The Gospel reading for this past Sunday was John 2:1-11. There’s something about this story that always speaks to my spirit. It’s tempting to focus on the fact that Jesus livened up the party by supplying everyone with more wine, but there is so much more to it than that. This story is about life and about enlivening, but not from an intoxicating beverage. Rather, through this story, we are invited to drink in the intoxicating love of God that is poured out upon us.
The stone jars Jesus used were there to hold the water for the cleansing rituals that were so important in the life of a faithful Jew. They were holy vessels used for a holy purpose. It feels like Jesus is in some way profaning these vessels by using them for something as frivolous as party kegs. However, that wine made from water consecrated those vessels in a way that went far beyond the expectations of the wedding guests, far beyond our own expectations. Likewise, Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection consecrate us by demonstrating the abundance of God’s love and mercy poured out upon us. That this act was done at a wedding reminds us that God has wedded God’s self to us. In spite of our unworthiness, God has chosen us for intimate relationship.
Like the wedding guests, we may be caught up in the distractions of life, and if we aren’t careful, we might miss the true miracle of this story: God’s love for us is abundant, intoxicating, cleansing, and celebratory. No more do we need to carry our water jars to the river, fill them up, lug them back to our house, and bathe ourselves – day in and day out. God has poured out upon us a love that cleanses as no water ever could. God has given us grace upon grace upon grace. Indeed, God has given us God’s very self to be our life’s companion. We are God’s beloved. That is good news indeed.
Rev. Joyce Day
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