In this Monday of the first full week of Lent, we have a Gospel reading that does not seem to fit into the solemnity of the Lenten season; it is the wedding feast of Cana. John writes:
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.
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there for a few days. (Jn. 2: 1-12).
Although it seems out of place in the first full week of Lent, let’s take a closer look.
Notice that the passage starts with “on the third day”. We recall that Jesus was raised from the dead by God the Father “on the third day”.
The context of the reading is a celebration, a wedding feast. Feasts in the New Testament are symbols of the Kingdom of God and the heavenly banquet. The fine quality of the wine, which surprised the wine steward, is indicative of God’s generosity and abundance—there is enough “goodness” to go around for everyone in the Kingdom of God.
Even when we are assaulted by temptation, commit sin and stray from God’s will for us, we nevertheless live in the abundance of God’s grace. God is there with us when we are tempted to act contrary to His will for us. He knows our weaknesses and God is mighty to save us through His Son, Jesus Christ. We are at all times, an Easter people, living in the wake of the Resurrection.
Let us pray: Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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.
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there for a few days. (Jn. 2: 1-12).
Although it seems out of place in the first full week of Lent, let’s take a closer look.
Notice that the passage starts with “on the third day”. We recall that Jesus was raised from the dead by God the Father “on the third day”.
The context of the reading is a celebration, a wedding feast. Feasts in the New Testament are symbols of the Kingdom of God and the heavenly banquet. The fine quality of the wine, which surprised the wine steward, is indicative of God’s generosity and abundance—there is enough “goodness” to go around for everyone in the Kingdom of God.
Even when we are assaulted by temptation, commit sin and stray from God’s will for us, we nevertheless live in the abundance of God’s grace. God is there with us when we are tempted to act contrary to His will for us. He knows our weaknesses and God is mighty to save us through His Son, Jesus Christ. We are at all times, an Easter people, living in the wake of the Resurrection.
Let us pray: Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Lenten Program starts this Wednesday, 16 March at 6:00 p.m. We will have a combined Lenten program with Grace Episcopal on Wednesday evenings. It will begin with the Stations of the Cross, Eucharist, a light meal and then a teaching.
We will have a pot luck lunch for Easter.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially the people of Japan.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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