17 January 2016 - manifestival

[ Today's Readings ]

 When the wine ran short,
the mother of Jesus said to him,
“They have no wine.”

And we haven't for a while. People have been calling us forsaken and or name desolate. The first wedding fails to be what it is meant to be when Adam and Eve fall. Shame and selfishness begin to mark their relationship. This happens because the even more fundamental relationship of man to God is broken. It is always meant to be a marriage covenant. We are supposed to be called "Espoused". We are supposed to be called "My delight." 

As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.

No particular weddings will ever have enough wine, that is, enough joy, if this fundamental relationship remains broken. So while an individual wedding might not be a concern of Jesus on one level it is still a perfect place for him to manifest himself. A particular wedding can now finally have enough wine because soon there will be enough for all when Jesusrestores the union of God and man.

Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee
and so revealed his glory,
and his disciples began to believe in him.

This is the first of his signs logically even more than chronologically. It is first because it is a new beginning. Since creation goes astray in Adam and Eve Jesus begins a new creation here. And Mary perfectly stands in for all of mankind when she says, "Do whatever he tells you." Because it is a new creation we are able to sing a new song, proclaiming the marvelous deeds of the LORD.

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.

Just what is this wine we need?

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart (cf. Ephj. 5:18-19).

The Spirit is the wedding gift of God to his bride. Through the Spirit he gives us life just as he breathes life into Adam and Eve. The Spirit is the one who enables us to drink the wine of the new and everlasting covenant. He is given to us all but the gifts, forms of service, and workings are individual. They are manifestations of God's marriage with us. So in a way, they are like a wedding ring.

To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.

We can't be a bride who refuses to wear her ring. We must let the manifestations be really manifest. We can't keep them hidden within. There are all sorts of reasons why we might. But if we truly trust in the bridegroom we will have the courage to use the gifts we are given. Let's listen to the words of Mary and do whatever he tells us.

Jesus does not give us a good thing and then hope we won't notice when the future doesn't live up. He is building toward the culmination: the wedding feast of the lamb.

Everyone serves good wine first,
and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
but you have kept the good wine until now.