Devotions

Sunday, January 17, 2010

What would you say if you were at a party and saw someone take water and turn it into fine wine? I don’t know about you, but I would say “I want this dude at my party!”

Let me make it absolutely clear that today’s Gospel reading is NOT about the wine. I believe that there was a miracle. I also think that this miracle is a metaphor for how God molds and shapes us on our Christian walk. Today’s reading is about God changing the “water” of our bodies and making us it into “God’s wine” that symbolizes the blood of Jesus.

Today’s readings are about God working in our midst, and they tell the story of God challenging his people to be tools in God’s hands. The Psalm (our call to worship) talks about God’s constant presence in our lives. The reading from Corinthians celebrates our Christian community as “the body of Christ.” Paul makes a point that healthy communities encourage, reveal and celebrate a diversity of gifts, talents, and perspectives that are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Paul teaches us that the Holy Spirit of our God touches every person, and in response, we come together as a community of sisters and brothers united by the blood of Jesus (Epperly). The Gospel reading makes it clear that Jesus’ transforming presence is with us and within us throughout our lives on our life’s journey.

Last weekend our youth group attended the Pyromaniac youth conference in Ocean City. All of us (youth and adults) learned a lot about God and about each other; all of us returned from that trip fired up and excited about what God is doing in the world and in our church.

NOTE: Justin Lookadoo: marks of a mature Christian. He taught us how we can grow in God’s grace and stature. He taught us to ask “IS IT HOLY?” in all aspects of our lives. Bishop Violet Fisher challenged us to get out there. Bishop Violet Fisher challenged us to be God’s hands in the world.

It is easy to be excited and on fire for God when we are at a conference where we are learning and having fun. The question is, “How do we stay excited and on fire for God after the conference? How do we deepen our commitment to God with every day of our lives?” That is why next year’s conference will focus on a Scripture from James that teaches that faith manifests itself in tangible actions.

That brings us to today’s Gospel reading and to the miracle of turning water into wine. It is common knowledge that our bodies are made of 65% water. As we allow God to use us as tools in his hands, as we learn more about God, and as we change our lives in response to God’s presence, God changes that water in our bodies to “God’s wine”; the wine that symbolizes the blood of Jesus shed on the Cross.

In our culture, the word “church” is a noun, it is not something that we “do”, it is a “place” where we meet. In our culture the word “faith” is a noun, “faith” is something that we have, it is not an action. However, when we allow the Holy Spirit work in us and transform our water into “God’s wine” our “faith” becomes a verb; our “church” becomes a verb. “Faith” and “church” become something that we not only have and experience but also something that we do. Our community becomes characterized by action, mission, outreach and evangelism. Remember “go forth and make disciples….”

The point that Paul made in today’s scripture is that our communities of faith need ALL gifts, talents and perspectives in order to flourish and serve God. Paul invites us to celebrate our differences and ALL of our talents.

Things happen. Things happen in our lives and in the lives of our neighbors. Some of those things are tragedies. How we respond and react to those things is indicative of where we are on our journey with God.

Last Tuesday the lives of our neighbors in Haiti where irrevocably changed by a devastating earthquake. The loss of life is staggering, survivors do not even have the basic necessities (water, food, sanitary facilities). Unless something is done soon, infectious diseases will set in and this tragedy will escalate.

Now is NOT the time for us to organize a mission team and ship out to Haiti. Right now there is a need for specialized teams and we simply do not have the qualifications to fill those needs. This does not mean, however, that we cannot help.

Today we have the opportunity to help our sisters and brothers in Haiti through a special offering that will go to United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Because it is a United Methodist agency, we are guaranteed that 100% of our donations will go to the people of Haiti (no part of our donations will go to cover administrative costs).

We also have other opportunities to help our sisters and brothers. We can gather together and make health kits for UMCOR. These kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of human conflict or natural disaster. They are kept on hand to be shipped wherever needed, and can be dropped off at the warehouse in York, PA (Mission Central).

NOTE: On a side note, we can organize a trip to Mission Central to learn more about what they do and how we can help – they need a facility in this area to serve as a intermediate shipping point.

When we respond to the needs of our neighbors, when we allow God to use us as tools of his love and grace, we are doing “what is holy” in the eyes of our Lord. By applying ourselves, we allow God to turn us from “water” to “God’s wine,” we see God more clearly, we follow God more nearly and our love of God and understanding of each other grows.

Works Cited
Epperly, Rev. Dr. Bruce G. “January 17, 2010; 2nd Sunday After Epiphany.” 01/01/2010. Process & Faith. 01/14/2010 <http://bit.ly/6VSR7I>.