Consider the Word, January 13, 2022

 
Consider the Word, January 13, 2022
2^nd Sunday after the Epiphany
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for January 16:

• Isaiah 62:1-5
• Psalm 36:5-10
• 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
• John 2:1-11

 
Collect

Almighty God,

your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ

is the light of the world.

May your people,

illumined by your word and sacraments,

shine with the radiance of his glory,

that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed

to the ends of the earth;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: John 2:1-11

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.

 
Reflection Questions
The changing of water to wine is Jesus’ first public act in John, the inaugural “sign” of God’s presence in the world through him.
1.       Jesus asks, “what concern is that to you and to me?”, yet somehow it is his concern. Why?
2.       What does this wine at a banquet feast represent?
3.       Mary demonstrates a trust in Jesus’ ability to address the need that has arisen, can we?
 
Closing Prayer

O God of steadfast love,

at the wedding in Cana

your Son Jesus turned water into wine,

delighting all who were there.

Transform our hearts by your Spirit,

that we may use our varied gifts

to show forth the light of your love

as one body in Christ. Amen.

 
The Message: John 2:1-11

^1-3 Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.”

⁴ Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.”

⁵ She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”

^6-7 Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim.

⁸ “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,” Jesus said, and they did.

^9-10 When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!”

¹¹ This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

 
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson