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<DIV><FONT size=4>This is a private miracle, subdued and quiet. It is not some
flashy show of divine power. Only a few people, including the reader, know what
actually happened. Jesus was even reluctant to do anything at the event. It was
not meant to happen, but the persistence of his mother led him to perform what
has become one of the most famous of his
miracles. <BR><></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>...enough wine for the whole village now...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=1/17/2010#"><FONT
size=4>http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=1/17/2010#</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Roy Harrisville, 2010</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The “mother of Jesus” appears for the first time in the
gospel; the last time is when she stands at the foot of the cross. On both
occasions, Jesus addresses her as “Woman” (v. </FONT><A
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href="http://bible.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?version=nrs&word=John+2%3A4"><FONT
size=4>4</FONT></A><FONT size=4>), a title roughly equivalent to <EM>Madam</EM>
today...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/cpr02m.shtml">http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/cpr02m.shtml</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Chris Haslam</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>In 1:50, Jesus has told Nathanael: “You will see greater
things than these”. This prophecy is beginning to be fulfilled.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/cpr02l.shtml"><FONT
size=4>http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/cpr02l.shtml</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Chris Haslam</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Chung Hyun Kyung has suggested that Mary is much more
important to this story than we usually think; after all, she raised Jesus to
practice "compassionate justice." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Renita Weems (2000) provides a lovely reflection that compares
the spiritual journey to marriage: "It hits highs and lows, goes through seasons
of ecstasy and ennui, and you find yourself wondering whether it's possible to
regain the passion, the conviction, the spiritual momentum you once enjoyed. The
message of this second Sunday after the Epiphany is yes. Take those empty stone
jars, fill them to the brim with the water of hope, prayer, and persistence, and
draw from them." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><STRONG>For further reflection:</STRONG></P>
<P><FONT size=4><EM>Sören Kierkegaard, 19th century<BR></EM>Christ turned water
into wine, but the church has succeeded in doing something even more difficult:
it has turned wine into water.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4><EM>The Dalai Lama, 21st century</EM><BR>Be kind whenever
possible. It is always possible.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4><EM>Richard Cizik, National Association of Evangelicals, 21st
century</EM> <BR>When I die, God isn't going to ask me "Did I create the Earth
in six days or five days?" but "What did you do with what I gave
you?"</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4><EM>Carl Lewis, 20th century<BR></EM>Life is about
timing.</FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>I would like to tell you about a hero of mine: my son, John
Kent, who teaches fourth grade in an urban school district in another part of
Ohio <> Several years ago, when John was still a new teacher, his
successes felt few and far between. But one day, he told me about something that
happened during parent-teacher conferences. He had a student, a little
girl, who had been struggling with her work, but John told me in a very
matter-of-fact way that he had been working on a special educational plan for
this little girl, and she had shown a lot of progress. When her mother came in
for the conference, she thanked John for the amazing difference he had made in
her daughter's life. John – instinctively remembering where his own gifts
came from – responded humbly and simply, explaining the educational plan and
lifting up the little girl's own efforts. But the mother, he said, leaned across
the desk at him, and raised her own voice as she interrupted him: "No, you
don't understand, Mr. Huey, God has <EM>sent</EM> you to us!" John said they
both looked at each other for a long moment, and for that moment he paused
to see his work and his calling through new – or maybe renewed –
eyes. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/january-17-2010.html"><FONT
size=4>http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/january-17-2010.html</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Kate Huey, 2010</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
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