Sermon: Amanda Lewis, January 20, 2019

Sermon
Amanda Lewis 
January 20, 2019

Sermon January 20 (2)

Bennett and I just celebrated our first wedding anniversary last month. We had a tiny family ceremony, there were just 20 of us there together, we kept things simple. But even still not everything went according to our plan. And that’s not unique to our experience. Reflecting back on some weddings I’ve been to, leading up to one ceremony the maid of honor forgot her dress, at another wedding someone’s car broke down in route from the hotel to the ceremony, at another a swarm of mosquitos descended upon the reception. And these are pretty tame examples. Wedding traditions differ between cultures and change over time but some things seem pretty consistent there are lots of details to plan and lots and lots of expectations. With the complexity of even the simplest arrangements seems that something is bound to go amiss.

Something even goes amiss at the wedding in Cana: We can imagine that these families have spent years saving up for this and months planning, addressing invitations, making a seating chart, hiring the caterers. But finally their hard work is paying off and things are coming together. They’ve checked everything off the list: they’ve got something old, new, borrowed, blue, and even a penny to go in her shoe. The ceremony goes off without a hitch. The bride looks breath taking as she walks down the aisle, and the groom’s smile lights up the room when he sees her in her dress. It’s truly a day to celebrate. And celebrate they do! The party begins. People are talking and dancing the music can be heard from the other side of town. But as the night goes on Mary’s keen eye notices something, the supply of wine starts to dwindle. Maybe everyone is just thirsty from dancing, or maybe some folks showed up who forgot to RSVP. But in the middle of the party the wine runs out. Mary is devastated, this may ruin the reception. She knows that people will never let them live this down.

Mary searches for Jesus and after a whispered back and forth Jesus points to the stone jugs and tells the day of coordinator and wedding planner to fill them with water. So they fetch bucket after bucket of water, the coolness of the water is refreshing as it splashes onto their aching feet as they haul the heavy buckets. Finally the water jugs are full, and to their amazement when they peer into these giant jugs, they find that the color has changed. The wedding planner dips a finger in and touches it to her tongue- she can’t believe it tastes like wine – and not just the four dollar bottle. Knowing that people will soon start clamoring for more wine, the coordinator grabs a ladle and fills a glass. With apprehension he carries it to the sommelier. The planner and the coordinator hold their breath as they wait for the sommelier. The seconds drag on as he swirls, sniffs, and tastes and his face breaks into a smile. He pronounces “I taste cherry with a subtle pepper note. This is good. Why did you wait until now to bring this out?” he scolds them. The coordinator and planner don’t even pause to answer his question in their hurry to show the caterers where to find this new supply of wine just in time for the cake cutting.

When Jesus turns water into wine he certainly saves the party, but in spite of what Pinterest fueled expectations may say, it doesn’t feel as dire as other situations we encounter in the Gospels and in our world today. In some ways it feels insensitive to dwell on the story of a party that ran out of wine when there are families in our community who are running out of food to eat.

Indeed for families of public servants across our country who live paycheck to paycheck their savings are running out. There are Air traffic controllers who long for a sense of control over conversations behind closed doors, National Weather Service Employees who can’t predict what will happen next if they can’t pay their rent. Coast Guard Families who wonder who’s guarding their wellbeing. And resources are running out for many other folks and families too whether it be from the loss of a job, an increase in the cost of living, or the overwhelming weight of medical bills.

Even for those of us who aren’t actively running out of resources, the fear of running out is a potent feeling when life already feels overwhelming. I think when that fear of running out dominates our hearts and minds transforming our priorities it can become like what the psalmist describes at the beginning of the psalm. The psalm contrasts God’s character with the temptation to live only for self, to cease “to act wisely and do good.” Scholar of the Psalms Rolf Jacobson notes that they no longer “live in such a way that brings peace both to one’s self and one’s neighbors.” While we’re not all extreme couponers with a basement full of canned goods, that fear can become a part of our lives. That fear turns us inward, and there is a temptation only to care only about ourselves ignoring the needs of our neighbors.

You may be thinking, but this story from John’s Gospel isn’t about people who have run out of resources, they’re not people who are at their wits end with worry. And you’d have a good point. The family hasn’t even noticed that they ran out of wine. Our text this morning isn’t a story of Jesus supplying for folks with dire needs, though the Gospels are certainly filled with such stories. But in today’s text Jesus just gave folks more wine. Sure it would have be upsetting for the wedding reception to end, but wouldn’t have been the end of the world. Some commentators note that Jesus is saving this couple from gossip and shame as folks would never have let them live that down. And that feels like some beautiful empathy towards these families. But its still kind of a weird story. Jesus even seems a bit reluctant to act.

Did you catch that? When Mary tells Jesus that the wine has run out he almost seems to brush her off saying “woman what concern is that to you and me?” I don’t know about you, but I certainly wouldn’t be allowed to talk to my mother that way. But Jesus goes on to say “My hour has not yet come.” Though Jesus has already started gathering disciples, some of whom were at the wedding with him, Jesus seems to hesitate. Maybe he’s waiting on his own sign from God regarding when to start his public ministry, or maybe he’s just nervous. There are very few lines of dialogue, but I can picture a look on Mary’s face, that look that parents and teachers have down to a science that stops you in your tracks. I imagine that with just the furrowing of her eyebrows and the gleam in her eye Mary tells Jesus “I said they’re out of wine, now don’t make me repeat myself again.”

Whether it is Mary’s look or a nudging from the holy spirit, something changes, and Jesus seems to get over the timing thing pretty fast. And something beautiful happens. We see God’s abundant hospitality. Jesus fills the stone water jars and gives them about 120 gallons which is something like 450 liters of the best wine! We can imagine the sense of wonder and amazement that fills the folks who see Jesus’ sign, Jesus’ new disciples peering into the depths of the stone jars and scratching their heads as they try to make sense of it. Though they probably don’t know what to think of Jesus’ sign then, maybe years later as they reflect on that moment that the words of the psalmist will fill their mind:

7How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

When we pair this abundant hospitality with the times that Jesus healed and brought relief to suffering, we get a deeper understanding of God’s Kingdom which doesn’t just seek to eliminate suffering it promotes the well-being of all, creating hospitality and times of worship, celebrating love and the gift of life.
God’s kingdom offers new life even when all seems bleak. And I think we’re catching glimpses of God’s kingdom even now. As we see the generous outpouring of folks giving food and supplies to those in need. And we also have the opportunity to continue to live out God’s radical love by standing up against systems that would leave people so vulnerable.

Yes, There is so much pain and suffering surrounding us, and we see folks who are set on a way that is not good. It can feel overwhelming. Yet in the midst of this God nudges our spirits to remind us of the God’s glory and God’s glorious hospitality that revives spirits and fills up empty vessels with new life.
Jesus’ gift of wine is like God’s hospitality it is extravagant and delightful. And God welcomes us into giving and receiving that hospitality living out the kingdom of God.

So on this Sardis Souper Bowl Sunday let us embody this abundant hospitality as we feast on soup and laugh with friends. And may it fill our hearts and our stomachs nourishing us that we might in turn share this hospitality with others showing them the life giving welcome of the Kingdom of God. Amen.