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. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there for a few days. John 2:1-12 

I truly love the story of the wedding in Cana, not for the first miracle aspect, but for a glimpse of Jesus' humanity. The miracle cannot hide the very real interplay between mother and child. Mary sees the capacity and possibilities in Jesus before he truly sees it himself. And despite the fact that he is an adult, and in a very public place, he pushes back against her. This was so public that the event was remembered and retold many times. It was also possible that his mom, if she was anything like my mom, would remind him and tease him about it all the rest of his life. Our Savior knew our humanity, in the fullness of human, anger, struggle and family dynamics. May we embrace the full humanity of Jesus this Lent, so we might embrace ours and work to serve God's love despite our limitations.

Gracious Creator, you made Jesus fully human

rooted him in the full complex family dynamics

showing us his miracles and his real humanity

so we might understand your love for us all.

We fight and tussle with siblings and parents

we refuse to do as we are asked, going our way

we come running home when times are tough

and we have a Savior who knows our brokenness.

Help us Lord today, to live with humility 

so we might show your divine love here

in a world that is twisted and in great pain

let your love and healing shine through us today. Amen.