MIRACLE IN CANA:
WEDDING FEAST PAR EXCELLENCE (John 2:1-11)
(The Rev. Canon Dr.
Winfred B. Vergara. St. James’ Elmhurst.1/17/16)
It is
amazing that the first miracle of Jesus, that of turning water into wine, happened at a marriage in Cana of
Galilee. It may have been coincidental that the wine ran out during the wedding
reception and Mother Mary had to tell his Son Jesus to save the day. It may
have been coincidental that the wedding planners underestimated the party; that
there are more wine drinkers than there are wine.
But if we believe
that nothing in this world happens for a reason, then there are at least three
reasons why the first miracle of Jesus happened in the context of marriage.
1. MARRIAGE IS A CELEBRATION OF HUMAN CULTURE
Culture is
defined as a sum total of human values, habits, beliefs, traditions and arts of
a people or group of peoples. Japanese theologian Kosuke Koyama defines
cultures as “fingers of God pointing to Christ.”
Culture in
Galilee, as in most rural villages, are often characterized by five
“f’s”---family, friends, food, festivals and faith---and wedding ceremony is
one of the celebrations in which these five f’s converge.
This is the first
reason why the first miracle of Jesus, that of turning water into wine, became significant.
Can you imagine what kind of festival is that going to be if there was no wine?
Unlike in Vegas, what happens in Cana would not stay in Cana. It would spread
throughout Galilee and the bad news would be “The wedding feast ran out of wine--and
it was a dry and boring festival!”
It turned
out however, that Jesus, the Nazarene who would later become the Savior of the
world would begin his salvific ministry by saving a family from utter
embarrassment! Instead of the bad news, the Good News came out from Cana: “Some
hosts serve the good wine first and then the bad; but in this festival, the
finest wine was served at the end!”
When Jesus is in your party, you expect a great
celebration! Amen?
2. MARRIAGE IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF
FRIENDSHIP
To be
acquainted with one another is great, to be girlfriends and boyfriends is
greater but to be husband and wife is the greatest, highest and deepest form of
friendship. You can be close to your acquaintance, you can be closer to your
friends, but you can only be closest and most intimate with your spouse.
In marriage,
you share the deepest form of companionship. In marriage, you are called to
“leave father and mother and be joined to your wife or husband and the two
shall become one.”
This leaving
and cleaving has to do with far more than sexual or physical. Marriage is a
spiritual union of husband and wife. The injunction in the marriage ceremony
says, “for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to
cherish till death do us part.”
That is why
marriage is not easy, and so many married couples which began as plain romance
have ended up in divorce or separation because marriage is hard.
Are you able
to look beyond each other’s imperfections and complement each other’s
inadequacies? Are you able to live together, day and night, knowing that you
will always have things to work through? When you fight, as most couples do, are
you able to let go and let God; to forgive and forget; to make up and start all
over again?
In our
refrigerator, there is a poster that says: “10 Rules for a Happy Marriage.” Let
me read them to you:
1.
Never
both angry at the same time
2.
Never
yell at each other unless the house is on fire
3.
If
one of you has to win an argument, let it be your mate
4.
If
you have to criticize, do it lovingly
5.
Never
bring up mistakes of the past
6.
Neglect
the whole world but not each other
7.
Never
go to sleep with an argument not settled
8.
At
least once every day say one kind word or compliment to your mate
9.
When
you have done something wrong, be brave to admit it and ask forgiveness
10. (This is the one I life best!) It takes two to
make a quarrel and the one in the wrong is the one who does the most talking!
We’ll these
are great rules to live by but they are easier said than done. As human beings
we are subject to human frailties. So in most instances, it is only by God’s
grace that many marriages last.
3. MARRIAGE IS THE FORETASTE OF THE
UNION BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
Because of
its intimacy, sacredness and mutuality marriage has become the symbol of the mystical
union between Christ and His Church. St. Paul said, “Husband love your wife as Christ
loved the Church and gave Himself up for her.” “Wife, see to it that you
respect your husband.”
In the
analogy of heavenly marriage, Christ is the Groom and the Church is the Bride. And
the value that binds Christ and the Church is love.
You know, as
human beings, we are all imperfect. Even how much we try to do our best, we
still make mistakes. We are all sinners. Even those who are considered saints,
they were also sinners. St. Paul said, “The good that I want to do, I do not
do; the bad that I do not want to do, I do.”
The Book of
Hebrews tells us that God is a God of love and mercy, more than a God of judgment. If God is all judgment, who can
stand? All of us will fall down; our feet will turn to clay.
That is why we
should not judge people lest we be judged. Instead of judgment or criticism, we
should be generous with praise and encouragement because we are all imperfect
human beings.
I am now
married for 37 years and been a priest for 38 years. I find that marriage and
priesthood are similar. They are a calling, a vocation. And the relationships that
exist in marriage and in church are similar. Where mutual love, respect,
generosity, patience, forgiveness exist in marriage that marriage will last. But
if love flies off the window, that relationship will end.
I have been
to churches where members are so loving and so appreciative of their priests
and of one another. Where there is love, the church grows spiritually and in
numbers. I have also seen some churches
where members are so critical, so disrespectful and so unappreciative of their
priests and of one another. In a church
where there is no love, relationships do not last and the church declines and
dies. You may have a beautiful building but if there is no love in that church,
that church will become empty.
So whether
in marriage or in church, the cord that binds people together is love. Money
has nothing to do with it. It does not matter if the couple are rich or poor.
They are happy if they love each other. The same is true with church. It also
does not matter if the church is rich or poor; if they have a good building or
just rent a hall. Where there is love, that church is happy and it will grow.
This is because God is love and when people love, God is there. And if God is
there, the Church is alive!
Conclusion
There was a story of a little boy who wanted to
see God. So he packed food and drinks in his back pack and went on a journey.
At the park, he saw an old woman staring at some pigeons. She looked hungry so
he decided to share his sandwich. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.
Her smile was so pretty that he wanted to see it again so he decided to share
his root beer as well. They ate together at the park, smiling at each other. As
the day wears on the boy decided it was time to go home but before he left, he
turned around and gave the old woman a hug. She gave him her biggest smile
ever.
At home, the boy’s
mother was surprised to see the look of joy on his face. She asked, “Son, what
did you do today that made you so happy?” He replied, “Mom, you won’t believe
it but I had lunch with God! And you know what? She’s got the most beautiful
smile I’ve ever seen!”
Meanwhile, the old woman
also returned home, radiant with joy. Her son, stunned at the look of her face,
asked, “Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?” She replied, ”Son, you won’t believe it but I
had lunch with God at the park. And you know what? He’s so much younger than I expected.”
Is God in you? Yes, if
love is in your heart. The Bible says, “God
is love; and everyone who lives in love, lives in God and God is in him.”
PRAYER:
A.
Let
me pray first for all the married people who are here May I request all you who
are married, to stand where you are. Even if your husband or wife is not with
you, please stand. Everyone please close your eyes. Let us pray:
“Almighty God, who
consecrated the covenant of marriage that in it is represented the spiritual
unity between Christ and His Church; bless these married couples that they may
so love, honor and cherish each other in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness,
that their home maybe a haven of love and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. (BCP 431)
“Almighty Father, whose blessed Son
before his passion prayed that his disciples that they might be one, as you and
he are one. Grant that your Church, being bound together in love, maybe united
in One Body and One Spirit, that the world may believe in Him whom you have
sent, your son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, one God
now and forever. Amen.”(BCP 255)
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