Erma Bombeck says this about families: “The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste… inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.” What is it that keeps a family together? Not just the people you live with... but your extended family. Your work family. Your church family. Why do we stay together?

Imagine a conversation between an elderly married couple, reminiscing about days gone by. The birth of their children, special holidays and events, grandchildren… The ins and outs of family life and full days. And naturally that leads them to remember the day that started it all – their wedding. They remember the chaos of that day. The small dramas that lead up to such an event. And who could forget running out of wine half way through the reception? And the way Mary’s son simply… found some? Made some? Who knows? It was a miracle. The insult of not providing for their guests was avoided and their family life began with a miracle and good wine.

This scripture is used frequently at weddings. Truthfully, the scripture itself is not very matrimonial. It does not speak of love or commitment. However, it is no coincidence that Jesus’ first miracle occurs at a moment of joining – at the moment a family begins. If marriage is a beginning, then this was the perfect place for Jesus to begin his ministry. The marriage of a nameless bride and groom was the place and time for glory to be revealed. God is placing a particular importance on this event, marking it as eternally special. The scripture in Isaiah reflects the holiness of marriage by comparing it to union with God: “For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” Just like the commitment the bride and groom are making this day, Jesus is also making a profound commitment. We are also asked to commit to God in this way. We are no longer merely going steady with God, we are eternally joined to God.

Another family scene played out at this wedding. Mary was somehow helping out with the wedding execution. She notices the lack of wine and rushes to tell Jesus. You see, Mary knows something about the nature of her son. She knew something of his divinity before he was even born. She knows about the impossible events that seem to occur around her baby, her child. She may not have expected Jesus to do anything about the absent wine, but she informed him anyway. Jesus reacts with a terse reply. “What concern is that to you or to me? My hour has not yet come.” I think that mothers are used to occasional overreactions from their children, and Mary is no exception. She doesn’t insist upon a more respectful reply but simply turns to the servants and tells them to follow the directions Jesus will surely provide.

“My hour has not yet come.” That is what Jesus tells his mother. The wedding in Cana was not the moment Jesus had imagined to reveal his divine nature to his community. I’m not suggesting that Mary knew better or was in on the big plan, but I do think that Mary trusted her son to do the exact right thing. She didn’t simply trust her Son, but she trusted the God that had made this Son. However, these nuptials were to be the hour of Jesus’ miracle.

Luckily, this wedding reception ran out of wine. And the exchange between a mother and son leads to a moment of decision. We can relate to Jesus in this passage. There are times in our life when we stand in fear of God’s plan for us. There are times in our life, usually on the eve of a new beginning, that we simply want… to run away. Mary was present for Jesus in that moment. She did not push him to embrace his path, and she did not tell him to run away. She was there to have faith in God’s plan for Jesus. We won’t always have our mother there for every great life decision, but we will have a parent in God. God will present paths to us and leave us to accept or deny that path. It is the choice between light and sin, but God is there with the unwavering love of a Father - either way.

Along with Mary, the disciples were also with Jesus at that wedding. Perhaps “disciples” was too strong a word, since they only believed in Jesus after the miracle had been performed. However, they were people that were drawn to Jesus and knew that there was something amazing about this man. So amazing that they felt compelled to attend a wedding with him, although perhaps they were lured by the possibility of a good party as well. Upon experiencing the miracle, the bond of teacher and student was expanded and built upon that day. They became a family of believers.

The people of this church are a family of believers as well. Through the scripture, we have witnessed the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine, as well as other miracles. We may not have experienced it the way those wedding guests experienced it, but we accept the Gospel fully into our hearts, heeding the words reverently every Sunday. That is definitely experiencing the event. And like the disciples, we stand in awe of this man. Yes, we knew him to be a good guy and a great teacher. But he is suddenly so much more than that. He is the Messiah. You witness this miracle not alone, but in a group. This group is now incredibly important because they recognize the magnitude of this moment even when the rest of the world doesn’t. The disciples became a family through a common experience of a miracle. St. Nick’s becomes a family through that same shared experience of Christ.

This scripture is really a commentary on the nature of family. We see three family scenes being played out. The first is the setting of a wedding, the second is the conversation between a parent and a child, the last is the family created by the witness of a miracle. What is the link between these familial relationships? The answer to that eternal question is an eternal answer: God.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father,

We thank you for the miracle of wine at a wedding, but even more than that we thank you for the families you have revealed to us in the scripture. You have blessed us with the gift of family. You have shown the significance you place upon the holiness of marriage. You have shown yourself as our Divine Parent through Mary and Jesus. And finally, you have formed us into a family of witnesses as you did with the disciples that faithful day. We have become one through the common witness of the miracle of Christ. Father, we ask your guidance to direct us in the Paths of a godly life. When we stand on the brink of a new path as Christ did, we ask that you be with us as our Guide and Nurturer. Please continue to develop St. Nick’s into the family of believers you intend us to be. In all this God, we acknowledge that You are the common thread of our family lives. In your name we pray. Amen.