Reverend Philip Stringer
John 2:1-11
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
LET US PRAY: Enlighten our hearts, O God, through the hearing of your word and the meditations of our hearts, that we may be strengthened in faith and bear a bright witness to the world, through Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Amen
Story about an everyday person quietly showing compassion.
When Jesus and his disciples attended the wedding celebration at Cana, he was just a local rabbi who was probably a friend of the family. Cana was only about a mile from Nazareth where he had grown up. Most of the people there would have seen nothing special or noteworthy about his presence -- after all, the celebration wasn’t for Jesus -- it was for the groom and his bride. Jesus was just one of the crowd.
But then the wine ran out. That’s not merely a social embarrassment. Wine at a wedding feast is the symbol of health and prosperity that demonstrated the groom’s ability to care for his new bride. When the wine ran out, it was a disaster — and the stage was set for a major turn of events.
Had he desired it, Jesus could have become the hero of the party -- the new center of attention.
But instead, Jesus did what he did with as much secrecy as possible, because his purpose was not to draw attention to himself.
There would come a time when Jesus’ purpose would be to draw attention to himself so that he might glorify the Father. That time would be on the cross. And the new wine he would offer to the world at that time would be his blood -- poured out in love for you.
But this was not that time. And to draw attention to himself at this time would have been a distraction for the people from Jesus’ goal to glorify the Father. They wouldn’t be able to make the connection -- they would have only seen a miracle-worker or a magician doing tricks. Jesus knew that miracles don’t create faith; they only confirm it. For him to perform a public miracle now would mean they would only look as far as Jesus and the miracles, and never beyond them to the Father.
So, Jesus did what he did with as much secrecy as possible. The guests don’t know -- and never know as far as we can tell.
The host doesn’t know.
The steward doesn’t even know.
Only Mary; only the disciples; only a handful of servants are witness to what he does.
We can only assume he does what he does, therefore, to reveal something to this small group whose attention is already on him. In Jesus’ first miracle, we see the heart and will of God revealed.
Joy; prosperity; abundance; celebration; the happiness of God. We see that the old covenant of the Law (represented in the water and the jugs) is replaced by a new covenant of life and joy. And in these things we might also see the transformation that his coming brings in our own lives.
As those transformed into God’s joyful gift to the world, our goal is the same as Jesus’: To point to God, that our Father in heaven may be glorified.
The interesting thing about the wedding at Cana is that the Father was glorified, even though the people didn’t realize it. That can happen because at its simplest form, God is glorified when there is peace and joy and harmony; In other words, when things are as they should be.
I think about the groom — with the mantle of responsibility that was placed upon him in marriage. He is supposed to be the provider and protector — not only for his wife but for the children they will have. He has no idea that the wine that demonstrates his strength is actually a gift from God. It is only by God’s grace that he sits securely and confidently where he sits. It is only by God’s grace that the bride and groom will have peace and joy and harmony in their lives.
God’s grace is in at the foundation of our lives, too — in ways we will never fully understand. And it’s ok when we don’t notice. It’s nice when we do, of course, but that’s not why God is gracious.
And it’s OK that when we do notice, that we’re not loud about it. There are times when glorifying God means we praise God with words. But sometimes that gets in the way. God doesn’t have an ego that needs to be stroked with words of affirmation. All God wants is that things be as God intends.
We glorify God when we use our lives to do God’s will. Period. In fact, there is no other way to glorify God. God is not glorified by our words, unless they are a reflection of lives that glorify God.
That’s why, as Lutheran Christians, we know there are times for us to overtly speak and teach about Jesus -- to plant churches, train church leaders and spread the gospel.
But there are also times when all that is needed is to love our neighbors by doing what we can to bring about peace, justice and harmony — in this congregation. In your families. In our community and nation. In the world.
Did you know that the majority of our ELCA missionaries are not pastors & theologians, but people like teachers, engineers, administrators and medical personnel? We use the word, “missionary” to describe these people — but that should be the word used to describe any Christian. I like the formal name of the Episcopal Church — The Foreign & Domestic Mission Society.
Any place you go is a mission field. And the mission is not to talk loudly about Jesus. The mission is to serve like Jesus. The mission is to point to the Father in acts of love and kindness. The mission is to live lives of grace. Whether people notice it or not. A church that does not fundamentally desire this is a church only in name.
The other day my daughter, Rachel, asked me, “are there benefits to joining a church?” She lives over in Hillsboro and has been visiting several congregations. I pointed out to her that she is already a member of THE church through her baptism into Christ. To join a congregation is simply to recognize that life is about relationships. Joining a congregation means that you recognize that these people add to your life — but also that you are committing to be there for them in their lives, too; that you will minister to each other.
The mission of THIS congregation is the same mission that all congregations have: to glorify God through acts of loving service.
In a few minutes, Kathy and Dennis Miller will stand before the altar and become members of this congregation.
This part of the service actually comes from the service of baptism, and the questions that I will ask them about joining this congregation are the same ones asked at baptism. It is a way of reminding us that our life together is a response to God’s grace, poured out for us in the waters of baptism.
This congregation has a strong history of mission and service. And although it may not be on your mind all the time, you probably know that one important mission of this congregation is to feed and equip you as individuals to serve on your own in the community. God’s grace feeds us here so that we may be agents of grace throughout the week, wherever we go. It is important that you remember what the mission is right now.
Paul spoke to the Christians at Corinth who were filled with an overabundance of gifts. They had all they needed and MORE for being the church and accomplishing the will of God where they were.
But instead of doing that, they bickered and argued about whose gifts were best and most important. God had given the church gifts for the sake of those outside of the church -- But those within the church saw them as being given for them as individuals. The result was that they were of no use to anyone. In fact, the gifts became a detriment and barrier to faith. Their pre-occupation with the gifts got in the way of the people being followers.
And that’s exactly what Jesus had known would happen in Cana. Miracles -- and the giving of blessings -- don’t create faith. They only confirm it.
You have the gifts. You don’t need more gifts. What you need — what any congregation needs — and for that matter what any individual needs — is faith that sees the gifts for what they are, and for what purpose they are given.
We have received grace so that we may be agents of grace in the world.
Enlighten our hearts, O God, through the hearing of your word and the meditations of our hearts, that we may be strengthened in faith and bear a bright witness to the world, through Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
AMEN
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