The Spirits Overflow

Reflecting on Jesus' first recorded miracle at the wedding at Cana in the Gospel of John, one cannot overlook the deeply embedded symbolism of the passage. Ancient Jewish weddings were not just a one day feast, but a series of rituals ensuring the sanctity of the act and only when these acts were completed did the public celebration take place. A coming out in today's terms would be accurate. Isaiah makes it clear in today's reading that, "For Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn." It is also here where Jesus divinity is also revealed turning water into wine. Not without notice is our own Eucharistic celebration which can be easily taken as just another part of our sacred Mass going without much reflection. Each act of bringing the water to the altar, mixing the water and wine, the raising of the chalice, challenges us to unite ourselves with not only with Jesus, but with the whole community in celebration.

Paul in his message to the Corinthians confirms the many type of spiritual gifts, but the same Lord and same Spirit.  Aren't we in our ordinariness much like water, but blessed with a variety of talents become one in spirit like the ingredients that make the wine? Moreover, once partaking in the Eucharistic wine and becoming inebriated by the true Spirit we are called to pour out our own gifts.

If we think of the headwaiters comment to the groom about the quality of wine, we again can think of our own spiritual maturity.  The idea that wine is aged and becomes stronger over time can apply to our own spiritual journey.  Our path is can be fraught with the impurities of life and we are weakened. However, once we find that ingredient that creates a strong spiritual path we become like the wine served at the feast. We like Jesus and the couple at the feast begin our new life, and thus the spirit overflows.