Epiphany 2 -- Year C - January 20, 2013
Text: John 2:1-11 -- Tinh Huynh+
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"Jesus did this, the first of his signs, and revealed his glory;
and his disciples believed in him."
In the Name of God: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
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The story in the Gospel of John is short and clear.
Should I make it a little longer?
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It has been a challenge for me to write this sermon.
A number of questions came as I prepared for it.
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Should I speak about the word "sign" as used in the Gospel of John?
The word "sign" is used in John for miracle, and the gospel is also called "The Book of Signs."
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Should I speak about Jesus' view on marriage?
The Prayer Book mentions' Jesus in the liturgy of the Blessing of a Marriage:
"... and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle
at a wedding in Cana of Galilee."
Should I also say that a wedding in Palestine of Jesus' time would normally take an entire week?
and that by the end of the week
most of the guests would get so drunk /
that they would not be able to tell the difference
between water and wine?
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What about Jesus' attitude toward Mary his mother?
He said, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me?
My hour has not yet come."
That alone can make a long sermon,
like what I heard when growing up in the Protestant Church,
about whether or not we should worship Mary.
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Another thought for sermonizing could be on the six stone water-jars.
Each of them can hold thirty gallons.
At Jesus' order, they filled the jars to the brims.
We can preach on the abundance of God's grace.
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What about water changing into wine?
Transformation, isn't it?
That may make a good sermon, too!
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Yet it seems like you can never find a word or a theme that can speak adequately about this very passage.
The scene is full of mystery.
It sounds like John is trying to say something,
and yet he does not have enough words to say it,
or does not know how to express it.
Is this dream or reality?
The story is like music.
Each time you play the music the feeling is different.
Each time you read the story, you learn something new.
The heart knows it, but the mind cannot fathom it.
It is not merely a story.
It is about the work of the Holy Spirit.
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Why did the author write this story?
And for whom did he write it?
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He said, "Jesus did this, the first of his signs, and revealed his glory;
and his disciples believe in him."
He was there with his friends, and they all saw the sign.
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The evangelist does not reveal his name in the Gospel.
We assumed that he was John, one of the young men who followed Jesus.
We call him "the beloved disciple."
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John wanted to turn his readers into believers.
In the First Century there were many Christians who were not sure about their faith.
They did not know who Jesus was.
Some of them were still wondering about John the Baptist, comparing him with Jesus.
Is Jesus really the Son of God?
Is Jesus God?
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Near the end of the gospel, John says,
"Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples,
which are not recorded in this book.
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God,
and that by believing you may have life in his name."
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John does not beg us to believe.
He just simply tell the story:
"When the time comes
Six 30-gallon jars of water become wine,
at His presence.
Jesus did it quietly with authority,
great majesty,
caring,
loving,
and generosity.
He did not demand anything in return.
He did not want recognition or popularity.
Not many people knew he was there.
The drunk did not know who gave the best wine.
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His love is the true love.
He is "God in man made manifest."
He said, "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."
Such love is truly the best wine,
given from above,
filled to the brims.
Jesus is LORD of all the earth.
He is the King of creation.
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Here we find the two words,
for us to think about,
as we leave this place today:
First, hospitality.
And second, generosity.
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Jesus himself is the gift.
What are we to do with the "wine" that has been given to us?
Receive the "wine" and let it transform you.
Receive Him and let him occupy and take control of your life.
Receive Him and let him make you become like Him,
in loving,
in caring,
in being generous,
in forgiving,
and in being hospitable to others.
Hospitality and generosity means allowing the person next to you a space at the table -- a space in your life.
This is not merely about being kind,
like being kind to the people on the streets.
The real challenge is with sharing the "wine" that Jesus give
to those closest to you, in thoughts, words and deeds.
"There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."
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There is an invitation for you and me
to stand among the disciples,
watching the water turning into wine.
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The entire Gospel of John is about the blessedness of believing.
"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
John wrote the story for us.
We are blessed, because the belief of Jesus the Son of God has been passed on to us.
"He came to his own home,
and his own people received him not.
But to all who received him, who believed in his Name,
he gave the power to become children of God.
The Holy Spirit will empower us,
so that we will be able to meet
the challenge
of the sharing of the Wine
to whom we say we love,
and of laying down one's life for one's friends.
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John did see the sign that revealed the glory of the Son of God.
Such encountering with Christ changed John's life completely.
John lived a life reflecting that glory,
and we want to do the same.
In our collect for today, we said,
"Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world:
Grant that your people, illuminated by your Word and Sacraments, may shine
with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed
to the ends of the earth." Amen.
Coming this Sunday, Jan 27th, The Gospel According to Pixar. Youth in 
- An adult Sunday School class is being held every Sunday, from 9:30 AM to 10:15 AM. Our Tom Auld is leading us in the study of the 
- We need volunteers to serve coffee on each Sunday after church. 
- The Youth Choir Festival for grades 
- Violinists Marc Ramirez and Olivia Hajioff, who together form the violin and violin/viola duo Marcolivia, will perform at Saint Patrick's this Sunday, January 27th, at 4:00 PM. The musicians have been performing throughout the world for many years. Their program for this upcoming Odeon concert will include popular classical works and some fun jazz pieces. 