Second Sunday after the Epiphany
|
|
|
|
Scripture |
John 2:1-12 2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee , and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there a few days.
|
Devotional |
The central act in the story of the wedding at Cana is the miraculous transformation of water into wine. The contemporary reader, living in a rational, scientifically oriented age, may find this miracle puzzling at best, embarrassing and offensive at worst. Interpreters, therefore, often are tempted to talk around the miracle by focusing on other aspects of the text or to explain away the miracle by focusing on the differences between the biblical worldview and the modern worldview…..The essence of any miracle is that it shatters conventional explanations and expectations, and this miracle is no exception..... Contemporary hearers of this story must be allowed to struggle with what this miracle says about Jesus. 1 The stumbling block for the modern reader is not so much the miracle or magic of the act but Jesus’ reply. “What concern to that to you or to me?” Why is Jesus holding back? We could find several reasons Jesus might be reluctant to act. More wine at a wedding party could mean more drunken guest and not a very productive move. Or did he not wish to be seen as a dispenser of goods? Was Jesus hesitant to be seen a provider of commodities, even something people valued? Jesus’ time comes and he has the six stone water jugs filled to the brim with water. “Now draw some out and take it to the chief steward.” We witness the extravagance of God. Plenty of wine and food are common symbols of God’s grace in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The extravagance of God is witnessed in a great way. In a world where we see so many in need, we believe in one who brings abundant life to those in need but we see so many who do not have clean water to drink much less fine wine. Do we see the mother with hungry children tugging on Jesus’ sleeve saying,”We have not food.” Where is the divine activity? “We have no food.” As followers of Jesus, how are we to respond? I think we find the answer when Jesus feeds the five thousand. When the disciples find themselves with the problem of feeding a large group of people, Jesus tells them. “Give them something to eat.” They find a boy with his lunch which includes five barley loaves and two fish. In the sixth chapter of John, we witness another demonstration of God’s extravagance. All the people are fed with plenty of leftovers. Is Jesus saying today, “You give them something to eat?” We should take serious what Gandhi said, ”There is enough for everyone’s need but not enough for everyone’s greed.” The early Christian taught that charity is merely returning what we have stolen. In the seventeenth century, St. Vincent de Paul said that when he gives bread to the beggars, he gets on his knees and asks forgiveness from them. 2 Early Christians used to write that when they did not have enough food for the hungry people at their door, the entire community would fast until everyone could share a meal together. 3 What is a miracle? When the economy of love is shared by all of God’s Children, this will be a miracle. As Will O’Brien of the Alternative Seminary here in Philly says, “When we truly discover love, capitalism will not be possible and Marxism will not be necessary.” 4 Contemporary hearers of this story must be allowed to struggle with what this miracle says about Jesus. “Contemporary hearers of this story must be allowed to struggle with what this miracle says about Jesus.” Contemporary hearer of this story must be allowed to struggle with what this miracle says about him or her.
1 Gail R. O’Day, “The Gospel of John, The New Interpreters Bible Vol. I. p. 539 |