MY ROLE AT CANA

The gospel for this Sunday, Jan. 19, 20225, is John's account of the miracle at the wedding feast of Cana (Jn 2:1-11). John's is the only gospel that recounts this beautiful story, so rich in symbolism and encouragement. In this post, however, instead of offering yet one more analysis of the miracle of Jesus' changing water into wine I'd like to offer my own rather offbeat look at the miracle. (I posted this a few years ago, but it still holds a message for me, so I hope it will for you as well.)

On the Sunday after Christmas, the CCD children of St. Augustine's Parish in Newark presented their annual Christmas pageant, including Roman soldiers, shepherds, angels, magi, as well as Mary and Joseph.  One of the show-stopping moments was the appearance of the Star in the East: the part of the star was a blond five year old girl whose role was to hold up the golden star on a white stick. She seemed to enjoy being the "star" of the pageant.

As I began reflecting on the story of the miracle at Cana this morning, I was about to imagine myself in the role of each of the different characters in the scene: the servants, Mary, and so forth. Then I thought to myself (probably influenced by remembering the little girl who played the part of the star of Bethlehem) "Why not be a water jar?"

So I became one of those six stone jars, holding about thirty gallons of water. A very noble and honest task, if a little humdrum. People hardly notice me sitting here off to the side, minding my own business. Just a big container of well water. But suddenly something happens to me. I don't know how -- it isn't anything that I've done -- but now I've become  source of joy and pleasure for people who encounter me.  My role has changed from being a jar of water to a jar of wonderful wine. 

The gospel tells us that this is the first of Jesus' "signs." I've become, then, a sign of the breaking in of the Kingdom, a sign that the Lord is on the move again, entering history to transform it and us. 

How does this transformation happen? In countless ways, I suppose.  For instance, when I receive theHoly Eucharist I become what I eat. When the Holy Spirit whispers to me in a comment made by a friend, say, or calls to me in the words of some writer, or when I experience someone's loving act toward me. The Lord intends that each of these should transform me. The change is happening over and over, all the time, provided that I'm open to it. 

But there's more: This process of transformation runs in both directions. If the Lord Jesus uses people and events to transform the water of my life into wine, then he asks me, in my role as a jar of wine at the feast to be an active sign of his love for others. Every time I encounter someone, Jesus is asking me to be a sign of his boundless, unconditional love, a source of joy for that person. The bible says somewhere that "wine cheers the heart" of us humans. That's the role the Lord is casting me in right now, to be a source and a cause of joy, to "cheer the heart "of those around me, to be a sign of the Kingdom of Love that has broken in on the world with the arrival of the Messiah.

Will you try out for the role along with me?