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January 16, 2022: New Wine

Reflection by Molly Weyrens, Pastoral Associate

Have you ever hosted a party and all of the sudden either the food or the beverages run out? There is a bit of a panic thinking to what the guests might think. Sometimes there is a quick run to the store if possible or the party starts to maybe wind down. As a host you might be left feeling a tad embarrassed.

 

Today in our gospel we have this being played out in the Wedding at Cana. Jesus, Mary and the disciples find themselves at a wedding. And as with many of Jesus’ actions the PLACE where he is is again significant because Cana was in Gentile country and known for thieves and robbers and such. It is an insignificant place where something quite significant happens. We enter the story with Mary telling Jesus – “They have no wine.” Jesus wonders what he is to do about this because he says that his ‘hour’ has not yet come. He does not feel ‘ready’ to reveal himself quite yet. However, he is encouraged by Mary to provide wine and thus we have Jesus’ first public miracle of his ministry happening. Wine is produced in abundance and people are amazed that the best wine has been saved for last – not a common thing at a wedding so the hosts of the wedding are commended for their amazing hospitality. And of course word spreads.

 

But it begins with Mary saying “They have no wine.” As I reflected and prayed on this scripture over the week, I was struck by her honesty and clarity. Her words speak a truth about our lives. A truth that at some point we all experience. Our glass is empty. The party is over. We are depleted. I find this a very timely gospel for us at this time of year and in this pandemic time. We have just come off of Christmas. There was perhaps gleeful anticipation and preperations, hopefully some great time together with family and friends and now we are back to the ordinary – even our church calendar has us in Ordinary time until Lent begins in March. Add to it the cold and snow of January and of course continued effects of Covid and it all can add up to a deep sense of empty.

 

Maybe your glass too is feeling empty? Perhaps you are a parent trying to navigate all of the changing patterns of protocol with covid at school? Or trying to juggle work, childcare and having kids home. Maybe you are caring for a loved one who is struggling with their health and it feels like a lonely place. Maybe it’s your faith life. Your prayer life is parched. You keep asking for what you need and want and it seems God is not listening.

 

Despite our best efforts and good intentions and hard work, it seems the wine of our life is always giving out. No matter how often we fill our glass it remains empty. There is never enough wine.

 

I too find myself feeling a bit depleted. However as I read this gospel I was also reminded of the fact that Jesus miraculously creates wine in ABUNDANCE from the water that is present. There were 6 jars - that would have held close to 200 gallons of water/wine. Notice it is when the wine runs OUT that the miracle happens.

 

As we feel depleted and empty, perhaps we can find solace in the fact that every moment of every day Jesus pours himself into the empty jars of our life to carry us, to challenge us, to lift us up. To hold us close  We have all the recipients of new wine in our lives at various points in time.

 

A relationship is mended. Someone’s health gets better. A new friend is found. Grace is poured out and new life happens. Sometimes it is not in the ways in which WE would have it, but there is newness and joy and celebration.  I think of Martin Luther King. Talk about someone who poured new wine into depleted glasses. On Monday as we honor him, perhaps find a piece of his writing to read for some good spiritual reflection. He showed up at a time when the wine had run out. And then new things happened to spark life and inclusion and equality.

 

Amanda Gorman is the young poet who took the world by storm with her amazing poem she shared at the last Presidential Inauguration. She has written a poem for the new year called

New Day’s Lyrics.    I share a few stanzas with you today and invite you to look up the poem in its entirety as we look for new wine…

 

May this be the day
We come together.
Mourning, we come to mend,
Withered, we come to weather,
Torn, we come to tend,
Battered, we come to better.
Tethered by this year of yearning,
We are learning
That though we weren’t ready for this,
We have been readied by it.

This hope is our door, our portal.
Even if we never get back to normal,
Someday we can venture beyond it,
To leave the known and take the first steps.
So let us not return to what was normal,
But reach toward what is next.

 

Come, look up with kindness yet,
For even solace can be sourced from sorrow.
We remember, not just for the sake of yesterday,
But to take on tomorrow.

Come over, join this day just begun.
For wherever we come together,
We will forever overcome.

 

Together we can replenish our wine. Together around this Eucharistic table we are given hope. May we lean on each other and trust that there are miracles in the making even when the wine runs out.  

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