Sermon by Fr Peter Wolton, United Benefice of Holland Park, Sunday 21 January, Epiphany 3

Sermon by Fr Peter Wolton, United Benefice of Holland Park, Sunday 21 January, Epiphany 3

There is a story told about Jesus, which you won’t find in the Gospels.

Jesus goes into a bar on a windy day, winks at the disciples and orders 13 glasses of water.

The barman looks at Jesus and says: “Before I serve you, can I ask you a question?”

Jesus nods.

“Were you,” the barman asks “born in a barn?”

Jesus nods.

“Well then would you mind shutting the door?”  -or words to that effect

Today’s gospel is so rich in imagery, mystery and not a little humour that it is hard to know where to begin. So let’s start at the beginning. Note the words “on the third day” which reminds us that St. John’s gospel is all about the revelation of the “word made flesh” – God taking on human form in the birth and life of Jesus. Everything in John’s gospel reflects back to this fundamental truth. John tells of seven miracles or signs, clues to Jesus’ divine nature – and this is the first – the creation of the abundance of wine.

This morning I would like us to reflect of three things and what they might mean to us –

·       This miracle and the choice of venue for the first miracle

·       Jesus’ relationship with his mother –what we can learn from it.

·       The words of the Chief Steward to the bridegroom –“You have kept the good wine until now”

It has been said that a definition of a Miracle is when heaven and earth interlink.

The symbolism of the miracle and Cana and another of the miracles told be John, the abundance of bread at the Feeding of the 5000 is not lost of us this morning as we prepare for the Holy Eucharist.

But what about the wedding?

They are hugely important in the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New. Many parables relate to weddings, for example the wise and foolish virgins or …..

And in the Old Testament, the relationship between God and Israel is often referred to as Israel being the bride of Christ. And you will have noticed references in the reading from Revelation to marriage, rejoicing, the marriage of the Lamb, and “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb.”

In a few moments time at the Holy Eucharist we will remind ourselves of our union with Christ –the marriage supper of the lamb.

There is a terrible irony that Jesus had to go through a most terrible death for us to attend this marriage supper understand the true nature of his ministry. From this comes the joy of our union, the type of joy not unlike that which we experience at the happiest of weddings, the joy we want as a community in the United Benefice when we attend the marriage supper of the lamb. Let us be joyful people.

We leave here to go out into the world, powered by the love and joy of knowing Christ.

Let’s move back to the wedding at Cana and onto the relationship of Jesus with his mother.

The wine runs out.

For the host family, this has the potential to be profoundly damaging. They would always be remembered as the family who gave the wedding where the wine ran out.

Let’s think about Jesus’s words to his mother. “Woman, what concern is that to you and me?” He sounds to be very short with her, doesn’t he?

You will have heard the saying “behind every successful person is an astonished parent.” How different is Mary? She has all the ammunition to be one of those mothers who is always boasting about the exploits of their children. But Mary is also the young mother who said “yes” to the angel Gabriel, a mother who “keeps all things and ponders them in her heart.” I wonder whether other mothers slightly kept their distance from Mary, mother of a clearly “gifted and talented” young man.

It is some comfort to know that Jesus could be short with his Mum. Indeed it might be that he was summoning up the strength to undertake the miracle, maybe was deep in prayer to the Almighty, when just at the crucial moment Mum comes running up and interrupts.

Mary has implicit confidence that her son can sort things out. “Do whatever he tells you” she says to the servants.

Through the action of Jesus, the previous wine is replaced by something better and more abundant. The first miracle –revealing his glory and the disciples believe.

Let’s talk about the chief steward’s reaction. He is apparently blissfully unaware of the recent little local difficulty.

This steward = possibly a prototype sommelier or Master of Wine, tastes the new wine and exclaims to the bridegroom:

“You have kept the good wine till now.”

The steward’s words echo the story of God’s relationship with Israel. The loving purposes of God are made better known through the ministry of his Son. The best has been kept till later.

We are also reminded in this Epiphany season, that by being “a light to the Gentiles,” Jesus has made the loving purposes known beyond the confines of Israel, known over the whole world. The better wine in great quantity is known abundantly.

The miracle at Cana is also a model for our journey of faith. We are sustained by the loving purposes of God during this life, but in the life to come, we shall be changed and have life abundantly, a better life, in the form of eternal life.

And finally and most immediately, the miracle can be a model for how we live out our life and relationships now on this earth. Wine has to be kept carefully, otherwise it can become vinegar, bitter and undrinkable.

Yet God and Jesus transform us.

We pray that in our relationships, those we encounter find their experience of us is better and better.