People you want to get in good with when you are new on a job:
Why?
(a) they have secret eyes and ears everywhere,
(b) they have keys and access to everything,
(c) they can fix anything, including “red tape”.
I suspect this very sagacious advice has not changed much over the millennia, as I see in this continuing story about Jesus and the wedding at Cana, (see yesterday’s post.) Continue reading “Cheers”
Planning weddings has become a multi-gazillion dollar business. I fancy you could send their kids to college with some of the hoopla that society calls weddings these days! I mean, c’mon, if half as much time, effort, and financial resources went into preparing for the marriage as it does in preparing for the wedding, well…the statistics would read a whole lot differently.
So there’s my soapbox.
Evidently, however, our 21st century Western culture is not alone in this absurdity. Take another look at 1st century Judaism—
“The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities…
One source I looked at said that wedding celebrations typically lasted five to seven days, and the whole village would be invited! Okay, they’ve topped us on that one. I don’t know how much wine costs back then, but over a week, it would’ve certainly driven up the bill.
“…so Jesus’ mother told him, ‘They have no more wine.’”
“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
I love, love, love Mary’s concern for the bride and her family. True empathy. It could be that she has already married off daughters of her own, and can feel the coming embarrassment if something isn’t done, and quickly. Very possibly, her own husband, Joseph, is dead by this time, so she turns to her nearest benefactor, her oldest son Son. (How convenient.)
Her next remark is brilliant—
“But his mother told the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’”
Seemingly having just been given a bit of a brush off, albeit polite, she proceeds to clear the way for something extraordinary should God decide, in His wisdom, to do something…extraordinary.
Which, as we know, He did.
I don’t know if the bride and groom, or their parents, ever found out. (Yet another example of how God comes to the rescue for us when we’re not even aware we’re in danger, but that’s another whole lesson, I suppose.) However, the disciples knew what happened, and it made a decisive impact.
Which leaves me with another impression—shall I ask God for something and not “clear the path” for Him to do what only God can do? Should I not also listen for His voice in response to my request rather than go on wringing my hands?
I think not. I prefer Mary’s tack, doing what I can do at present to allow for future heavenly intervention. Then, listen. Carefully, and creatively.
(To be continued tomorrow….)
John 2:1-5 Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
INSPIRATION with an ATTITUDE 