A Sermon for the Second Sunday after Epiphany
The Rev. Patricia A. Gillespie
Isaiah 62:1-5
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11
Psalm 96 or 96:1-10
I love this story about the wedding at Cana. For me it paints a picture of Jesus that is thoroughly human. How could one be more human than to have to deal with a demanding and persistent Jewish mama?
Although evidence has it that Jesus was an adult at the time,
it is almost like a picture of Jesus the teenager.
Jesus, (Mary says) they are all out of wine!
Aw, Mom, chill out. What does this have to do with us?
Anyway, it isn't the right time for all this.
Now, (she says)
you nice men, just do whatever my boy here tells you.
What is a good son to do? He doesn't feel ready, but he does the job anyway. And the result is great rejoicing and celebration.
What do we do when we are cornered and asked to do something for which we feel the timing is wrong or that we are not properly prepared? Do we assume that we know better and refuse?
Jesus seemed to know that it wasn't time to do what his mother asked. But in the end he did it anyway. Perhaps there are times when we too might follow Jesus' example and take the risk of saying "yes" even when we feel unprepared.
Some members of our congregation will do just that. People willing to serve on the vestry agree to be our new parish leaders. They take a risk even when they may have thought that this was not a good time or that they were not prepared for their new ministry.
That is not to say that turning ordinary Christians into parish leaders is as difficult and miraculous as changing water into wine.
These people agree to share the gifts that God has given them. And that, like Jesus' changing water into wine, can be a sign pointing to God, a reason to believe.
We heard in Paul's letter this morning that "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." Like it or not, we are ALL ministers of the Christian faith. Each and every one of us has been given a gift to be used for the good of all of us together.
Part of the problem here is that we often have trouble recognizing our own gifts -- our own talents and abilities. That's when it's good to have a "Jewish mama" like Mary around to push us a little bit. Someone who recognizes the gifts we have to offer the community. Someone who sees the yeasty, joyful wine in our lives where we only see water. Someone who may point out those gifts to others even when we don't feel ready -- when we, like Jesus, want to say "What's this got to do with us? It's not time yet."
Others often recognize our abilities before we do. And here in our parish, in our families, and in our lives in the world, we may be asked to be "Jewish mamas" for each other -- recognizing and affirming what others can do and encouraging them to use their abilities.
It works both ways: it is good both to look for and affirm the gifts that others have and to be willing to accept and use the gifts that others see in us. This is how community works best. It's a kind of covenant.
Our readings today are about the covenant of marriage. And we all know that marriage is not a one-sided deal.
The marriage service in our prayer book tells us that marriage is "intended by God for (the covenant partners') mutual joy."
A marriage, whether between man and woman, or, as in our Old Testament reading, between the builders (or sons) and the Land, or between vestry and parish, requires mutuality if it is to result in the delight and rejoicing that Isaiah writes about.
The kind of mutuality we see at Cana -- recognizing and affirming the gifts or abilities of another and being willing to use those gifts for the good of the community -- are key elements in any relationship: mother & child or marriage partners, friends or business partners, ministers & congregation or wardens & Vestry.
Mutuality means that when we make a commitment to minister in this parish, we are not alone. Our new leaders cannot offer their gifts without the rest of us being involved too. We are called to support each other by recognizing the gifts that others have been given and by sharing our own gifts.
It is then that we share that covenant joy, it is then that we are a sign of God's presence, It is then we realize that God is in this covenant with us,
It is here serving God together that a miracle occurs, the ‘ordinary water' of our lives becomes rich wine. It is here, in our covenant together, that we are able to see in one another the signs of God's presence among us. And, seeing the signs, we, like the disciples, believe.
The invitation is now. Our ordinary water is turned to wine. Let us celebrate the covenant.