There’s nothing wrong with the Collect for this Sunday (on the pewsheet). Signs and miracles are clearly a part of the message of Epiphany – God with us – revealing Jesus’ majesty. But in many ways, last week’s Collect (which just happens to be the best Collect ever, ever) would be more helpful for us in understanding the Wedding at Cana, today’s gospel.
“In Christ, you make all things new.” Last week’s prayer said, “Transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of his grace…”, and as well as being a prayer we can all relate to, it also describes what is happening in those stone water jars. Christ’s presence is making all things new.
Once, when the priest who trained me as a curate was preparing me to take my first baptism, I asked whether he was comfortable with the idea of “holy water”. Someone had asked if they could fill a bottle from the water in the font when it had been blessed. “All water is holy,” he replied.
Then, after I’d celebrated the baptism a few weeks later, he added, “What changes is the way you look at it.”
My hunch is that, “transforming the poverty of our nature” is 95% about transforming how we look at it – how we see things. Since God deliberately created me to be me and you to be you, it’s unlikely that he would want to change any of us beyond recognition. In fact, God simply wants us to be our true selves – and that is about clarity of vision; seeing life through heaven’s eyes. And what transforms the way we see things? Christ’s presence. If he abides in us and we in him, all things are made new – seen anew.
So: Jesus is present at the wedding, and it’s likely that things will be made new. But does he say to the water in the big jars, “I don’t want you to be water any more, I’m transforming you into a totally different substance.”? I hope not, because then he might also say to me, “I don’t want you to be Rod anymore…” But what if he says, like my wise training incumbent, “All water is holy – and you’ll be surprised by what it tastes like if I transform the poverty of your nature so that you see and hear and taste everything anew.”
I think it is wonderful that none of the guests except Mary and the steward knew that anything was different. The joy of the wedding just carried on; no one knew that anything or anyone had been transformed. It’s just that Jesus was there.
The same might be said of the bread and wine at the Eucharist. For centuries, Christians have argued whether or not the bread is physically changed into Jesus’ body at the consecration – “Transubstantiation” it’s called (and any concept that needs as big a name as that is likely to be dodgy). But if it’s our vision that is transformed, there’s no need for complex theology. “What changes is the way you see it.” It’s just that Jesus is there.
So as we journey through Epiphany towards Lent, limping a little as we have done this past year, struggling to see the world as a good, safe and wholesome place to be, we come back to the words of Julian of Norwich which I quoted in my very first Reflection, when churches closed last March: “All shall be well.”
Not because the vaccine is here. Not because we’ve got viruses beaten. Not because there aren’t huge challenges ahead for Joe Biden and you and me.
It’s just that Jesus is here.
Intercessions for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Let us pray to the Lord with one heart and mind saying,
Lord, hear us:
Lord, graciously hear us
We pray together for the peace that comes from God alone, for the unity of all peoples, and for justice to be established in all the world. Especially we pray for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and all the challenges they face. We pray for the successful distribution of vaccines around the world, and for unity and peace in the many troubled places we hold in our prayers.
Lord, hear us:
Lord, graciously hear us
We pray for the whole people of God throughout the world: for respect and understanding between Christians of different views and for a clear path towards the full unity of the Church: for Viv and Lee, our Bishops, and for all Christian leaders of every denomination.
Lord, hear us:
Lord, graciously hear us
For Elizabeth our Queen, for the leaders of nations and all those in authority: for those who administer justice and all who work to keep us safe from the threat of crime, violence or terrorism. For our NHS and care workers battling the virus for us, often facing severe stress and exhaustion.
Lord, hear us:
Lord, graciously hear us
We give thanks for the good earth that God has given us and pray for the wisdom and the courage to use its resources wisely and to live sustainably, cherishing creation for our generation and those to come. We pray for the poor and oppressed and those whose voice is not heard: for all who suffer with mental illness and all who are trapped in any kind of addiction.
Lord, hear us:
Lord, graciously hear us
For all who are sick or in particular need today, especially those who have asked us to pray for them …. We give thanks for the communities in which we live and all our neighbours and friends.
Lord, hear us:
Lord, graciously hear us
We remember Tony Bollen, Derek Copeland all who have died, especially those whose memory we cherish, and we pray that God will comfort those who have recently been bereaved, and that he will give courage to all who are coming to the end of their mortal life.
Lord, hear us:
Lord, graciously hear us
Rejoicing in the fellowship of all your saints in this world and the next, we commend one another and all creation to the unfailing love of God.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers…