Fill My House with Hoping

John 2:1-11, NRSVue

1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to me and to you? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the person in charge of the banquet.” So they took it. 9 When the person in charge tasted the water that had become wine and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), that person called the bridegroom 10 and 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.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

INTRO

This week, we are beginning a new worship series titled “Six Stone Jars:  The Economy of Jesus.” Series creator Rev. Dr. Marcia McFee writes, “At times, life can feel like we’re “running out” of so much, and scarcity is shutting down the party. In these moments, we are invited to turn to the currency and economy of Jesus. In his economy, the true measure of abundance is fullness for the whole community, not just for some.” As we explore the subsequent weeks, it is my hope that we will come to understand more of the ways that Jesus lives and operates in the world and the ways we are called to take part in sharing this with others. This week, we begin as we ask for God to Fill our Houses with Hoping.

Take a moment and picture the most extravagant wedding you have been to or the most extravagant wedding you can imagine. What makes it extravagant? Usually, it is the reception. We imagine a huge party with wonderful food and drinks with plenty of dancing at a gorgeous venue. But the truth of the matter is that this pales in comparison to the party going on in our Gospel lesson this morning. In this time, weddings were quite different. Scholar Craig Keener writes this about weddings in the time of Jesus: “Weddings ideally lasted seven days, and hosts invited as many people as possible, especially distinguished guests like prominent teachers. Many guests would come for only part of the time, however, making the requisite resources harder to predict.” 

Yet, no matter how extravagant a wedding may be. It does not matter if the wedding is staffed with vendors and even a wedding planner…weddings are accidents waiting to happen. Over my time in ministry, I have not seen a single wedding that did not have some kind of issue..something always goes wrong at a service of holy matrimony. It is no surprise then that something goes wrong at this wedding within the biblical drama. 

There is something beautiful about the fact that even in the scriptures something goes wrong at a wedding…it reminds us that the biblical drama unfolds in the realities of human experiences. At the wedding on Cana something goes wrong.  They were running out of wine. Because of the length of weddings, it was seen as bad etiquette to run out of food or drink. In other words, not only was this a huge party, but the bride and groom and their families run the risk of being seen as failing their responsibilities to be people of generosity and hospitality. To run out of wine would have been seen as a failure to provide the hospitality expected by the culture and would have humiliated all involved. This event would have been remembered by the village for years to come, and the families of this supposed celebration would not be able to live it down. 

But it wasn't just the families that were at risk. There were servants who were hired for the occasion of this wedding. It was their job to manage the food and the wine. Often for occasions such as this, the wine would be watered down. It would have been one part wine to two or three parts water. This was done to have the wine be less potent and help stretch the wine out for the week-long feast. If their employer finds out that the watered-down wine is running out, there could be dire consequences. They could be fired or worse for lesser errors. 

At this time, as a woman and a friend of the family, Mary would be sitting closer to the kitchen than others. So before word breaks out to the rest of the party, Jesus' mother hears what is going on, and she goes to get Jesus and tells him that they have run out of wine. Often, as we read this exchange between Jesus and his mother, we think of a sharp critique of Mary. The word "woman" especially makes us think that this is a harsh response. "Woman, it's not my time yet." But the word translated here as woman, is the same word that Jesus uses when he entrusts his mother into John's care while on the cross. In fact, the phrase that Jesus spoke to his mother can mean multiple things. In this context, one theologian notes that it means this, "Don't worry; you don't quite understand what is going on; leave things to me, and I will settle them in my own way." In other words, Jesus is saying it's not quite time yet, but he will handle it in his own way. It makes sense, then, that Mary responds by telling the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. 

What happens next is a gracious miracle of abundance. These six large stone jars become filled to the brim with wine. It is such good wine that the head servant remarks how wonderful the host is for saving the best wine for last. This is a miracle of extravagance. 

One of the goals of preaching is to speak about where God is at work, not just in the text but in the world, as God speaks through the scripture to us today. A professor at Duke would always remind us, “The scriptures are about God…and what God is doing, not you.”  What does a joyous wedding, six Jewish ritual pots, thirst wedding quests, and abundance of wine tell us about God? These six stone jars are used for religious cleansing; they have a purpose according to the temple, they are to be used for religious purposes only…yet they seem to have no place in our narrative. They do not speak to the hospitality and joyous celebration of this couple that God has joyed together. They seem to just be devoid, empty of purpose, until Jesus uses them to spur on and celebrate the working of God in the world.

Whenever I hear this passage of how God uses “old religious things” outside of their original intent and uses them in new ways, such as jars that held water for cleaning now holding the finest of wines, it makes me stop and wonder…How do our church buildings, our classrooms, and our sanctuary seem to point to emptiness to those outside of our walls? It makes me wonder how God can use these “old religious things,” such as the fellowship hall, to point to the workings of God in new ways. It is estimated that these six stone jars produced 600 to 900 bottles of the finest wine. It makes me wonder how can God use the things that we have and the things we have always done in new ways that not only give us new purpose but offer extravagance to those around us.

(Share stories of how you are proud of the new ways God is using the building in “unintended” ways)

At the same time, we acknowledge that sometimes it seems difficult to stand in our sanctuaries and talk about the extravagance of God when so many around the world and in our own communities are lacking. Yet, looking at our Story, Jesus's extravagance is for all. It isn’t just the party guests who receive, Jesus’ help of the servants is an example of extravagant inclusion. Much like the critiques Jesus receives for being with tax collectors and other “undesirables” of the church, Jesus is found with the hired help, the servants, extravagantly helping them out of a dire situation. For God will not stop until all experience God’s extravagant love. 

One commentary notes this: “It is fitting then that the first of Jesus’ seven signs is not a warning but a gift. By providing wine for a wedding, Jesus tacitly endorses things that make human life meaningful and pleasant: relationships, sexuality, community, hospitality, meals, family, and celebration. By enabling the festivities to continue, Jesus locates himself in places where life flourishes and human relationships thrive. The Messiah will be seen there in Epiphany, just as the signs that Jesus performs elsewhere in John indicate that he will be found also in fractured communities, vulnerability, grief, and death.”

Beloved Church, in Jesus Christ, we have been given enough. In fact, we have more than enough! There is an abundance of gifts among us. Our Church has everything it needs to thrive and to live into who God is calling us to be. Among us are enough spiritual gifts to care not just for one another but to offer God’s grace upon grace to the world. We can use our gifts, our building, our time, and our talents in old and new ways that share God’s abundant and extravagant love for all. It begins with “Cana Grace.” It begins with finding joy. Our religion, our faith, is not one whereby we are too holy to be happy. Rather, we are to welcome, care for, celebrate, and love each person who walks through these doors and those outside these walls. We are to use our resources, including this building, in ways that allow others to feel safe, loved, heard, and celebrated. We are to offer God’s extravagance inclusion. 

How might we share God’s abundant love with each other? With the Childcare Center, with the youth, with DACAS? With the recent widow and those who do look, speak or act like us? How do we go about including others who have often felt unwelcome and hurt by the church? We rely on God’s abundance, we dream, we hope, and we pray that God will take “old religious things” and bring about new life…as we trust God to show up, to do new things, to move, to celebrate among us. 

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