Alcoholics Anonymous

30 AD

Eight years! For eight years, i've been on the wagon! Yesterday, I am at that party, drink water as always, and then this carpenter comes along...

The Marriage Feast at Cana, Juan de Flandes, 1500

Photographer: Lawrence OP. Ceiling painting from the Church of the Holy Rosary in Portland, Oregon.

Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (Saxon, 1794–1872) The Wedding Feast at Cana, 1819

AWAKENING: DRUNKARDS & EMPTINESS

Before we approach the esoteric meaning behind the Wedding At Cana we need to look at the concept of drunkenness. To be full is to be content. Without thirst there would be no need for living water right. Let’s dive into why one must be empty of all understanding to receive. Rock with me as we take the journey within.

Cana of Galilee

Cana of Galilee is the location of Jesus’ first miracle or the first sign that Jesus was the Messiah, found in John 2:1-11. The Wedding Church at Cana sits overtop of a first-century synagogue. This has been the only synagogue discovered in Cana; therefore, this is definitely where the story of the Wedding at Cana took place.

Pictured: The Wedding Church at Cana

On the third day, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. when the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They don’t have any wine.” Jesus replied, “Woman, what does that have to do with me? My time hasn’t come yet.” His mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby were six stone water jars used for the Jewish cleansing ritual, each able to hold about twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water,” and they filled them to the brim. Then he told them “Now draw some from them and take it to the headwaiter,” and they did. The head waiter tasted the water that had become wine. He didn’t know where it came from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. The head waiter called to the groom and said, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and they bring out the second-rate wine only when the guests are drinking freely. You kept the good wine until now.” This was the first miraculous sign that Jesus did in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him. - John 2:1-11

In the 1st century CE. weddings were a little different than what most of us know today. For starters, the guest list was somewhere between 700 and 1200 people. The entire town was invited along with all of your family, even the most distant relatives you didn’t know you were related to. Second, weddings lasted for 7 days: 6 days of celebrations with the actual ceremony/wedding on the 7th day.  Hospitality (in most cultures besides America) is a big deal. If you didn’t have enough wine for the entire 7 days of wedding celebrations, it would be seen as a huge dishonor on the family. This mentality is still true today. Our guide said that any time he invites people over, they always prepare twice as much food just in case more people show up. 

The last interesting part about first-century wedding customs is that men and women were always separated during the celebrations. What I found interesting was that our guide gave some cultural context to looking at verse 4 from the wedding story.

“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” - John 2:4

As a feminist, I’ve always struggled with this text, wondering why Jesus would address his mother as “Woman;” a phrase not necessarily used to convey endearment. Our guide gave the story context by explaining: Mary left the women’s section of the party and entered the men’s section to talk to Jesus. To address Mary as “woman,” was actually the most respectful way to address his mother in front of strangers. Calling her “woman” was not rude or disrespectful, but actually quite the opposite. Since this was a wedding with hundreds of people, likely many of whom Jesus didn’t know, he addressed Mary out of respect in a culturally appropriate way.

This is one of the many great examples of why it’s important to understand the cultural context that the Bible took place. Here I was annoyed that Jesus was being cheeky to his mother when he was being quite the opposite.

While visiting the church, each of the married couples had the option to renew their vows. Having only been married two months earlier, Jonathan and I weren’t going to participate but we got roped into it anyway. So now, I can say I’ve married my love twice now.

Pictured: some of us renewing our vows. I think Dave & Alice (in the center) were the couple married the longest while Jonathan & I were the newest newlyweds on the trip.

After seeing the church we went down below to look at the ruins of the first-century synagogue. Along with lots of rocks, we were able to see a first-century stone jar like the ones mentioned in the story.

Pictured: ruins of the first-century synagogue

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. - John 2:6

The reason stone jars were used as opposed to clay, glass, or ceramic, is that stone is the only element that doesn’t become unclean after it is used in a sacred manner. The jars were not moved, which is good because I’m pretty sure no one could lift them.  

Pictured above: a first-century stone jar with me for size comparison

Once we were done visiting the church, we walked around some of the shops next door and got to try some of the famous “Wine from Cana.” The lovely woman who let us try the wine said “It’s sweet so you think of Jesus when you drink it!” Thankfully, our tour guide informed us (before we visited the site) that there are no wineries in Cana so it’s all just a tourist trap. Hey, can’t fault them for trying, I’m sure there are lots of people who bring home wine bottles from Cana! (Yes, I totally wanted one. No, we did not get any)

La concurrida boda de Caná

21. The wedding at Cana by Jorge Sanchez Hernandez

Jorge Sánchez Hernández [1926 – 2016] was a Mexican Catholic painter and continuator of the style of 17th century Spanish Baroque painters. Collections include: Portraits of Colonial Nuns; Scenes from Ancient Mexico; the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Collection; the Mother of Jesus Collection; the Gospel Scenes Collection; the Collection with scenes from the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe; and…

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Wine

Joshua 19:1-21:19, Psalm 54:1-7, John 2:1-25

My country recently announced that the recommended maximum number of drinks per week is now zero. It turns out alcohol is just bad for you. Who knew?

Nonetheless, Jesus felt it necessary to create over four hundred litres of wine out of nothing and set it loose on a wedding. I get the feeling that there was some huge significance to this miracle that I've missed, but none of the sermons on it that I have heard have given me a satisfying answer.

The most satisfying answer was the charmingly simple one. There was no signficance at all and Jesus was doing what his mother told him to help a young couple avoid embarassment. Maybe the miracle is to indicate that Jesus was here, not just to bring God's message but to live a human life in and around human drama. He drank alcohol and partied like the rest of us.

There's a fairly famous piece of art, actually I went and looked it up to see if I could find it and there is a truly haunting picture called The Laughing Christ which looks positively deranged, almost as bad as that hilariously restored one which became a meme a few years ago. But some of the Christians I have met have reduced Jesus to some brooding speaker of platitudes and it's just such a terrible representation of what he came to do. He came to make wine and make life difficult for capitalists, which he does in the very next passage.

So yeah, Jesus was real. He partied, laughed, drank, got angry, insulted people, comforted people, and cried. This was all vital to his mission on earth, to be a God who was with his people.

Gratitude Day 1323

My providential Lord, You know my every need and are concerned for every aspect of my life. Help me to trust You so completely that I always put my love of You as my first priority in life. I do believe that if I can keep You and Your will as the most important part of my life, all other necessities in life will fall in place. Jesus, I trust in You.

I am so happy and grateful now that I have a loving connected relationship with my husband Ell ✨️ filled with joy love peace and compassion and forgiveness ❤️ thank you god thank you god thank you god ❤️ 🙏🏽

I am so happy and grateful now that I have a loving connected relationship with my best friends V and J and all is well filled with joy love peace and compassion and forgiveness ❤️ thank you god thank you god thank you god ❤️ 🙏🏽

I am so happy and grateful now that I have a loving connected relationship with my family and lovely mum and all is well filled with joy love peace and compassion and forgiveness ❤️ thank you god thank you god thank you god ❤️ 🙏🏽

I am so happy and grateful now that I have a loving connected relationship with my God filled with love faith joy peace compassion and forgiveness ❤️ thank you god thank you god thank you god ❤️ 🙏🏽

I am so happy and grateful now that I am love I am joy I am peace and I am patience I am successful I speak love I speak joy I speak peace I speak patiently I speak successfully 😌 thank you god thank you god thank you god ❤️ 🙏🏽

I am so happy and grateful now for the magical outcome of the beautiful day filled with the holy spirit the success in getting all my chores done preparing for my presentation for my level 7 the joy of the mass and the beautiful walk with my best friend V talking and laughing having a brilliant time thank you god thank you god thank you god ❤️ 🙏🏽

I am so happy and grateful now for the holy spirit guides me in all that I do and say and my guardian angel is by my side to rule and guard to light and guide Amen 🙏🏽 thank you god thank you god thank you god ❤️ 🙏🏽

I am so happy and grateful now for the full healing and recovery of Paul Vooght Jane and my lovely mum ❤️ thank you god thank you god thank you god ❤️ 🙏🏽

I am so happy and grateful now that perfect health is mine 🙏🏽 thank you god thank you god thank you god ❤️ 🙏🏽

I am so happy and grateful now for all the money I am receiving I propser at every turn 🙏🏽 thank you god thank you god thank you god ❤️ 🙏🏽

I am so happy and grateful now for the beautiful home 🏡 I share with my husband Ell ✨️ filled with joy love peace and compassion and fun ❤️ thank you god thank you god thank you god ❤️ 🙏🏽

THANK YOU GOD THANK YOU GOD THANK YOU GOD 💗 😊 🙏🏽 🙌🏾

❤️❤️❤️

His mother told the servers, "Do whatever he tells you." (Jn 2:5)

THE WEDDING AT CANA (2021), 14" x 19"

Isaiah 25: When Tears Are Wiped Away

Jesus also spoke a number of times of a celebratory feast to be enjoyed with God. #MarriageoftheLamb #Isaiah25 #EveryTearWipedAway

The Lord’s Banquet On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples    a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,    of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. Isaiah 25:6 (NRSV) Isaiah foresaw a rich banquet spread for the people of God on God’s holy mountain, much like the feast Moses and the seventy elders attended, and reminiscent of the Lord’s…

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Godmeneutics for Financial Prosperity

Godmeneutics comes from God and Hermeneutics (interpretation). Here I am taking examples from the Bible and applying it to get financial prosperity and financial favor from God.

The first example I take is the Old Testament Sarah, the wife of Abraham. She conceived Isaac when she was 100 Years old and it was a blessing from God. Here I take Sarah’s womb and apply it for financial prosperity. Dear God Jehovah Jesus and the Holy Spirit with your blood and grace open up Sarah’s financial womb for me now and always.

The next example I take is the Parting of the Red Sea by God for the smooth flight and escape of the Israelites from Egypt. Dear God Jehovah Jesus and the Holy Spirit with your blood and grace, part the financial Red Sea for me now and always.

The next example that I like to take is the Wedding at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine. Dear God Jehovah Jesus and the Holy Spirit, with your blood and grace, serve me the financial wine at the Wedding at Cana for me now and always.

The next example that I like to take is the falling down of the Wall of Jericho. The Israelites marched around the wall seven times and it fell. Dear God Jehovah Jesus and the Holy Spirit, with your blood and grace, shatter the blocked financial wall of Jericho for me now and always.

The next example that I like to take is when Jesus told the disciples to cast their nets into the other side of the sea and when they did they were able to haul a rich catch of fish. Dear God Jehovah Jesus and the Holy Spirit, with your blood and grace, help me cast my financial net onto the miracle side of the sea and let me haul a rich catch of money now and always.

The next example that I would like to take is the offering of Manna to the Israelites in their sojourn in the desert. Dear God Jehovah Jesus and the Holy Spirit, with your blood and grace, rain in a rich financial Manna for me now and always.

The next example is a verse in Isaiah in which it says: I will give you the treasures of darkness (money) and the wealth of secret hidden places (money) so that you will know I am the Lord of God of Israel, Jehovah Jesus who has called you by name.  

The wedding feast at Cana, Paolo Veronese, 1562-63

All 6's & 7's: Transforming Water Into Wine

Diving back into the symbolism behind the Wedding At Cana to lead into the narrative of the Samaritan Woman at the Well. Let's unearth the hidden meaning of the 6 Ceremonial Jars. Rock with me on the journey within.

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana, in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.” -John 2:1 Jewish mysticism has a practice called gematria- interpreting the meaning of scriptures based on numerical values. It’s a very complex Kabbalistic idea I won’t even attempt to capture here because it’s that deep. However, any time you see numbers you can guarantee there is a mystical aspect…

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