Some Challenging Thoughts…What do you think about this?
Jesus’ first miracle was to reveal
Glory of God. God’s Glory is so extreme in wonder and amazement that it has been called “profligate.” Wasteful you say? Well let us look again at wedding in Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-11). According to David Runcorn in his book entitled, Choice, Desire and Will of God (Hendrickson Publishers), there is more to story than what catches eye and ear on first reading.
The story is very well known. The wine runs out at reception. The celebration is in danger of drying up almost before it has started. Behind scenes, Jesus takes action and result is startling. He turns more than 330 liters of water into what master of ceremonies describes as best wine he has ever drunk. This after guests have already drunk their way through original supply! This is more than generous. It is irresponsible—even mischievous. Isn’t there a moral issue here?
John calls this miracle ‘first sign’ of Jesus. Not simply first among many—but ‘Arch sign.’ This is sign that is key to interpreting all signs that follow. This sign ‘revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him.’ What is it a sign of? It is a sign that a wildly generous, intoxicating, joyful love is now revealed in world. A love that never stops at what is strictly necessary. This love will transform beyond all that is needed or occasion requires. God’s love among us is sign for us and world we live in is a wedding. God's love goes to extremes to rescue you. When you can't help yourself, let God help you. He loves to be a part of your life.
What do you think about this?
The dance…
From earliest days one of ways Christians have tried to express life and relationship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit is as a dance. An early Easter hymn has words, O thou leader of mystic round dance! O thou leader of spiritual marriage feast. Two words are important for understanding what kind of dance this is and what it might be like to join it. Describing a relationship, word 'perichoresis' means a free, mutual exchange. The life of each is continuously fulfilled by gift of others in an eternal, non-grasping dance of mutual indwelling. ‘They not only encircle each other and weave in and out of each other as in human dancing; in divine dance, so intimate is communion that they move in and through each other so that pattern is all-inclusive. It is a dance that is only possible because life of Holy Trinity is one of pure giving.
