“Held in One Spirit”

“Held in One Spirit”

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

Second Sunday after Epiphany, Year C January 19, 2025

First Presbyterian Church, Sandpoint, Idaho

Andy Kennaly, Pastor

When does worship begin? As we gather here on Sunday mornings, what is the actual start of the worship service? Is it the prelude, as Annie shares piano music and people gather in the pews? That’s a great time, it’s kind of a mix of saying hello to people but also a time to reflect, listen, and prepare our hearts for worship.

Or is it when the light of Christ, the candle is lit, often walked in from the back of the sanctuary? Is this what invites awareness? Is that what worship is? Awareness? Certainly, the visual of Christ in our midst, the flame with symbolism that links spiritual and material in the glow of divine life; is that the beginning of worship? If so, is it when the light enters the room, or as the worship leader brings it forward, or as the candle is lit? If I blow it out, is worship over? Does worship depend on this candle burning?

Maybe worship starts with ringing of the bell, less visual and more to do with sound to begin. We hear the tones, we feel the frequencies of vibration and our bodies get tuned in like a child who gets giddy when it’s time to do something, like open presents or have dessert or welcome a friend they’ve been waiting for with anticipation. The bell catches our attention and means our rendezvous with God is here.

But then there’s the silence, the pause, the moment of reflection as the tone of the bell fades off. Silence is more than empty space. Silence is an entity, a living presence that holds all the potential of creation. Silence is a solace, a friend that surrounds us when nothing else helps. Maybe as we welcome silence, worship begins because spaciousness opens our hearts and minds and sets aside lesser concerns.

Then again, we do have announcements, lots of them, some say not enough, and a verbal welcome to say hello, to extend hospitality and acknowledge both in-person and online worshippers. The verbal introduction time can introduce the context, the theme of the day, like today being the Second Sunday after Epiphany, a season we celebrate God with us. But maybe the talking is preliminary and not part of worship. Kind of a distraction, really.

But perhaps it’s all the way into the opening prayer before worship begins? Or the opening hymn? Maybe we should adopt a new format like popular churches do, with lots of singing, song after song let by people with good voices, then about 45 minutes of quality teaching by an extroverted pastor who is very popular. Now that would be worship. We’d need a parking lot.

Then again, worship could start before we park, maybe even before we arrive at a place, or a time. Our anticipation, the pull, the draw, the desire to desire something deeper in life, to find meaning, to feel spiritual; maybe worship takes place without ceasing, like breath or the beat of our hearts, which leads us back to awareness.

Asking “when does worship begin” is an impossible question to answer.  There are many layers, lots of options, countless critiques, but whatever the line of argument, eventually it breaks down and cannot carry the day. Somehow, all these aspects are needed and have a place. Integrating multiple layers, holding meanings that sometimes have paradox, and trusting that God is always in an open stance to receive, share, and inspire through worship, we discover that worship has no beginning, and thankfully, no real end. It doesn’t do you any good to compare, either. That keeps you in your judging mind, one that measures, counts, and is filled with fear.

Reading from 1 Corinthians about different spiritual gifts but all of them are important and held by the one Spirit, and in John the story of the wedding in Cana in Galilee, I’m reminded of a joke. Did you hear the one about someone who went to the grocery store to buy water? They found the aisle that had all the big jugs of distilled water, drinking water, and even those smaller water bottles. But all that water was wine! There was a sign posted from the management, and it said, “Jesus was here.”

Jesus is here as we read this passage from the Gospel and discover it’s kind of like the beginning of worship. There are many layers, lots of options to explore, and it speaks to people in ways that may really help at one point but break down when things change.

As we listen to these verses with our Christian ears tuned, things stand out, like the very opening, “On the third day there was a wedding.” We remember that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. In scripture, the number three is significant, an indicator that something important is at work that needs to be noticed. John uses this to get our attention, to call us to awareness.

Here we have a wedding, in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. This is a family situation, a community event, a very important time in a culture based on the honor and shame of covenant life as a chosen people. To be invited, like Jesus and the disciples, is prestigious and points to the importance of connection and identity. This is a big deal.

But this wedding has an issue, they didn’t go to the right grocery store. They have plenty of water, but they run out of wine. In that culture, this is a massive disgrace, one the couple may never recover from in the eyes of the community. They have failed and brought shame. Shame is a powerful mark and hard to shake. No wonder the mother of Jesus is concerned and points out that, “They have no wine.”

Jesus responds, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” In other words, is this really worth getting upset about? What concern is that for us, are we really going to condemn them for this? “My hour has not yet come.” In other words, the world is still stuck in cycles of honor and shame, in the judging mind of dualistic thinking that clings to certain outcomes for the sake of appearance.

“Woman” isn’t something we typically call our mothers. It sort of sounds harsh, judgmental, condemning. Is Jesus being chauvinistic? Controlling? Or is he trying to avoid the responsibility of ministry before it even begins? He is not exempt from the culture he’s immersed in. The cultural intrigue starts to pile up, but this is nothing compared to the religious levels that emerge.

“Six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons” are standing there. Jesus has the servants fill them to the brim with water. We start with a wedding and the cultural implications, now we are at a spiritual level of religious observances, rites, and traditions. Isn’t it thrilling that purification is needed in a shame-based world assumed to be fallen and sinful. Yet there’s only six jars, not the perfect seven. There’s something missing, something these jars are unable to complete.

Then the water is wine, and the management, the chief steward, knows the best. Jesus has done his first sign in John’s gospel, a display of divine power and transformation.

A magical level notices the water becomes wine and Jesus makes it so.  How? Because Jesus is the true vine and nature does his bidding. A mythical level knows this to be true because of the power of God. Jesus has authority and reveals his glory. Traditional faith is inspired by sacraments expressed, like baptism fulfilled as cleansing water saves the situation and wine flows like communion as the fullness of relationship is restored and celebrated.  The requirements are met. Shame is exchanged as honor takes center stage through the ministry of Christ and Jesus makes it so. This deals with any sense of separation that might exist in our perception of reality.

Modernity, more of a Mental Structure, suggests that “woman” is more than a gender, but a title of completeness. Mother of Jesus, woman, like no other.  Scandal is replaced by celebration, and it only gets better and better as the best is saved for last. Progress happens as social justice is done, and good outcomes are shared for generations. Servants are empowered and know more than those in charge. The world is changed because everyone has a place that’s important. There’s equality for all.

Could we read this biblical narrative as a metaphor for how life is? Like first half of life, second half of life? The first half of life, we focus on identity, we learn the rules and try to follow them, we shape a life based on certain patterns as we observe tradition. Life has a shape to it as we’re born, we grow, we peak and flourish, and then gradually fade as age takes its physical toll and there’s no way around that. That’s the bell curve of the first and second half of life. Emergence, increase, plateau, decline.

Yet the scriptures show us another type of growth, spiritual growth. While physical decline is part of life and everyone faces this, spiritual growth is optional. The second half of life doesn’t have to be a bell curve, but a steady incline. But this doesn’t just happen; it requires transformation. It helps to learn the art of letting go.

Notice Jesus isn’t hooked by social conventions, not limited by religious observance. His actions draw us toward a second half of life spirituality. For Jesus it is love that motivates, relationship that defines, completeness and covenant that shape his words and actions. Jesus holds it all in perfect tension. New wine in new wineskins, as second half of life learns what and how to let go of from the first half of life.

Learning spiritual disciplines to help us practice contemplation, we offer ourselves over to a process where life’s meaning goes deeper. Ordinary things take on a new hue, like water into wine. At many levels, this wedding story is amazing. From magical realities to spiritual metaphor, this sign of Jesus is a gift from God.

As God’s glory is revealed, may God’s Spirit help us grow in depth of faith.  As we live and follow Christ, in service, unity, and love, may God be glorified, now, and forever. Amen.