Fill The Jars

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. John 2:1-11

With Epiphany, the letters from Mary to Elizabeth end. I am always a bit sad to stop writing those letters and likewise a bit happy to begin more normal a blog. This blog began about eight years ago, when I was between things and trying to find my voice again. I chose the name Mamabishop, because, the first time women bishops were at Lambent, many of the African bishops would shout at them, "Mama Bishop, go home and take care of your babies!" I wanted to turn a negative into a positive. I am a mother of three and when I was elected, all three of our daughters were living with us. I have concerned myself with their welfare every moment, and it is a privilege and a blessing to do so. And sometimes, God calls the strangest people to do remarkable and new things. I am the first Native American woman to be elected bishop in the Episcopal Church and the first Indigenous woman to be elected Bishop in the world wide Anglican Communion. God calls the peculiar to the particular, and sometimes the reasons and ways forward are not always clear.

Mary was anxious about the wedding and many have wondered if this was a family wedding. It is no matter for the exchange between mother and adult child is revealing for many reasons. Mary truly draws out her son's capacity. She knows well what God has promised and has watched her child grow. Maybe she even watched him struggle and doubt himself, a painful experience for all parents. How she knew it was time, we will never know, but in her coaxing, miracles began. Those miracles continued then and continue now God's love was revealed as she gave the push that was needed. She helped her son find his voice, his calling, his capacity and place in the world. We all need people who can help us with that.

Today I ask God to help me be a mentor, friend and positive enabler to those who struggle with their place and calling. May we all draw out the capacity and miracles in others, so that the world might know of God's love.