Fr. Ron Feister: What Kind of Wine are You?

Sermon delivered on Sunday, Epiphany 2, January 20, 2013, at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, Columbus, OH.

Lectionary texts: Isaiah 62.1-5; Psalm 36.5-10; 1 Corinthians 12.1-11; John 2.1-11.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today we celebrate the Third Major Epiphany Feast —  the working of Jesus’ First Public Miracle at the Wedding Feast of Cana. We started this Church season with the Feast of Epiphany itself — the coming of the Wise Men to pay homage to the King of the Jews and in doing so to acknowledge that Jesus did not just come to bring salvation to a small group of people but to bring salvation to the whole world. The term Epiphany in the Greek means to experience a sudden realization or breakthrough. Indeed the coming into this world of God in the person of Jesus as a human being was such a sudden breakthrough. In the early church and in the Eastern Church today the Feast of Epiphany included the celebration of both the Birth of Christ and his Baptism as well and in some places the Wedding Feast of Cana.

In the Western Church we have separated  these occasions that we might spend a little more time reflecting on each aspect of God’s revelation of himself to us. Last week we celebrated the Baptism of Jesus by John and  we reflected on how the Father proclaimed Jesus as the true Son of God and the Spirit of God was seen in physical form like a dove showing that the Power of the Spirit is indeed with Jesus. We are reminded that through our relationship with Jesus celebrated in our own baptisms that we too are empowered by the Spirit. We signed our selves with blessed water as a sign of renewal of our own baptismal commitment. We can be thankful that we do not follow some of the traditions of the Eastern Church were believers will often renew their baptismal commitment by jumping into nearly freezing waters that are blessed by the priest.

As we look at the first reading  chosen for this day, we start with Isaiah Chapter 62. This reading speaks of God’s desire to have a relationship with his people, symbolized in this reading as the nation of Zion. It speaks about how God wants to crown his people with splendor and fill them with righteousness and glory. God wants to be in a relationship with his people that is as strong and intimate as marriage. When this relationship exists, it is so pleasing to God, that it describes God as rejoicing. With this special understanding of God’s love of his people, we can understand why the Church sees this as a perfect introduction to the incident outlined in our Gospel reading. Marriage and the weddings that celebrate their beginnings have always been a sign and symbol of God’s special relationship with his own.

So now let us turn to the Gospel reading from John. You may already know, but if you don’t, the celebration of a wedding in much of the middle east is and was a major occasion. It was not just something that lasted a couple of hours with a relatively short service followed by a little longer reception. Rather, it was a community wide, social event that lasted days. You invited your family and friends, of course, but you also invited most, if not all, of the community and if you were invited, it was considered very poor taste not to come. As with society weddings of today, the quality and grandeur of the occasion was often seen as a reflection of the social status of the couple. This was especially true of the groom and his family. Failure to provide for the guests was an extreme embarrassment. Into this special moment, we find  Mary, Jesus and Jesus Disciples being invited.

Sometime during the festivities the wine has run out. Some estimate that this was probably on the 3rd day. Mary, learning of this situation, asks that Jesus help them solve this problem. No doubt Mary cared for this family and did not want them embarrassed. Jesus it seems at first resists. He is not yet ready to reveal himself fully, but when Mary insists and instructs the servants do as Jesus directs. He gives in. Many of us know well the persuasive effect that a mother can have on our actions.

Jesus actions are simple. No pomp and circumstances. No magic wands or fireworks. He simply tells that servants to draw water from the six stone purification water jars and take them to the chief steward who is amazed and a little dismayed that such good wine would be brought forth at a latter point in the feasting and not earlier when it would have been enjoyed even more.  This was the first of his signs and revealed the glory of Jesus, the Glory of God, and helped his disciples be strengthen in their belief in him.

As I read this story, I am always struck by the fact that Jesus was at the wedding having a good time, that he turned the water into wine that others could have an enjoyable time, yet so often there are those who believe that if you are a follower of Jesus Christ you must always take life seriously — that enjoyment is not for this life, but only heaven. This telling of this event shows us otherwise.

This was the first on many signs but it was also a pattern for those to follow: Jesus throughout his ministry would work many signs and wonders but all without fanfare. He would say to the lame man — Your sins are forgiven take up your matt and walk — and he would. He would place mud on the eyes of a blind man and have him simply wash it off and the man would see again. He would place his fingers into the ears of a deaf man and say be opened and the man would hear. He would allow a woman to be healed by the mere touching of his garment.  He would take two fish and five loafs of bread, say a simple blessing and feed thousands. Even today, Jesus, through a simple human institution, that we call the Church uses simple things to make himself present. Through basic items like bread and wine, he makes himself tangible and real. Through words of promise, he takes two and makes them one. Through words read from a book, he teaches, corrects, encourages and inspires. Through poured water, he brings a person into membership in a special family.

Speaking of water, I  cannot help but wonder just what kind of excellent wine that water became. There are all types of wine, sweet, dry, desert, cooking, and in the time of Jesus wine was often used as a medicine. It really does not matter, of course, the wedding feast was saved, the bride and groom were not embarrassed, and the Glory of God in Jesus Christ shown forth.

The reading  from I Corinthians, points out that there are many spiritual gifts that are given to members of the Church from those who are able to share the wisdom of experience, those who are equipped with knowledge, those who can bring healing, and those who are able to speak a prophetic word. This list is not mean to be a full listing of such gifts, but to give the believers and understanding that ordinary people, like ordinary water, can be transformed and through their life in Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit. Some time these gift will be like a dry wine that on its own may not be very pleasant, but with a meal, brings delight, some of these gifts are like a desert wine that lightens the burdens of others and brings a sense of joy into their lives, some of these gifts are like healing, medicinal wine  that brings relief from injury and pain.

We need to ask ourselves, are we ready to become something other than Ordinary water — good as that may be? Are we ready to become transformed into that most excellent wine, that causes the world to ask why did it take so long before it became present? Ask yourself what kind of wine are you  — that by allowing yourself to be changed from the ordinary that you, like the transformed wine of Cana, may show forth the Glory of God in Jesus Christ.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen