The first reading is a kind of writing in Hebrew scripture that’s called 'reminding the Lord'—reminding God about the promises God made to God’s people.

The reign of God is revealed to be a banquet in both prophecy and in the parables of Jesus. In the time of God, when justice is finally served and peace comes, there will be nothing left to do but celebrate.

LUKE’S story of Jesus turning water into wine is so rich with suggestion that it is almost intoxicating itself. Jesus at a wedding, laughing, dancing with joy. The strange request of Mary. That today’s gospel in some calendars once ushered us over the threshold into ordinary time with Mary’s words, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Our Lord makes new our lives and our world. With hope in that renewal, we offer our prayers.

You shall be called by a new name, the prophet says, and God’s bringing forth something new, a new age of the Messiah, underlies the gospel story of Jesus’ “sign” in Cana.

Ever notice how God never requires us to “say when”? The extravagant gesture is God’s signature statement. In the time of Elijah a jar of meal and a jug of oil refused to go empty, no matter how many times a certain widow dipped into both.

The earth also shall yield its fruit ten-thousandfold and on each vine there shall be a thousand branches, and each branch shall produce a thousand clusters, and each cluster produce a thousand grapes. —The Apocalypse of Baruch 29:5, Second century