John
2, 1-11
3rd
Epiphany
On
the third day a wedding took place in Cana in Galilee and the mother of Jesus
was there. And Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When
the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
And
Jesus answered her, “Something still weaves between me and you, o Woman. The
hour when I can work out of myself alone has not yet come.”
Then
his mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
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| Margarete Woloschina |
There
were six stone jars set up there for the Jewish custom of ceremonial washing,
each containing twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars
with fresh water.”
And
they filled them to the brim. And he said, “Now draw some out and take it to
the Master of the feast. And they brought it to him.
Now
when the Master of the feast tasted the water that had become wine, not knowing
where it came from—for only the servants who had drawn the water knew—he called
the bridegroom aside and said to him, “Everyone serves the choice wine first,
and when the guests have drunk, then the lesser; but you have saved the best
until now.”
This, the beginning of
the signs of the spirit which Jesus performed among men happened at Cana in
Galilee and revealed the creating spiritual power that worked through Him. The
disciples’ hearts opened, the power of faith began to stir in them, and they
began to trust in him.
3rd Epiphany
John 2: 1-11
A wedding celebrates the union of two people. The community
rejoices with wine, to celebrate the love that now weaves between the two, and
among them all. For their love means that life will expand; children may come.
The community will grow.
In this first of His spiritual signs, Christ senses His
mother’s love weaving between them. This weaving force of her love supports and
strengthens Him. With her help and love, He can transform substance of earth,
water, into the strengthening elixir of joy that brings communities together in
celebration.
Each Act of Consecration of Man is a wedding feast. It
celebrates how the Soul of Humanity finds union with the Heavenly Bridegroom. In
the Act of Consecration of Man, we bring our loving support to this wedding celebration; for the congregation is the
mother who gives her forces of love in support of the union of Christ and
humanity. She gives her purest thoughts, her heart’s love, her devotion, so
that Christ may manifest His powers of transformation. So that substance of
earth—bread, water, wine—may become the elixir of joy; so that communities
unite and grow.
Why do we celebrate? As the poet Hafiz asks:
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| St. John with Chalice |
Why all this talk of the Beloved,
Music and dancing,
And
Liquid ruby-light we can lift in a
cup?
Because it is low tide,
A very low tide in this age
And around most hearts.
We are exquisite coral reefs,
Dying when exposed to strange
Elements.
God is the wine-ocean we crave—
We miss
Flowing in and out of our
Pores.[1]
