John 2:1 - 12.
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother said to him, "They don't have any wine." Jesus replied, "Woman, what does that have to do with me? My time hasn't come yet." His mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Nearby were six stone water jars used for the Jewish cleansing ritual, each able to hold about twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water," and they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some from them and take it to the headwaiter," and they did. The headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine. He didn't know where it came from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. The headwaiter called the groom and said, "Everyone serves the good wine first. They bring out the second-rate wine only when the guests are drinking freely. You kept the good wine until now." This was the first miraculous sign that Jesus did in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. After this, Jesus and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples went down to Capernaum and stayed there for a few days.
John the Baptist has been described as the last of the Old Testatment prophets as he preached about repentance and coming judgement. Jesus message and ministry was 180 degrees different. As his ministry began and increased, the old thinking represented by John the Baptist decreased. Advent is a time for the old to decrease in order to make room for the new.The first public miracle of Jesus, at the wedding feast, has always presented a puzzle. But in the story it is clear that while Mary may not have fully understood her son, she trusted him to do the right thing. His way was going to be different.
In "Singing Mary's Song" John Stoman repeats Walter Brueggemann's instructions to us as we desire to grow in faith:
- Decrease what is greedy, what is frantic consumerism, for the increase of simple, life-giving sharing.
- Decrease what is fearful and defensive, for the increase of life-giving compassion and generosity.
- Decrease what is fraudulent and pretentious, for the increase of life-giving truth telling in your life, truth telling about you and your neighbor, about the sickness of our society and our enmeshment in that sickness.
- Decrease what is hateful and alienating, for the increase of healing and forgiveness, which finally are the only source of life.
Take time for quiet reflection. Respond to the questions below by writing in your journal or quietly reflecting.
- In the list of "decreases" above, which one sounds the most difficult for you? Which on feels most relevant to your life now?
- "New life in Christ means little unless we commit every aspect of our lives to that truth." Do you believe this statement? Why or why not? If yes, do you believe it enough to commit to a new plan of action this Advent?
Prayer for Thursday, Week Three
God of abundance, help us to take mystery, disappointment, suspense, and danger and use them to gain assurance, patience, perseverance, and courage. Create in us, O Lord, clean hearts and right spirits. Amen.
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