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.
3rd
Epiphany
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January
21, 2007
John
2: 1-11
At
the first tender beginnings of spring, new buds break out on old trees; new
shoots spring from old bulbs; new plants break forth from old seeds. The new
erupts on the basis of what went before.
The Gospel reading is full of signs of spring. A
wedding’s promise of new life; fresh water drawn from Mother Earth; vital
forces newly arising in Jesus from Christ’s indwelling. These new forces are
yet tender – the time of His full flowering yet to come. And so to His power,
the mother of his soul adds her support, her love, her concern and compassion.
Their working together creates an effervescence which enlivens all who taste it.
In
the Act of Consecration of Man we can experience at any time a new tender
spring-like effervescence. Waters drawn up from deep in Mother Earth by the
grapevine, ripened in the sun, create grape juice. Our souls help to mother a
transformation by adding the offering of the best of ourselves into the water
and juice. Christ’s offering of Himself, his forces, into our offering creates
a new substance. It becomes Christ-wine. It is medicine for our blood, darkened
by egotism; strength for our spirits in learning to love. The Christ-wine
brightens our blood. It gives fresh vitality to our spirits. Strength and joy
rise.
