Daily Bread
Dear Friend,
In the Wedding liturgy of the Episcopal Church there is a long preamble reminding people that they are about to witness one of the significant graces of many peoples lives, the blessing of and offering a marriage to God. The preamble is in modern language but comes from a long lineage of liturgical resources. Today’s Daily Office Gospel reading is referenced in this preamble - “and our Lord Jesus Chris adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee.” The Gospel of John is weaved through our liturgies all over the place but seems especially present in the Marriage and Burial Rites.
"The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be honored among all people."
Jesus doesn’t say much about marriage, and what is said is largely about divorce and fertility, not exactly a shiny picture of a two parents, two kids, and a dog. Don’t get me wrong-I love being married, I honor the calling of marriage for many, and I deeply enjoy marriage preparation with couples. In this mid-pandemic it has been a gift to walk with several couples who are choosing to marry, to commit to this outward and visible sign of love in the midst of all the challenges of the moment. But it is somewhat refreshing that as much social pressure is layered on marriage and human relationships, the things Jesus talks about, and the things he does, honor the complexity of life together. He could have just enjoyed the wedding party if something hadn’t gone wrong! If they had procured enough wine he could have just sat back. If it was all easy and natural then there wouldn’t be questions about divorce and fertility in the Gospels and there would not be admonishments and reminders about how to treat one another in the Epistles. There is a long history of early Christians trying to figure out what it meant to be a married person in light of the revelation of God through Jesus. The intimacy of Jesus’ presence among us as one of us brought up all kinds of questions-about sin, about purpose, about how we honor God and one another. The Liturgies of the church point toward our deepest held beliefs and hopes-that God is with us, present with, making miracles in, our relationships. They point to the reality that the Holy Spirit continues to inspire and draw together and make a way for people called to marriage and to being single, God-with-us invites our questions and desires and miracles.
Hallowing the normal stuff, water into wine, Jesus is with us. The Gospel of John, in all its sweeping poetry attests to this in so many ways-this is just the second chapter!
In Christ,
Mtr Taylor