January 17, 2004 - 2 EpiphanyC

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John's Gospel is written quite different from the other three gospels. It's thought to have been written towards the end of the first century, probably in the 90s. It doesn't follow the same order or record the same stories as the other gospels. It's the result of a developed theological reflection some years after the death of Jesus.

John is the only one of the gospel writers to relate this story of the wedding at Cana. And the purpose of the gospel is stated in what's thought to have been the original ending of the gospel at the end of John 20: "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name."

The gospel contains a series of incidences revealing the glory of God through Jesus. The writer seems to be interested mainly in the significance of the deeds of Jesus. The miracle of changing of water into wine at Cana is the first sign. It's a sign which shows the creative and transforming work of Jesus, but already, even at this early point in his ministry, it could be interpreted as what was thought to be his attitude towards the law. The law was all important to Jews, especially to the Pharisees, who had refined the law to such a degree that any contingency in life would be covered by rules and regulations. Jesus, on the other hand, was rather dismissive about the regulations and rules and laws.

Jesus had been invited to the wedding along with his mother and disciples. It would have been a great occasion. Weddings in the middle and far east are different from our western rites. A celebration for the whole community. Weddings were traditionally occasions for festivities lasting a week or more. It was also a time of charity. The wedding party would distribute food and money to the poor people of the community. They would share their abundance and happiness. Relatives sometimes travelled great distances, and friends and neighbours poured in. We don't know how many days the party had been celebrating when the wine ran out.

This, then, is what was taking place when the wine gave out, and Jesus' mother (who, incidentally, is never mentioned by name in John's gospel) asked Jesus to do something. Although actually, she didn't ask, she merely passed a remark: "They have no wine." It was Jesus who took up the remark and responded.

We're permitted a glimpse of an intimate little scene between Jesus and his mother. The sort of scene that's repeated in different ways in every family. It's a scene where at first glance, the conversation doesn't make a lot of sense, and bears no relation whatsoever to what actually happens.

Mary remarks on the lack of wine. Jesus responds, but doesn't mention wine. He says to his mother: "My time hasn't yet come." Mary seems to know exactly what he's implying, for she turns to the servants and says: "Do whatever he tells you."

Families and friends tend to develop shortcuts in conversations which make perfect sense to them, but are often completely mystifying to anyone outside. To me, this short conversation between Mary and Jesus gives one of the most intimate pictures in the New Testament of the very close relationship between them. It would also appear that Mary knew who Jesus was and what was expected of him and his ministry.

Jesus tells the servants to fill six stone jars with water. They were normally filled with water for the Jewish rites of purification. And they held a good deal of water, enough to purify the whole community. Probably between 120 and 180 gallons. Not even a whole community could drink that much wine. So Jesus goes way over the top in the amount of wine he produces. Wine must have been overflowing in abundance. By using purification jars for such a very different purpose, Jesus is making a statement about his opinion of the laws of the purification rites. Jesus is being audacious and extravagant.

Rather than bothering about ceremonial washing, about outward effects, he had turned his attention to what goes into human beings, to what feeds and nourishes them. He had given them the finest possible quality of wine, no matter what had gone on before. No matter that they may have been too drunk by this stage to have appreciated it, they still had the best offered to them. Jesus always gives us his best. That's what God is suppose to do. God's abundance is always audacious and extravagant.

When we are thrown into turmoil, into despair and feel helpless, God still loves us. But so what? If we believe in a loving God, then God is doing what God does best. It's not hard for God to love us all the time. It is, however, harder for us to love God when things go wrong. Jesus gives himself fully, is outrageous in his gift of himself. It doesn't matter if we're not ready or too drunk with our own concerns to really appreciate his gift, he gives it anyway. What has gone on before in our lives is disregarded, he gives himself utterly. But not us. We hold onto to grudges or life's inequities ... and we turn our backs to God. So the question isn't does God loves us when we feel unloveable, but do we continue to love God and thank God for the abundance when things go bad? If you're like me, when I'm in turmoil, the fact that God loves me doesn't mean much. What I want and need at that point, is direction and sources that can help me through and out of my turmoil. So an absent God who does nothing but love us, is not effective. A God, through Jesus, who takes an active and integral part in my journey through life...someone who can indeed change the raging waters of my life into the life-giving blood of wine, transforming me along with that miracle is the God I worship and adore.

Jesus treats all of us in exactly the same way. The love God bestows through Jesus is the same for everyone - overflowing, too much, audacious and extravagant. As we don't limit him, he pours his gifts into us in outrageous abundance. We don't have to earn them or deserve them, they're ours for the taking. All we have to do is to ask and to receive, and allow God to work within us.

Good wine is rich and nourishing and wholesome and satisfying. It brings good health and pleasure, and is best enjoyed in company. That's what Jesus has in store for us. And he offers it in abundance. Can we do the same for him?
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March 26, 2004 - Lent 3C

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Like most of you, I had a couple of careers. Jobs that were challenging and exciting, successful and had good benefits. I spent most of my adult life in these jobs. But I never felt fufilled, satisfied or that my gifts were being used. I felt that something was missing. That is, until I changed my life and answered the call to ministry. I took a chance, and with God's help found fulfillment with my life...albeit not without it's trials and disappointments, but also the glory and grace of the Almighty. We always get another chance.

So here was a man with a fig tree in the middle of his vineyard. Now the obvious reason for his having such a tree was that he wanted to enjoy the fruit; a fig tree is certainly not something beautiful to look at. Upon coming to the vineyard, he found that the tree was totally lacking fruit. So the man approached his hired vinedresser and told him to cut it down. The owner is not acting impulsively. Now here's another silly rule from Leviticus (19:23) makes it clear that no one was allowed to eat the fruit of a tree during the first three years after it was planted, so this particular fig tree must have been at least six years old because the owner had been seeking the fruit for three years. There had been an ample period of time for it to bear fruit, but it didn't and now never would. So the only thing to do was to cut it down. After all, it was only taking up space that could be more productive, and it was depriving the other plants of their needed nourishment. The vinedresser offers a suggestion. He would like the owner to postpone having the tree cut down for one more year. During that time, the vinedresser would pamper it; give it special attention, which would be particularly unusual since fig trees are really quite undemanding and require very little care. Every step will be taken to promote the production of fruit. Then, if there is fruit, everything is fine. If not, out it goes.The parable comes to an end. Jesus does not bother to explain it further. We are led to believe that the owner goes along with the plan and that the fig tree is placed on one-year probation; it is given a chance to turn over a new leaf as it were. Even the outcome is not discussed, nor is it important. The importance lies in the facts surrounding the fig tree itself: its condition, its probationary period, and its possible demise. We just have the parable.

In the Near East, fig trees tend to produce their crops at a specific time of the year, so it is easy to determine whether they are producing or not. Growth in our lives is equally important. It is appropriate for us on occasion to examine our lives and to see whether or not we are indeed bearing fruit being productive. For Christians Lent is this time. It is a time for us to admit that rather than looking to the Lord for our spiritual nourishment, we look to ourselves, try to put our trust in our own growth, and go nowhere. Is my life what it should be? Are there areas that I'm holding on to rather than turning them over to the care of Jesus? Are my priorities in order? Understanding that who I am today affects who I will be tomorrow, if my life continues along the same way that it is now going, if I continue to do the same things, where will I be one year, five years, even ten years from today? Is my life fruitful and productive or have I stopped growing? Am I cold, hard, unproductive, a Christian in name but certainly not in spirit? Perhaps on an even more basic level, am I a Christian at all, or have I either been running or playing games? It's time to ask the hard questions.Just as the fig tree was barren, we sometimes are led to see that our own lives aren't overly fruitful either. As the fig tree is about to be cut down, we too feel lost and without hope. "If only I would have done things differently." "If only I would have committed that area, that problem to the Lord." "If only I would have trusted my faith more." "If only I would have done this or done that." "If only, if only, if only."In reality, we have no better time then now to change our lives. We can't bring back wasted opportunities. But you know one thing this parable tells us? It says, we can change. Jesus will tend us, enrich us and watch out for us. For, just as the vinedresser interrupted the land owner, so too the Son of God is pleading our case at the very throne of grace, even as the Holy Spirit nudges each of our hearts, saying, " There is still time. Today is another day. God is a God of grace; God wants our lives to be fruitful and filled with hope." Indeed there is. For in the light of repentance, we can look to a gracious God for help. Arriving at an awareness of our own shortcomings or lack of fruitfulness is not intended to leave us defeated and in despair, but rather to inspire us to leave that behind and to reach out so that we might be fruitful today and tomorrow. As long as we have breath, we can be changed. We have another chance. And the Spirit of God has been given to nurture our very lives.Yet there's an ominous side to the parable as well that we don't like to think about. How long will that chance last? For the fig tree, it lasted one additional year. For us? Who knows. A decade? A year? A month? A week? For some, maybe only a day. One thing is certain. The grace period comes to an end. "If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down." God is a god of grace and mercy, but there are only so many tomorrows. While we might not yet be out of time, we must be careful, for we really do not have all the time in the world.What a hopeful parable this is. What looks like a dread of judgment, "Cut it down," turns out to be an invitation to repentance, "One more year." However, that year, in and of itself, won't change a thing. But with the vinedresser adding extra care and enrichment, there is hope. That's precisely what God wants to do with each of our lives today. Work with us, shape us, prune us, water us. If we will let him, imagine the fruit that could grow in the coming year. The parable of the barren fig tree is a parable of the past, complete with wasted opportunities and unfulfilled possibilities. But it is also a parable of a gracious owner, a concerned vinedresser, and a future full of hope. God's forgiveness and allowing us another chance gives us the opportunity to start over whenever we express the earnest desire to do so. When we invite Jesus to tend us, enrich us, we begin to produce fruit from the gifts we have received.

Each and every day we wake up whole and intact. We have the opportunity to start all over again.

I heard the call when I was 10 years old. I was ordained 30 years later. I have been a priest for almost 16 years. You do the math! It has been the best time, the most exciting time, the most challenging time. A time I feel has brought forth fruit and gifts I never realized I had. And I thank God every day. You can too. You can change your life....today. And there's not better time.
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