"The First Sign" - Sermon for the Second Sunday after Epiphany

The First Sign
Epiphany 2 – Narrative Lectionary 4
January 14, 2018
Grace, Mankato, MN
John 2.1-11

Former ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson tells the story of being on an airplane when a flight attendant announces they’re out of water. Bishop Hanson, in full clerics and substantial pectoral cross, motions the flight attendant over and offers to turn wine into water. The flight attendant stares at him, not getting the joke and has no idea what he is talking about. Bishop Hanson doesn’t tell the story to make fun of the flight attendant but rather to illustrate how many people these days are disconnected from the biblical narrative. There was a time that we could assume that most people would have a basic knowledge of biblical stories; no more.

Of course, Bishop Hanson was playing a riff on our reading for today, where Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding feast. It’s a wonderfully simple yet multi-layered story (a hallmark of John) that is so rich and deep, as deep as one of those stone jars. The story has almost a parable-like quality: it’s more of a mystery to be entered as it is a puzzle to be solved. And the story raises many questions. Why did the wine run out? Was it poor planning? Was it the fault of Jesus and his disciples, as some suggest, who because of their voluntary poverty couldn’t afford to bring wine that was customary of guests?

In John’s gospel, the amazing things Jesus does are not called miracles, they’re called signs. They are called signs because his actions point to him as God’s agent and subsequently reveal something important about him. In turn, Jesus performs signs so that people may come to believe that he is the Son of God, the Savior come into the world. Yet, as we’ll find out as we go through the Gospel of John, this “signs faith” is necessary but inadequate. Jesus constantly pushes, prods and invites us into a deeper relationship with God through him.

As I enter the mystery of the story and hear again how Jesus transforms something as mundane and ordinary as water into the finest of wine, I wonder where he might be doing the same in me and my life. If Jesus cares enough to involve himself in the most human of events, a wedding and its celebration, then he certainly cares enough to be involved in my work, my family and my relationships. After 25 years in ministry, I still marvel that God continues to use what I have in surprising ways.

The same is true for you, sisters and brothers in Christ, both individually and as a community of faith. I’ve seen many of you do far more than you ever thought you were capable of because of how much you trusted in Jesus. These past few days, as I have tried to figure out how to respond to our President regarding his comments about developing countries, I am at a loss. If anyone could explain to me what he was saying and why, I’d be glad to listen. I do know this: the people in those countries are our brothers and sisters in Christ and as such are due love, respect and consideration. At Grace, we will continue to serve and advocate for the “least of these” as members of our family, just as we always have done.

Jesus, the pre-existent Word, became flesh and broke into our world to remind us that God is still active, that God’s work is purposeful and heading somewhere, and to include us in that work. God is working in, with and through each of you and all of us. Can you see the signs? Amen.