Advent Two

Wedding at Cana by Bartolome Esteban Murillo
Barber Institute Birmingham University

Jesus is a young man living with his family. His mother Mary is aware that there is something inside Jesus that is exceptional, something to do with the destiny of the earth. This wedding is set well before history was recorded. It is set before known time existed. 

The Wedding 

Cool air blows over the beacon as the sun's golden rays gently meld to pinks, reds, magnesium blue. People appear through the woods in the twilight. The bride's party, and the groom's party come together. Music and excitement are in the air. The druid draws a circle in the grass, the highest grass for all around. It’s a circle made from his pen and a thin shower of sand from a small plump sack. This is the circle for two to become one. This will be their new world together. And then it is done, the ceremony is complete. The people roar and stamp, the children twirl, the women shriek, the men clap sticks together. But something is missing. A silence falls, the people know by a look. Has the spell been broken? Mary turns to her son. He smiles and shrugs. "It's not my time, you know mum." Mary crosses over to the worried faces of the groomsmen. "Follow him, do what he says." With little choice, they slink off behind. He strides ahead over to where the children sit. Gently he touches the smallest child, and she beings a calm, sweet song. Then the next child. His hand presses lightly on a shoulder. Harmony begins. And on round the group. Electricity passes through the throng, people stand, the mood is lifting. The husband's face breaks into a heartfelt grin. He cannot move his eyes from those of his bride. She is radiant. Joy wells up. The spirit rises, and soon there is a new song on the hill top, a song of the spirit no one will forget. "We normally reserve the magical songs for the beginning. Now no one will ever want to leave this party," says the steward.

Jesus and his family attend a wedding, when something embarrassing occurs

For many families, weddings are one of the biggest things they ever achieve.  On the scale of world events, however, they are mostly insignificant.  Mary knows that Jesus has something others do not have.   At that moment this potential had not been revealed.  The wedding issue demonstrates human frailty.  It can be argued that you can have perfectly good wedding drinking water.  Good people might understand and be sympathetic to poverty, or simple mistakes.  But we live in the real world, where ‘honour’ and ‘shame’ exist in equal measure.  We learn that these little things count.  They are seen by our loving Creator.  Here is an example of something better coming out of misfortune.  This wedding is now discussed across the world.  Surely one of the best known weddings of all time.

What are the ‘little’ things of honour in my life?  Am I, like Mary, aware of the potential present in Jesus?  Am I aware that little things are also important to my Creator?  We know we are loved when the detail is noticed, and responded to.

PRAYER – Let’s be open with our Creator about our vulnerability and shame.  Let us be aware of the potential that lives with us in the presence of Jesus’ spirit in our lives.