READ SCRIPTURE (John 2:1-11)
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9 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 10 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.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
REFLECT ON THE READING
In this season of Epiphany, the Church of God looks for the ways God is revealed in the world. Just as the star of Bethlehem led the Wise Men to the Christ-child and the voice was heard at Jesus’ baptism proclaiming Jesus as God’s Son with whom God is well-pleased, so the signs in John’s Gospel point to Jesus. They are written and revealed in order to lead to faith. God’s glory is revealed in mystery. The story of the changing of water into wine at Cana concludes with the good news: “and his disciples believed in him” (vs. 11). Everything in the story – the empty jars, the miraculous transformation of water into wine, the hints of Jesus’ “hour”, the context of a wedding feast – all are included to elicit faith and to reveal Jesus as the promised Messiah.
How do we experience God’s revelation today?
Which of the following phrases rings true: “seeing is believing” or “believing is seeing”?
How does a person come to faith? How did you come to believe in Jesus?
PRAY
O God of light, shine in the darkness of our world. Open our eyes to see your presence in our lives. Amen.
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