When Joy Runs Dry

Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from...the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” [John 2:6-10, NRSV]

Last Sunday's gospel lesson asks the question "What do we do when the wine runs dry?" On the surface of this text from John we have a wedding feast. In Jesus' day and age, a typical wedding feast lasted seven days. This is only the third day and there is no more wine! Isn't life like that sometimes? Maybe it's because of a struggle with illness or the death of a loved one. Maybe it's because we're wrestling with our sexual identity or facing financial difficulties. Maybe it's because of doubts we have about God but are too afraid to share those doubts with anyone. Whatever the case may be, we all know what it feels like to be in the third day of a seven day feast and there is no more wine.

The good news of the gospel text is that Jesus is a joy bringer who fills our cups to overflowing. Notice that there is no mention in John's gospel that Jesus disapproved of the celebration and sat in the corner with a frown on his face. In fact, in my heart of hearts, I can picture Jesus doing the chicken dance or leading the crowd in the electric slide. Jesus is a joy bringer and the amount of wine he produced would have been enough for the entire seven day wedding feast and then some!

Now, I'm not saying that Jesus is going to bless us materially, but the kind of joy he promises us shines from the inside out. It is the kind of joy that keeps our hearts buoyant no matter how difficult life may seem. Its the kind of joy we hear in the voices of the Haitians this week who, in spite of unimaginable loss, are still singing praises to God. Hopefully, we can learn to do the same.