A Word from Pastor Nathan

In John 2:1-11, Jesus turns water into the finest cabernet sauvignon. We are familiar with this sign, which is not a miracle according to the gospeller: The mother of Jesus (John never calls her by name) alerts Jesus to the wine running out, and Jesus abruptly responds, “Oh woman, what concern is that to you and me? My hour has not yet come.” We do not know what to do when Jesus is dismissive. If Jesus is God incarnate, does Jesus’ couldn’t-care-less attitude also reflect God’s feeling? This story is a theological crisis.

The partial government shutdown has gone on for more than one month. Some 800,000 have missed two paychecks. Food assistance is running out. Flint still doesn’t have clean water. Children are dying at the border. People say to Jesus, “We are in need of food, water, asylum, and shelter. Our savings and resources have run out like wine at Cana.”

Jesus responds, “What concern is that to me? I don’t have the time.” The theological crisis hits home. Jesus’ response did not deter his mother. She knows Jesus can do something. What she says to Jesus, I don’t know. Maybe she gives a mother’s look—we know the look. She instructs the servants to do as Jesus says. As a result, there are nine hundred 750ml bottles of wine that come from six 30-gallon stone pots. Jesus’ glory is revealed.

Had the mother of Jesus remained silent, there would have been no more wine at Cana. If our prayer is silent and our protest mute, the status quo of shutdowns, unclean water, and privatized detention camps remain. Ultimately, Jesus’ glory will not be revealed. This, too, is a theological crisis.

Like the prophet before him, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream that every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.

Like the mother of Jesus, Dr. King protested and prayed. Glory came gradually but never completely. Now glory has run dry like wine at Cana.

May we share the Rev. Dr. King’s dream and the determination of the mother of Jesus so that Jesus’ glory may be revealed again.