Convergence

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When 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 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.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Convergence: where water meets land

I always stumble when I see the words "on the third day." Not just because the story tells us Jesus rose from the dead on the third day but because in a literary sense, I've always understood "the third day" to mean "when the fat lady sings." In other words, it's a literary device that indicates the time is now, let's rock 'n roll, get this party started, we're ready to go.

So on the third day, Mary could hear the proverbial fat lady singing and... Jesus couldn't? I mean he says in no uncertain terms, "My hour has not yet come." And again, we stumble on yet another phrase/word "my hour." Two words for hour in Greek, this is the one that means broader sense of time, season, moment. Mary knows this is Jesus' moment but Jesus does not.

So much for John's gospel having an all knowing, always the deity version of Jesus! Although he does come through, saving the day with the best wine served last. He seems to be unaware or uncertain or uncomfortable with his time being now.

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Convergence: where our feet meet the moment

How very human!

With our uncertainties, our insecurities, our constant wondering if we are doing right, being right, making the right choices. And a moment of thanks for our mothers who often know right before we know and who certainly taught us the concept of right.

Who is it in your life that helps you see right? And right meaning righteousness. Who helps you see what is right or righteous in life? Who helps you see the straight path? And how often do you disagree? Mary saw three things: Jesus' abilities/calling, the need before them and the moment. It was Mary who saw the of those three things; Mary saw the potential.

Do you have a person in your life who sees your gifts/calling? Do they also have the ability to see the needs before you? And can they discern the "moment?" I may have friends like this but I'm wondering if I ignore their advice/doubt their discernment? I would certainly rather know or discern for myself. I would rather act on my own instincts, not the instincts of others. But that's not the picture we have in John chapter 2, the story is of a man who takes the advice of a faithful companion (his mother in this case). A man who trust what someone else imagines of his gifts.

Perhaps "turning water to wine" is about the convergence of our abilities with the needs around us at the right time. And perhaps we need others to help us discern that kind of convergence.

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