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. 234567891011After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there for a few days.
This first of many miracles of Jesus is meant to help us understand that God is not utilitarian nor prudish as the Gospel for Gays has noted. The turning of water into wine that occurred here is an assurance of God's abundant goodness that never runs out, nor is it discriminatory. God's loving presence is shared with all of humanity as God manifests God's glorious presence and kindness through the incarnate Word. God's goodness never leaves us without more than we could ask or imagine (see Ephesians 3:20, 21). God is always ready and willing make God's Self present and available if we will only trust and believe in God. God wishes to serve us at the point of our need and meet us at our hearts desire.
It is suggested that perhaps this particular wedding that Jesus attended could have been a gay wedding. If the wedding Jesus attended did turn out to be a gay wedding, would that change this story? Or would it just change how some read this story? Do we read the Gospel of Jesus reading what we want to see, or do we put into the Gospel story things that are not really there? Is it possible that conservative Christians who have been preaching against same-sex marriage and pushing for constitutional amendments against gay marriage such as what has happened in Iowa, could it be that they have had it wrong for over 2,000 years? If that proves to be the case will organizations like NOM and Stand for Marriage Maine admit that they've been doing it wrong?
It is amazing to me how the Goodness of God flows so wonderfully to everyone without distinction or prejudice. Yet, when people make the decision that a particular group of people such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people are violating their comfort zones, that they make the decision to go all out against us "in the Name of God." However, God's Goodness does not stop at the door of our sexual orientation or gender identities/expressions. God's manifestation in Christ and the message of Salvation includes LGBT people. LGBT people are part of God's amazing plan to help us see that God loves everyone, totally and without reservation. The Goodness of God always flows in abundance for everyone to experience and receive with joy, thankfulness and loving affection. The unique ability to love people of the same sex or those who are transgendered is one way in which God's Goodness has flowed over all of God's creation and brought into the center LGBT people who are so very precious to God.
How do we as LGBT people celebrate the Goodness of God in our lives? How do we share that abundance with our partner/lover, friends, family and in our work place? How do we make use of the overflowing Goodness of God to help bring down those walls of prejudice and hate for LGBT people in society and the Church? Where do we see God's abundance coming into our lives in those complicated relationships, with people that hurt us, or challenge us in our acceptance of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expressions? Where is a place in our lives where we are not letting the abundance of God's unconditional and all inclusive love enter our lives and convert our hearts? Do we hear Jesus knocking on the doors of our hearts? What might be preventing us from letting Jesus come in and share with us the Goodness of God's Grace?
Manifest at Jordan's stream, Prophet, Priest and King supreme;
and at Cana, wedding guest, in thy God-head manifest; Manifest in power divine, changing water in to wine; anthems be to thee addressed, God in man made manifest.(Songs of Thankfulness and Praise, Hymnal 1982, #135).
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (Collect for the First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of the Lord, Book of Common Prayer, Page 214).
O merciful Father, who taught us in your holy Word that you would not willingly afflict us, look with pity upon the sorrows of the people of Haiti, the LGBT Community here and in Uganda and Rwanda for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their souls with patience, comfort them with a sense of your goodness, lift up your countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for people in trouble or bereavement, Book of Common Prayer, Page 831).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, Page 815).
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