The Life of the Party
A reading for Friday, August 8, 2014: John 2:1-12.
It's a strange way to start a miracle story... "there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding." It seems as if Jesus and the others come to this wedding almost as an afterthought.
Notice what the scripture doesn't say. Jesus selected a launch date for his ministry and determined the optimal location, which ample parking and amenities. It doesn't say, Jesus chose a growing neighborhood with children and families to perform this miracle. There isn't even a sense that the local synagogues got together and planted Jesus at the wedding so he could gather a crowd. None of this is how the first sign of Jesus minister begins.
Instead, it simply says that Jesus was at a wedding with his mother and suddenly he changes water into wine. In the common, ordinary living of life and at a party of all things, Jesus first acts to show the abundance and hospitality of God. "And his disciples believed in him," says the gospel of John.
We sometimes think it all depends on us. Our plans, our strategy, and our resources are the way to reach people with the gospel message. This story might suggest that simply living life with an eye for what God might be doing is a better way. Not as an afterthought, but with intention to do ministry a different way. Observing the peace of Jesus and the glory of God in everyday life and then inviting others to see it too.
That's like changing ordinary water into the best sacramental wine.
It's a strange way to start a miracle story... "there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding." It seems as if Jesus and the others come to this wedding almost as an afterthought.
Notice what the scripture doesn't say. Jesus selected a launch date for his ministry and determined the optimal location, which ample parking and amenities. It doesn't say, Jesus chose a growing neighborhood with children and families to perform this miracle. There isn't even a sense that the local synagogues got together and planted Jesus at the wedding so he could gather a crowd. None of this is how the first sign of Jesus minister begins.
Instead, it simply says that Jesus was at a wedding with his mother and suddenly he changes water into wine. In the common, ordinary living of life and at a party of all things, Jesus first acts to show the abundance and hospitality of God. "And his disciples believed in him," says the gospel of John.
We sometimes think it all depends on us. Our plans, our strategy, and our resources are the way to reach people with the gospel message. This story might suggest that simply living life with an eye for what God might be doing is a better way. Not as an afterthought, but with intention to do ministry a different way. Observing the peace of Jesus and the glory of God in everyday life and then inviting others to see it too.
That's like changing ordinary water into the best sacramental wine.
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