Read John 2:1–11 (wedding feast at Cana).
For Reflection
Marriage and wedding feasts are metaphors used in Scripture to describe God’s salvation and the Kingdom of God. Here at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, John’s Gospel seeks to establish that Jesus is going to re-interpret and fulfill God’s promise to Israel. Jesus establishes the New Covenant. A hint about what this New Covenant will be like is made evident in the deed that Jesus performs. Asked to do something to address the awkward situation that the absence of wine at a wedding feast would create, Jesus’ miracle produces vast quantities of wine—six jars holding thirty gallons each are filled to overflowing with choice wine.
This lavish response to a simple human need is a vision for us of the abundance of God’s kingdom. It challenges us to respond generously when confronted with human need today. We respond as best we can, fully confident that God can transform our efforts, bringing the Kingdom of God to fulfillment among us.
The first day of re-interpreting. The first day of publicly showing how different he would be. The beginning of the beginning. The beginning of turning the whole world upside down.
Some of my RevGal friends are re-ordering their order of worship this Palm Sunday (April 1) to do it all backward. Mary Ann McKibben Dana is the first one I saw writing about this...read her blog post about it here. I am in love with the idea of re-ordering this...it would not work in the Episcopal Palm Sunday liturgy but oh, what I'd give to be a fly on the wall for this one.
The thing about the extravagant excell of hte wine becomes very real as I look at the Springtime all around. Birds: I went to the library & then the pond yesterday, for wonderful peace and rest. Flowers: I forget how many there are in the Spring, because most of the year it's HOT and the flowers are gone. People: students on the campus, their foibles, their skimpy clothes and varied body decorations, I love to watch them. Life's Rich Pageant. An embarrassment of riches for our taking, if we don't forget to notice.