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Today’s gospel, the Wedding Feast at Cana, is one of my favorites. It brings to mind the weddings of my five children. Each wedding had a theme and color, reflecting the couple's personality. Many of the same guests attended each wedding despite the twenty-five-year span from the first to the last that took place last summer. I can listen to this gospel and look around the church, seeing where each bride and groom stood and who was with us. It always brings a moment of gratitude.
Reflecting on this story in the past, my focus has been on the bride's mother, who would have been responsible for hospitality and the party that followed the wedding ceremony. When the wine ran out, she would have worried knowing this would mar the festivities.
Reading the story this time, I focused on Mary, the mother of Jesus. Maybe she was best friends with the bride's mother and sensed her worry. Whatever their relationship, Mary turned to her son to help solve the problem.
His pushback, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My time has not yet come,” is not surprising. Jesus was a young man making his way in the world, and as young men do, he was going at his own pace. Mothers walk a fine line with adult sons; they are grown men quite used to making their own decisions. Mary could have walked away feeling hurt. Instead, she went to the servers and told them to do whatever Jesus requested. She trusted her son and had confidence he would hear her and help the family hosting the wedding.
Jesus gave the servers a few simple directions, resulting in a quality of wine that amazed the head waiter and delighted the guests. According to John, who is credited with writing this gospel, this was Jesus's first miracle. He ends the passage with the words, “It caused his disciples to believe in him.”
This miracle was not dramatic. It occurred behind the scenes, and many guests probably did not know where the wine originated. It was not a miracle born of tragedy or disaster. It was a miracle for a celebration meant to bring people together to honor the love of the newly married couple and the creation of a new family.
The story has a theme of people coming together to solve a problem. Mary knew something was amiss and took action in support of her friend and the bride and groom. She turned to her son, knowing he could help. He had to consider whether this was the right time to reveal himself before going to the people serving at the party and engaging them.
Scripture scholars find a deeper meaning to this gospel story, but as a woman, a mother who knows firsthand what a wedding celebration entails and what it means to all those gathered I appreciate the story on a simpler level. That Jesus decided this was the place to perform his first miracle, under the radar, quietly and at his mother's request, highlights the intersection of his humanity and divinity. It also points out that sometimes it is the smaller, quieter actions that bring change.
Tomorrow, we celebrate two distinctly different national events: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the inauguration of a new president. Both are important and call us to consider what and where our faith will take us.
Will we walk the way of Jesus, practicing patience and asking God for the strength to act for positive change? Will we look to the Holy Spirit for inspiration when we get discouraged? Will we stay engaged? Will we have the courage to speak the truth and become involved to support others in need?
Finally, our hearts have been broken by the destruction caused by the fires throughout Los Angeles. The devastation is beyond anything the city has endured, and so many have lost everything. Let us keep them in our prayers and do what we can to support the agencies helping them.
Please note that our retreat day was rescheduled due to the fires and will take place on February 19. All are welcome.
Also, over the next few weeks, we will have more information about our wonderful Jubilee trip to Italy, which is scheduled for next September. Again, all are welcome.
Peace,
Anne
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