It is always my desire to be “pro-marriage” and “pro-family…”
But at the same time, a little humor and a little smile can go a long way…and is good for the soul…or so, “they say!”
So first, a Biblical truism: “Adam and Eve had an “ideal marriage.” Adam didn’t have to hear about all the men Eve “could have married” and Eve didn’t have to hear about “how well Adam’s mother cooked!”
“A little sexist,” sorry, but what are the four letter words that can still shock “the most progressive” of “today’s brides?”
IRON, DUST, WASH, COOK, and BAKE! (Again, sorry!) ;-(
As the newly “married couple” arrived by taxi at their honeymoon hotel, the bride bent across to the groom and whispered, “Darling, I don’t want people to realize that we are newlyweds – I want them to think we have been married for years.” “Are you sure you can manage carrying both suitcases,” replied the groom?
And finally, “A man was talking to his best friend about what to do for his 50th Wedding Anniversary.”
The friend asked, “What did you do for your 25th?”
The guy said, “I took my bride of 25 years to Hawaii!”
The friend then asked, “So, what were you thinking about for your 50th?”
He said, “Well, I was contemplating bringing her back!”
Sorry. I don’t write this stuff, I just find it!
Today, our focus is on “the Wedding Feast at Cana in Galilee…” The first of Jesus’ signs…according to John’s gospel…
Church and religion was never meant to be boring and lifeless…
For sure there are things to be serious about and we, even have our solemn moments, but there should be an excitement about what we do here.
Over and over and over again we are told how the Kingdom of God is like a party. A feast. With fine food and well-aged wines. That would be the very opposite of “boring and lifeless…” And that is why, Jesus did what he did at the wedding feast in Cana.
There was so much to consider: Unique and Decked out Transportation, Valet Parking, A Killer DJ, Social Media Integration, A Bubbly Bar, Open-bar, A memorable Guest Book, Convenient Child care, Allover lighting, a Video Confessional Booth, Pre-ceremony Cocktails, A decked out entranceway, Signage, a Photo-booth, Wedding favors, A surprise choreographed dance, the “First Dance with Confetti and/or balloon drop, the menu, the dessert bar, killer midnight snacks and a show stopping exit ceremony…and on and on it goes…
The party was going on. It was rocking and rowdy, when a slight problem occurred. The food and the wine had been carefully planned and executed…but unfortunately, the wine had run out- ahead of schedule. Way ahead of schedule…
“Boring Jesus, lifeless Jesus” would have said, “Hallelujah. Now that the wine is gone, the party is over, we can blow this gig and get out of here and get down to more serious business, at hand. I didn’t want to be here anyways!!!
But no, that’s not the Jesus – that scriptures portray. No, not at all!
A little bit reluctantly, but Jesus is all about the party…and extending the party…besides that – didn’t the Psalmist write, “Wine, gladdens the heart?”
So what does he do?
Jesus turns water into wine. (Zap!) 120 to 180 gallons of it… (WOWZERS!) Epic! Awesome! Totally cool… There is a sense here of “mischievous abandon…” That’s a lot of wine.
And when the wine steward takes a sip, he finds out that this stuff is anything but Boones Farm. This is the “real deal.” The good stuff! “Top shelf.” It was fine, vintage wine, not the stuff that comes in a box with a built in pouring spout!
Come on now, “No “dour looks” from the tea-totalers in our midst.” This is about having a good time.
This was extravagant, this was reckless, this was “over the top”…and Jesus was the wine-maker…
We can almost hear the wedding revelers in the background, yelling and shouting on the top of their lungs, “L’chaim,” to life! No droning here, just shouts of gladness, excitement and celebration.
As a result of the miracle in Cana of Galilee, a final word…the bride wept, the bridesmaids cried, and even the wedding cake was in tiers…badump bump!
And Jesus made it all happen, boring and lifeless, indeed! Par-Tay!!!! Woo-Hoo! Amen!