Isaiah 62:1-5 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 John 2:1-11 Psalm 36:5-10

As is so typical of John’s Gospel account, our lesson this morning is fraught with theological imagery, deep symbolism, and the unmistakable presence of the Holy Spirit.  Rather than miracle, the writer John refers to this event as the first “sign” indicating God’s all-powerful presence in the human person of Jesus Christ.  There would be other “signs” to come, and we should pay close attention to these signs.

The scene is a wedding feast, which we so frequently equate with the Holy Eucharist; Isaiah speaks of the joy of the bridegroom over his bride as symbolic of God’s joy over us, his people.  The true bridegroom is the host of our weekly feasts, and he invites us to come again and again.

Then, there are empty vessels that become filled abundantly and miraculously to overflowing with the finest of wine.  We are drawn to the reality of the presence of Jesus Christ filling our emptiness over and above our expectations.

And, there is the God bearer, the Theotokos, herself the vessel of the abundant miracle of the Incarnation and, now, the instigator of this very familiar transformation of water into wine.

Jesus’ mother, who remains unnamed in our Gospel account, surely is aware that her son was born exclusively for God’s purpose; in this case, she seems to prod him to get on with his mission – a prodding Jesus doesn’t seem to appreciate. In this way, the writer catches our focus and broadens our understanding of the human aspect of the beginnings of Jesus’ earthly ministry.  Jesus and his mother seem to be struggling for clarity of their roles in this encounter and how and if the empty wine vessels enter into God’s plan.  We, too, need to struggle, question, and discern our calling to ministry – where we begin, how that ministry takes shape as we remain clearly focused on God’s call on God’s terms in God’s time.  In this account of the Wedding in Cana, Jesus came to understand clearly that he was called to fill these empty jars to overflowing with the finest of wine; we too are called to fill the emptiness of the world for the common good of the Gospel message.

This filling of emptiness is accomplished often through unexpected and creative means.  When our daughters were in middle school, the morning student drop off procedure was a serious matter as it is and should be everywhere.  Not only was there concern for student safety in getting from the car to the sidewalk, it was necessary for the long line of vehicles to move smoothly; otherwise, traffic would back up on a busy through street during morning rush hour.  Parents dropping off their children quickly became aware that the drop off rules were specific and non-negotiable.  Children were not to exit the car before arrival at the appropriate location, and upon arrival should not tarry to gather up belongings and be out the door.

Combine all this with the natural tendency of eleven to thirteen-year-olds to be somewhat less than attentive and congenial before 8:00 a.m. on a school day.  How then, could a school possibly accomplish such a critical feat without a team of no-nonsense traffic cops?

Not so, in this case.  Here, directing this hurry scurry conglomeration of frustrated parents, sleepy-eyed preteens, and mislaid lunches and homework, was one tiny female teacher, tiny in stature, but hugely energetic and creative in nature, hiding beneath the silly hat of the day.  Successfully capturing everyone’s necessary attention and respect, approaching children and parents were eager to spot the day’s headdress.  It’s hard to be crabby when you are being greeted by a lady with an enormous and ridiculous crab on her head.  The morning’s grumpiness subsided in cheeriness.

This woman was the Martin Middle School Miracle.  The traffic flowed, the students smiled, the entire disposition of a cold dark morning became sunny and light.  Lunches and homework still got mislaid, but lives were safely redirected with a positive rippling effect.  This tiny woman under the crab was following her call to ministry.

The spiritual gifts about which the Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the people of Corinth do not specify which ones require wearing silly hats, but Paul’s words are clear in specifying our variety of ministries that are the manifestations of our individual spiritual gifts – manifestations for the common good, which is the essential question.  Does this service or activity meet the common good?

Paul writes that there are a variety of services and activities, but all from one spirit.  He lists spiritual gifts as the utterance of wisdom and knowledge; in addition, sharing the faith, bringing healing, and working miracles (such as cheerfulness to the morning student drop off); and, there are others that we too often assume are elusive or archaic – prophecy, discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpreting the speaking of tongues.  These spiritual gifts are just as real today as ever, and we should not sneer or dismiss the reality of any of these spiritual gifts and certainly not the manifestation of common good that they produce.

Our spiritual gifts and calls to ministry are various, but the Apostle Paul reminds us that they are from one Spirit in which we are united.  This was a particularly important message for the people of Corinth whose Greek ancestry revered multiple gods and spirits.   Newly adopted into the Body of Christ, their greeting had become, “Jesus is Lord.”  United with these earliest Christians, our affirmation is the same.  Our constant discernment is focused on the common good.

We began last week’s service of Holy Baptism with the opening acclamations for the Liturgy of Baptism found on page 299 of the Book of Common Prayer.  We acclaimed these words:

Jesus is Lord; his earthly presence is the manifestation of all common good.  Jesus is Lord.  There are empty vessels in this wedding feast we call life.  Often, they are not easily identified by familiar criteria. Before this day is past, make it your ministry to transform the emptiness to abundance – abundance for the common good – that the Good News of Jesus Christ might be revealed in glory and all will believe.