January 21, 2023 – “Know the Miracles”

“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

Even though there was a blizzard raging outside, I made it the half-mile to the bakery, where I asked the owner for six rolls. “Your wife must like rolls,” the baker said. “How do you know these are for my wife?” I asked.

“Because your mother wouldn’t send you out in weather like this.”

Mary the mother of Jesus tells the servants “Do whatever he tells you.” And the fact that they do means they were, unbeknownst to them, about to witness the first miracle of Jesus. Had they not been willing to listen to his mother, they would have missed the miracle that her son performed.

How many times do we miss the miracles that happen in our lives? How many times do we assign happenstance or good luck to events that may have been little miracles? As the story suggests, it is easy to misunderstand what we hear – just as it is easy to misunderstand what we see. When the miracles happen in our lives, we need to be paying attention enough so we can understand that the Holy Spirit is working in our lives – and not miss those opportunities to see the miracle or be the miracle.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, keep me awake and make me aware when you are present every day. Amen.

Pastor Dave