Ordinary Time

January 16, 2022

Scripture Reading: John 2:1-11

On the third day 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. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

I hosted a singer from Europe several years ago while she was touring churches in the USA when she sang at our church. I was notified ahead of time I would need to stock wine for her to drink as she never drank water. I wondered what I had gotten into but I went to the liquor store and found the wine she required. It was an inexpensive common wine, which surprised me. I thought I was dealing with a diva. She was a wonderful person and I enjoyed her company. Raised, in eastern Europe, she learned early that the water in her community was not safe to drink and everyone’s water, including the children’s, was laced with a little wine to kill the deadly germs in the water supply.  She only added enough of the red wine to turn her water pink. With her career taking her all over the world, she treated every venue in the same manner.

I do not know what symbolism John intended when he wrote the above scripture, but reading it just now reminded me of my European guest. Turning water into wine was a life-saving act to her and most likely was true in first-century Israel.  John continues this theme a little later in the book when he quotes Jesus as saying, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10) We are called to be in the world but not of the world and we are called to live and love like Jesus no matter where in the world we might find ourselves.

Prayer: God, enable me to follow your lead in interacting with the people whose paths I cross.  Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.