Thursday, January 30, 2014

3rd Epiphany 2009, Abide

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.”

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.

Woloschina
3rd Epiphany Sunday
January 25, 2009
John 2, 1 – 11

In ancient times, consciousness of self was weak and dreamy. At that time, drinking a small amount of wine had the effect of awakening and strengthening self-awareness.

Christ’s first spiritual sign was enacted at a wedding, at a celebration of the union of the masculine and feminine halves of the human being. The fact that the couple had run out of wine symbolizes the state of mankind in general—the time for alcohol as a valid strengthener of the ego has run out. Humankind needed a new source for the strengthening of the self.

At the same time, the joining of masculine and feminine forces is also celebrated at this wedding event on another level. At this early stage in Christ’s working, He needs the compassionate heart force of the Soul-Mother, grounded as it is in earthly and social realities. It is as though through her, He is able to connect with Mother Earth and draw up the strengthening force for the human self from her depths. He who will later say, “I am the Vine, you are the branches,” John 15:5, begins to root Himself into the depths of earth. He begins the work of transformation, transforming the watery depths into the sun-drenched strengthening power of the grape. Through Him, Water becomes for the self the strength and effervescence of the best possible Wine.

This event foreshadows the Last Supper, when He, the Vine, transforms fruit of the vine into the sacrificial strength of His Blood. On the cross the Vine will pour His blood into Mother Earth, giving back to her of Himself and strengthening her. Thereby He quietly strengthens and grounds all mankind for our work on earth.

In the Eucharist we choose to consciously receive the power of His blood into our bodies of earth; we receive the power of His blood into our weakened souls, so that something of a wedding begins to take place. Something begins to weave between Him and us, between His Self and our selves. A kind of wedding song, a song of call and response, begins to ring forth.

“I am the Vine, you are the branches, Whoever abides in me will bear much fruit.” John 15:5
And we answer, ‘What shall we do, Lord?’
“The hour when I can work out of myself alone has not yet come”. John 2:4
How can we help, Lord?
“Without the strength of my I AM, you can do nothing. John 2:4 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide now in my love. John 15:9
And we answer, ‘Yes Lord, take us in exchange for having given yourself to us. Now what shall we do?’


And the intimate and encouraging refrain of his mother’s answer echoes down through the ages: ‘Do whatever He tells you’. John 2:5