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Isaiah 62:1-5, I Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, West Valley City, UT
The Reverend W. Lee Shaw
We come again to this wonderful story of a wedding in Cana of Galilee where Mary, Jesus and the newly chosen disciples are all guests. I love this story. I also have problems with some of its allusions.
First, contrary to some rumors, Jesus did not establish the sacrament of Holy Matrimony in Cana of Galilee. He turned water into wine and thus enriched the celebration for the couple. If anything he established the tradition of toasting the new couple with a glass of wine, either bubbly or still. He did not establish the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. The church would do that centuries later.
Second, I have a slight critique of our Prayer Book and “The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage.” In the introduction there is the phrase, “…and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle in Cana of Galilee.” First, I love our Prayer Book. But this is a stretch and I do hope it will be removed from future editions. To say Jesus “adorned this manner of life” because he was there is the same as saying he “adorned this manner of life” of fisherman when he told the disciples to cast their nets on the other side of the boat and bring in a huge catch of fish; or, he “adorned the manner of life” of picnics with his feeding of the 5,000; or he “adorned the manner of life” of morning brunch with his post-resurrection appearance to the disciples on the beach when he cooked fish for them. We could go on and on. He was present. He made wine. He did not bless or “adorn” a specific “manner of life.”
Jesus was present at a community wedding. They ran out of wine. His mother was worried and told him to fix it. You note she did not ask. She instructed. And despite commentaries I have read excusing his reply, “Woman, what concern is that to you and me.” It still comes across as petulant.
But Mary sees the implications here that escape her son. There is an issue of honor/shame for the families. In this society, all things are connected to honor/shame. There is an issue of fear of lack of sufficient resources to meet our needs. There is a problem of perhaps familial or friendship issues at stake. She has clearer insights into the fact that it is not just about the lack of wine. It goes to hospitality and family honor.
And for those of you who recall the rest of the verse where Jesus says, “My hour has not yet come.” Mary reminds him and us that our time has come to act when there is a need to be met, action to be taken. Not when we feel like it.
Jesus does act. He more than meets the need noted by his mother. There is the equivalent of 180 gallons of fine wine, or 43 cases, or 518 bottles. Generally when Jesus acts, he does so over the top. There is more wine than we can use. There are baskets of left over food when feeding 5,000 people. The generosity of God is so exemplified in Jesus’ miracles.
For me the undercurrent in this story, however, is not the making of wine from water. It is about fear. There is a fear of not having enough. There are many fears in a wedding and not just will we have enough wine or food. But also, will he love my daughter? Will she give me a grandchild? Anxieties run high at weddings. Ask any priest. Ask any mother of a bride or groom!
But this story also speaks to a more primal fear: will there be enough for me? For us? Will there be enough wine, food, money, land, power, influence, control. Will there be enough for me? For us?
I confess it is one of the fears that I have. For example, will there be enough money for our parish to make it through the coming year? I am sure the vestry shares some of that with me. Today in Haiti, will there be enough of everything, and will it some soon enough, to save these people. For all of us, will there be enough of whatever we need to meet our needs, let alone our desires?
Simple answer: Yes and no. Yes, if we seek not only God’s blessing but accept our own responsibilities as adults. No, if we expect God to balance the budget, pay the bills, fill the refrigerator, find me a job, help me pass a class, etc.
God’s grace is fully and freely given to us. You are saved through the love and grace of God through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Yes! Yet I do believe we participate with God in what God does for us.
In the healing stories of the Gospels what does Jesus say? Your faith has made you whole. I feel it is the same in other aspects of our life; we have a role in God’s movement in our lives. There would have been no wine at Cana if the water jugs had not been filled with water. There would have been no great catch of fish if the disciples had just come ashore without putting down their nets. There would have been no feeding of 5,000 without a young boy sharing his loaves and fishes.
You want wine at your wedding? Fill the jugs with water. You want God to act in your life? Fill your life with faith and action to meet God’s miracle in you.
Above all, listen to the Blessed Virgin Mary: “Do whatever he tells you,” she said in Cana of Galilee. She says that to you and to me: “Do whatever he tells you.”