Sunday, May 1, 2022
The Third Sunday in Easter
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory
and the exact representation of His being,
sustaining all things by His powerful word.”
(Hebrews 1:3)
The Message
Good morning, dear friends! The day before yesterday, I drove by the McDonald’s restaurants both in Linda Mar and the Manor here in Pacifica.
I guess I did so intentionally even though I was hungry. Is something wrong with me? I ‘ve never been able to understand the attraction. I finally picked up “a culinary masterpiece” from one of my favorite “mom n’ pop ‘burger shops” near our home.
I could never really understand the enthusiasm for the so-called (fast) food served at McDonald’s. Hmm! Not Nmm! I had my first “McMeal” in 1957. I wasn’t disappointed with my “fabulous date” on that occasion, but I was with “burger (15-cents), fries(10-cents), and
shake (20-cents)”. She liked the Mcfood, so I dropped her like a bad habit.
(Just kidding.)
Even as a teenager, I favored the super incredible Maid-Rite sandwiches at the place across the street from Saint James the Elder Catholic Church in North La Crosse, Wisconsin. I confess, at that time, I would have died for one, had they been less available or more expensive. I also confess, I always looked forward to the chocolate malts from Wittenberg’s cigar store. Kids and teens had to walk past the tobacco section to order your malt. In all creation, there has never been a more fabulous combination, those chocolate malts and the Maid-Rites together.
For years I associated the Catholic Church with Maid-Rites. In Seminary, my systematics professor straightened me out in that regard. No direct connection whatsoever, except that the priest at Saint James loved Maid-Rites, too. It was a well-guarded secret in town.
The Gospel lesson for today is not about McDonald’s or the Maid-Rite sandwich shop.
It is about the first miracle performed by Jesus in the area around His hometown of Nazareth.
I’ll bet you that Jesus would have loved the Maid-Rites, too.
In our Scriptural focus, these days in 2022, we’re now transitioning from the events of Holy Week, the last days of Jesus’ life on earth, into the first years of Jesus’ ministry,
not in Jerusalem, but north, three years before.
[John’s Gospel is very interesting. In the second chapter—one chapter alone—John transitions from the first miracle of Jesus, to, three years later, the cleansing of the temple in the last week of His life.]
Jesus’ first miracle happens in Galilee, near Nazareth.
I love Nazareth. Priscilla, Ayesha, David, and I were there five years ago. It was in Nazareth that we had one of the finest meals of our lives, served by a great Muslim chef, Mohammad Ali (not the boxer), down the street from the site of the Church of the Visitation. I
roamed around the streets of Nazareth after dark beforesupper, just imagining Jesus as a youth walking thosesame streets. Mohammad Ali also provided the second best cup of coffee I ever had in my life. He provided the best of Muslim hospitality. We were treated royally.
(My favorite cup of coffee was provided by an Armenianshopkeeper in Jerusalem just below the Temple Mount.)
Down the road from Nazareth is the small town, now seemingly part of Nazareth, called Cana…In Cana of Galilee, there was, and is, a gathering hall used for civic meetings, conventions, and of course, weddings. It’s not enormous, but, by comparison, roomy…and I could imagine Jesus [kind of] hanging out with the locals gathered there to share in the joy of thecouple being joined in wedlock on that occasion.
There’s a shop selling “Miraculous Wine” right acrossthe street nowadays. I tried it out. Next time I’ll pass.
Back to the wedding at Cana of Galilee…
Everything was going just great, until a huge “social”problem came to the attention of Jesus’ mother, Mary. God forbid! — that the bridegroom wouldn’t make sure there was ample wine for the entire evening. That was exactly what had happened! Mary found out about it and immediately thought to herself, “What are we going to do? It just won’t be good to ‘do without’! This will spoil the whole joyful occasion” Then, the thought came to her.
My son! He can do something. She thought to herself, He’s just a guest—and not required to provide anything—but—He’s really got this knack to provide when a need comes up.
At first, she hesitated to ask him. She knew He was, so to speak, “out of the office”…and enjoying the grand fellowship of family and the guests…not attempting to stand out in any way…just enjoying the occasion and sharing good times with those present. He was, in short, a people-kind-of-guy!
She asked. Jesus gave his dear mother “the look” and said to her, “…why involve me in this…” Mary avoided His look and simply proceeded to turn telling the servants, “Do whatever He tells you!”
[…thinking about this subtle exchange, it speaks to me about the way this mom and her Son used to relate with each other from time to time. I get this impression Mary had to be some person really classic and spectacular to deal with this “guy”…)
Nearby stood six stone water jars each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them to fill them to the top. He then told them to draw some of the liquid out of the jars and take it to the master of the banquet.
He tasted the water turned to wine and then called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everybody brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink, but you have saved the best until now.”
John 2:11 says, “This was the first of His miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee…He thus revealed His glory & His disciples put their faith in Him.”
When I read the account of Jesus’ first miracle I think of my trip to Nazareth and Cana of Galilee five years ago. I imagine Jesus experiencing some of the same things I did in these extraordinary towns. I remember the roads, the pathways and walkways, and the flowers, and the conversations of women in the streets, and the pleasant smells of food, and the lovely kindness of so many local residents, and in particular, the sense of the one-time presence of the Son of God in the meeting hall in Cana. The sense of Christ’s presence is still there.
However, there’s something else in the telling. The apparent kindness of the Savior in taking care of a very practical matter—providing for the continuing joy of a wedding reception. There was something at stake for Jesus as he did so. He could’ve been mistaken as coming to earth to provide favors or do good deeds for people out of the kindness of His heart. He could’ve been mistaken for having the good reputation of showing compassion to those who needed to feel it the most. This might include intervening in situations of convenience,
particularly upon his mother’s request, in this circumstance, (or, too, the woman at the well).
After all, what good Jewish boy boy would ever refuse his mother.
The thought had occurred to me a number of times what Jesus said to Mother Mary at Cana of Galilee…
“…my time has not yet come…”
In other words, Jesus certainly didn’t want to be remembered as being one who didn’t come through for the folks at the wedding, of course, but more importantly, He didn’t want to be known as the one who came to earth to do miracles at such weddings, or even, for even more profoundly, things like healing people and casting out demons. Jesus essentially didn’t come to earth to do these helpful things. He came to save us from sin and to give us the assurance
of everlasting life. Let’s not be confused on this point.
I think back to the arrival of the Magi at Christmas time, who brought gifts of gold [a gift for a king], frankincense [a gift offered to God] and myrrh [sweet spices for the dead]. The Magi knew that Jesus was born to die. He came for one great reason, to shed His innocent, precious, divine blood as a sufficient sacrifice to completely remove the stain and power of sin from our lives. Jesus took our sin upon Himself, Jesus became our sin on the cross, in order
that we may be free from sin.
The Magi were familiar with Isaiah 53.
As His ministry continued in the north, Jesus kept telling His disciples not to spread the word regarding what He had done healing those with diseases and casting out demons. Jesus did not want to be known as the great healer and the ultimately compassionate human
being of all time—even though He was. He wanted to be known as the Savior. The God-Man who had been co-Creator of the Universe with the Father, the eternal One who humbled Himself to become like you and me as a human being, suffering at the hands of evil men, suffering and dying on the cross, and being raised from the dead on the third day.
This was Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth. This is the reason He said what He said to His mother, Mary,yet to be accomplished, that His time has not yet come.
I love the narratives about the goodness, the power, the compassion of Jesus, but I’ve come to understand that His purpose in coming to earth was not to do miracles or even to heal people…not these sort of wonderful things…
I say this because a great number of people think His life was about doing good to others. Jesus’ purpose in coming was to save condemned, powerless, helpless people, men and women, boys and girls, just like me, and all other genders (these days), from their sins. Jesus came to provide the assurance of eternal life, by being raised up from the dead, the firm conviction that this was exactly what He accomplished.
If I were the only human being ever created, Jesus still would’ve come to save me…
“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life, for God did not sent His Son into the world,
to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:16,17)
Have a wonderful day. Be at peace with yourself and others. Show loving grace
to those who deserve it and those who don’t. Let go and let God. Experience joy in daily
living. Live simply. Live confidently. Be well.
Cordially,
Tom
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