Lenten Devotional: March 2, 2009
1On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10and 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.” 11Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
12After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there for a few days.
This seems like an odd passage to be reading in the middle of Lent. Here is Jesus, the Son of God at a party where he turns water meant for purification into wine. It seems like Jesus went from Savior of the World to a first century version of Ernest and Julio Gallo. Frivolity and happiness during Lent? That just seems wrong.
And yet, maybe this passage reminds us not to take our faith so seriously. Jesus takes something serious, water that was supposed to be used to help Jews become ritually pure, and he makes into something that keeps the party going. Trying to be pure is pretty serious stuff. And yet, he takes the serious and makes it enjoyable.
Years ago, the Baptist preacher Tony Campolo came out with a book called, The Kingdom of God Is A Party. He talks about how God’s Kingdom is all about celebration, something that was lost of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. God was serious business and you needed to work at becoming pure.
But maybe God wants us to rejoice. Rejoice at God’s creation. Rejoice that we are forgiven. Rejoice that we are loved by God.
Lent is a time of reflection and repentance, that is serious stuff. But we can also rejoice in knowing that we are forgiven and loved. That’s worth celebrating.
Holy God, forgive us when we take ourselves and our faith too seriously. Help us to laugh and give shouts of joy for being loved and forgiven. Help us to enter your party of life. Amen.
Dennis Sanders, IT/Communications Specialist
Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area
