Yesterday’s Gospel featured the first of Jesus’ “signs” or miracles. Jesus turns 120+ gallons of water into wine! Here, Jesus attends a wedding, respects the customs of the day, tries not to get involved, yet in the end does anyway. Yet, Jesus doesn’t want to draw attention to himself (and, perhaps to draw attention to the fact that those in charge of providing the hospitality have “failed” in their societal duty to keep the party going!)
Raymond E. Brown, in his Doubleday commentary of John, describes how Jesus has been revealed, so far, in John’s Gospel. Jesus has been described as the “light in the darkness,” the “Lamb of God,” the “pre-existent one,” the “one on whom the Spirit descends and rests.” Now, in John 2.1-11, we are given an Epiphany, a revelation, of Jesus as the generous, hospitable one. Jesus provides 120+ gallons of the finest wine. In this giving, in this generosity, in this outpouring of welcome, Jesus makes sure that the joy of the party keeps going for the full, customary week.
With God in Christ, the Scripture attests, our joy is always complete!
Vegan Priest, Christopher Golding 