1 Samuel 16:1-13

 
Having just come in from an hour of skiing along a snow-covered bike path that transverses fields and forest, I glance in the mirror – and notice ruddy cheeks and clear eyes, perhaps similar to the visage of David when he was fetched from the fields to meet the prophet Samuel. I know what it is like to commune with land and sky, flora and fauna of a Canadian winter landscape.  David would have been highly in-formed by wandering the hills and valleys, fens and fields of the Judean countryside with his sheep. Our Creator’s many lessons written through the medium of the plants, animals, rocks and landscapes are visible to me; David the Shepherd would have been even more attuned to nature’s themes and theology as he camped for days in the wilderness. Patiently guiding and tending his flock of sheep,  finding his way to fresh water and green pastures, David learned first hand from Creator God how to lead and care for his people. And drawing on the wisdom and strength of the Lord, fending off lions and wolves became his preparation for facing Goliath.  I believe it is those natural life-lessons –learned through all kinds of weather and great varieties of wide-eyed experiences that the natural world offers any human being who will listen –specifically gave David ‘beautiful eyes’ and  prepared the youngest of Jesse’s sons to be the capable, albeit human, King of Israel who led the Israelites into a closer walk with the Lord God.  Will I shut off my digital devices, close my books and desist from lengthy human conversations long enough to truly commune with God through the rhymes and rhythms of the natural world ?  Holy Spirit of God, speak to me through creation about your nature and your ways.
 
The heavens declare the Glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork, Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.  (Psalm 19:1-2 )
 
Keep a clear eye toward life’s end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God’s creature. What you are in his sight is what you are and nothing more.
St Francis of Assisi  
 
 
Soli ad gloriam
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John 2:1-12
…
 
Just as Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee, so the nondescript water of my ego can be changed  into the life-giving  wine of God’s will  - an elixir that is healing, life-giving and transformative at all levels.  Like the water in the jars in Cana, my human spirit is fluid and able to be transformed into all kinds of things – of my own will or of the will of the Holy Spirit. If I lift up my being to power, possessions and prominence, the outflow from my life becomes sour and more like vinegar than like wine. If I am driven by passions and problems, and endlessly question the authority of Christ Jesus, I can become toxic to myself and flow poisons to others. In a heartbeat, though, without anyone knowing how, without any ‘scientific explanation’, my surrendered ego can be transformed into the full-bodied, thirst quenching wine of God’s will. As I put my own information and interests aside, I can become infused with God’s grace so that my words and my actions, my conversations and prayers flow out into all relationships and situations of a dry and dusty world to bring love, joy, peace and all the other fruits of the Holy Spirit. Will I let the ordinary ‘water’ of my being be changed quietly over time into the ‘wine’ of God’s grace flowing out into the world?  Christ Jesus, change the water of my ego into the wine of your will.
 
Purify our hearts from every evil desire, make us intent on doing your will.  (Intercessions, Morning Prayer,  Thursday, Week III, Shorter Christian Prayer)
 
We ask God for the courage to abandon ourselves unreservedly, so that we might be molded by God’s grace.
St Ignatius of Loyola  
 
See  a beautiful  “Chosen” version of the Miracle of  Water Being Turned Into Wine at
https://youtu.be/ym-5QPYiBso
 
Soli ad gloriam
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook 
 www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca
 
 
 
 

                                                                    
John 2:1-12

 
Jesus’ first miracle, when he turned water into wine, is a pre-figuring of all the transformative work he completed during his ministry on earth and that he continues to flow into us and through our lives, when we make ourselves available. Whether we call it healing, or releasing, or nurturing, or creating, all of the work of Christ Jesus continues to be creative and miraculous – and as common, silent, and flowing as water or wine at a feast.  Just as a small amount of water, representing Jesus’ own, and our own, humanity is poured into the chalice of wine for consecration, so we can understand that the water in the clay jars at the wedding of Cana represents us as human souls standing by, and being willing to be transformed and spilled out for the purposes of God’s love.  We, like the water that was turned into wine, can be vitally participatory in the sweeping, silent and saving work of the Holy Spirit of Jesus in this world. The saving work of Christ Jesus, in one miraculous hidden moment can change and redeem a wedding feast, a whole community and even on solitary soul. Will I let the ordinary ‘water’ of my being be turned quietly into the ‘wine’ of God’s being to flow into the world around me?  Christ Jesus, transform the water of my being to become the wine of your being.
 
Purify our hearts from every evil desire, make us intent on doing your will.  (Intercessions, Morning Prayer, Thursday, Week III, Shorter Christian Prayer)
 
Lord you have my heart, and I will search for yours,
Jesus, take my life and lead me on.
Lord you have my heart, and I will search for yours,
Let me be to you a sacrifice. And I will praise you Lord.
And I will sing of love come down. And as you show your face, 
We'll see your glory here! 
Martin James Smith
 
 
See  a beautiful  “Chosen” version of the Miracle of  Water Being Turned Into Wine at
https://youtu.be/ym-5QPYiBso
 
Soli ad gloriam
Gospel Mystery of the Day on FaceBook & www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca