The readings for 16 January, the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, are as follows (to read them, go HERE):
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 36:5-10
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11
Sermon
“For with you, Lord, is the well of life
and in your light shall we see light.”
So we read from the Psalm today. When I read this verse, I think of one thing: prayers for healing. In both the States and here in Ireland, there is a series of prayers used at a service of praying for healing, and near the end there is this verse:
“For with you is the well of life
and in your light shall we see light.”
Christ is the well of life, and Christ is the light of the world, who shows the glory of God. These are the themes of Epiphany, the time of the church year that we are in right now. Epiphany starts with the Three Kings visiting the baby Jesus and offering him gifts. Its meaning is that God has come among us in Christ not just for the Jews, but for all people, because the Three Kings, as far as we know, were not Jews, and they had come from far away to bring gifts to Jesus. His light spreads far and wide.
Then we have the baptism of Jesus, which we heard about last week. In this event, the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus and the voice of God speaks, proclaiming Jesus to be the Beloved Son. It is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
And then today we hear about the wedding at Cana. These are the three central events in Epiphany: the Three Kings, the Baptism of Jesus, and the wedding at Cana. Jesus and his mother and his disciples have all gone to a wedding feast. I suspect weddings in those days and times were as spectacular a party as they typically are here in Ireland — probably even more so. So the expectation would be that this will be a feast, and it will go on for a while.
We heard what happens. The wine gives out, and Jesus’ mother says to him, “They have no wine.” It seems to be a suggestion, even a command, that he can do something to remedy this situation. And even after Jesus kind of waves off the suggestion, Mary continues by telling the servants that they should do whatever Jesus tells them to do.
Now I have to add a side note here. When Mary says to Jesus, “They have no wine,” he responds by saying, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me?” Many people think that he is being dismissive or insulting by calling her “woman.” In that day and time, though, he was actually being respectful. It’s the same when he is dying on the cross, and Mary is standing next to the disciple John, and Jesus says to her, “Woman, here is your son” — meaning that John will look after her.
So anyway, we heard that Jesus tells the servants to fill up six large stone water-jars with water, and then to draw some out and take it to the chief steward in charge of the wedding. And when he tastes it, it is wine.
What happens here has both earthly and spiritual significance. On an earthly level, Jesus saves the bridegroom embarrassment. The groom is responsible for providing the wine, and obviously there was not enough. The wine is delicious, the feast keeps going with no one being the wiser (except the servants and Mary), and the bridegroom is saved from embarrassment and who knows what else. On an earthly level, what Jesus does is a compassionate act.
The Gospel writer John tells us the significance of this act on a spiritual level. He says, “Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” Turning the water into wine shows the power of God and shows who Jesus is, that the power of God is in him. One meaning of “epiphany” is “manifestation” or “showing” — like when we say we’ve had an epiphany. It means that we have suddenly realised something of great significance and importance, as though our eyes have been opened and a truth has been shown to us. The truth that is revealed here in Cana is that God’s power and glory is made manifest, made real, in Jesus. He brings God’s power and glory into a very human situation: a wedding feast. From this point on, Jesus will go about showing God’s glory and presence in so many ways: through his teaching, his power to heal, his power to forgive sins, the fact that his presence brings life and light to so many people.
“For with you, Lord, is the well of life
and in your light shall we see light.”
But what about now? It does not seem that Jesus is still here to protect wedding hosts from embarrassment. He is not out tromping the roads teaching and healing. Where is his light now?
The power of God to work signs and wonders does not depend on the physical presence of Jesus of Nazareth. The resurrection of Christ from the dead, and the coming of the Holy Spirit, means that this power continues down to today, as the Church has been testifying for 2,000 years. God’s glory continues to be shown in two ways:
First, the power of God shows in the Church whenever the Holy Spirit is working through Christians to activate our God-given gifts. This is the point that the Apostle Paul was making to the Corinthians, in the letter we heard. “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
One of the things that I have found most amazing by being a priest is seeing the Holy Spirit work in people to activate different gifts that are then used for the good of others and for the good of the church. [I have certainly seen that here.] Paul names the gifts of faith, wisdom, knowledge (which means spiritual knowledge), healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, speaking in tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. Some of these may make us uncomfortable. But manifestations (showings) of the Holy Spirit aren’t always comfortable. It can be tempting to try to restrict the possibilities, like putting a lid on the Spirit. But it is amazing what is possible when we do not. It is amazing how the Spirit can work to reveal God’s glory, to bring life and light to people.
The second way that the power of God continues to be shown is simply directly. It really helps when people allow themselves to be vehicles of the Holy Spirit or to act and behave as Christ directed us to do. It is helpful to all. It is helpful to the world. But God can act directly without human beings in the middle; God can act to comfort, to heal, to inspire, to give life, to lead.
God, we pray that through the power you show in Christ, you will act in each of our lives. Shower your grace upon us, that we may follow you. Give us courage to let the Holy Spirit work through us, to bring your light and your life to all.
“For with you, Lord, is the well of life
and in your light shall we see light.”
— The Rev. Canon Liz Beasley