Yesterday we went to the local Anglican church, as we were on holiday. Now, the service had many fine points, but one incident stood out in my mind, and today, in another island, at work, I was reminded of it.
This is a time of year when many people struggle. The shops lay off people who they needed during the christmas rush, many businesses find January “slow” as everyone is on holiday, and many people have to budget to pay for their holidays and Christmas Parties. And the priest said this, and that people were coming to the church to seek help.
That was OK. But (in his words) “Some are making this a lifestyle”. In particular, they were approaching members of the congregation and asking for money. The priest advised us not to give them money but send them to the ministry team, who generally knew these people, their circumstances, and were helping them get out of it.
And at work today there are people readmitted because their accommodating is not to their liking — and when I mentioned this incident it made the nurses smile. Which brings us to the lectionary.
1On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9When 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 10and 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.” 11Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Firstly, Jesus did more than what was needful. He managed to keep the obligation of hospitality going for this family. And the writers of the lectionary link this with a condemnation of those who have lost their first love. It is appropriate to be joyous, even drunk, at times. We are not here to be frozen robots.
But secondly, Jesus did this once. He did not do this all the time. In fact, when people demanded food, he confronted them. You can ask for what you need, not what you want. You cannot demand blessings. Consider work for a second — in Dunedin, where it can snow in summer, I do not accept sending people from hospital to live on the streets. But some of the accommodation we have is plain. Without frills, and without any luxuries or beauty. It is as if we can give water,
But not luxury, not wine. What happened in Cana was called a miracle because it was rare. No one can expect that. It only, like our salvation, happens as an act of grace, by God.
