The appointed Gospel reading for this Friday in the Week of the First Sunday after Epiphany is the familiar story in John’s Gospel of the wedding feast at Cana where Jesus performs the first sign of the coming of the kingdom of God:
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).
“On the third day” is a phrase we will hear again, especially at the end of the Gospel. There is feasting on the third day; it is a day of rejoicing. It is the day of Resurrection.
The bride and groom have run out of wine for the celebration, and at that time and in that culture, it would have been humiliating. Here they are starting a life together, a merger of 2 families and they do not have enough to celebrate the event. Mary asks Jesus to intercede for the young couple. Jesus does. He takes water that is used for the rituals of purification and turns it into wine for rejoicing, and there is plenty for everyone. The wine steward pulls the groom aside and asks him what all this is about, “serve the good stuff first, and after they can’t tell anymore, bring out the cheap stuff.”
This is what the Kingdom of God looks like: At the Resurrection, there will be great rejoicing and feasting, and there no one will be in need. All of us, all of creation, will be purified and restored, in perfect union with God and with each other.
Let us pray: Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Sunday, 17 January, Annual Parish Meeting in Sutton Hall following the service.
Monday, 18 January, MLK Prayer Service at St. Vincent’s Episcopal House at 12 noon.
Thursday, 21 January, Seaside Seniors meets in Sutton Hall at 11 AM.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Deloris, John, Pat, Peggy, Katie and all those who are alone.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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