into something that honors who we are and blesses other people. 

Please join us this Sunday, January 20 at 10am in Christ Church when we experience our God who really does care about us and our lives.  Looking forward to seeing you in Church!