THEY HAVE NO WINE

THEY HAVE NO WINE

I was in a service centre for mobile phones this week in downtown Lusaka. It was neatly set up with bright colours and décor. The attendants, mostly young ladies, were attractively dressed in a simple uniform of contrasting hues. Everything was in place but there was one thing missing: service! It took nearly an hour for first one, then another to press the buttons on my phone but none could solve the problem and what was worse none could admit they did not know what to do.

I was pondering this when reflecting on the story of Jesus turning water into wine at Cana in Galilee. The Jews had “six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary.” They had everything in place according to the laws of Israel, but they had no wine! There was something missing. When John wrote his gospel he had a clear purpose. God has come into our midst to turn our water into wine. He came to fulfil our human efforts which in themselves only get us so far. There is a yawning ache within us which only the divine can fill.     

This is because often, in our world, we have to say, “There is no wine.” Our progress over the years has been spectacular. We are in 2016. How many schools and clinics did we have in 1916? Who then dreamt of independence or going to the moon? Who then dreamt of picking up a gadget and speaking to their daughter in London or Washington? But at the end of the day, all this is water – unless it is suffused with concern for others, with love shown in patience and compassion. Otherwise, with all our progress, we have to say, “There is no wine.”

In London you can buy anything under the sun but it can be the loneliest place on earth. The is no wine. In Lusaka you can find supermarkets and schools, clinics and prisons and all the other establishments of a modern state, But if that quality of interest in others is missing, if that courage to look a person in the eye and say the truth is not there, then – despite all our progress – there is no wine.

The wedding feast of Cana is like a would-be president setting out his policies. The difference is that Jesus does it - not in words - but in a sign. The Jews ought to have understood the sign. They had the prophecies of Isaiah. “As the bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so will your God rejoice in you.” Or those of Jeremiah, “I will remember your faithful love (hesed), the affection of your bridal days.” All the efforts of humankind – the advancement of people in human rights and freedom, the discoveries of science and technology and all the rest are only the water in the water jars if they are not filled with kindness. 

17 January 2016                                 Sunday 2 C    

Isaiah 62:1-5                                       I Corinthians 12:4-11                         John 2: 1-12