THE PRIDE OF MOTHERHOOD
The Gospel of Saint John contains in its second chapter an interesting event that occurred in Cana of Galilee. It was a marriage ceremony; some edition called it wedding to suit their culture. I do not want to believe the celebrant was ill prepared for the ceremony. Whatever happened we were told while the feast was in progress the celebrant ran out of wine. It could mean there was enough to eat and every body was supposingly well fed. It could also be that the ceremony was held during summer that the atmosphere was filled with dryness and people tend to drink more fluid, be it water or wine. It could also be opined that in that culture the invitees were expected to accept the invitations at least a week to the events to aid in planning and reservations. Like most of us do, we hardly respond to RSVP and more people may have turned out than originally planned for. However in African tradition we often make provision for “UNINVITED GUESTS.” These people include those who were not originally invited and those who were unexpected because they don’t have the culture of accepting invitations, yet they come anyway.
That takes us to the issues of invitations. It’s always more honorable and expedient to be invited to an event. Those who attend uninvited stay in for those who were invited but unable to attend. Invitation shows respect and honor to the invitees and a feeling of being owned, loved and wanted; someone whose presence would be highly honored and appreciated. Also invitation gives the celebrant the honor and rare a privilege to bring people together and call forth those he/she needed for the event/occasion. In the event recorded in the gospel of Saint John, Mary – Jesus’ mother, the Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples were all honorably invited to the occasion and were in attendance. The passage was silence about Joseph [Mary’s husband]. It could be He was either unavoidably absent or busy helping out at the background. Sometimes coverage’s inadvertently omit some important personalities or particular event; such could unfortunately be the case here.
Mary, the mother of Jesus said to Him: Son, “They have no wine.” In other words, they ran out of wine. Jesus did not ask his mother: do I brew or sell wine? Rather He humbly answered the mom: what has your concern to do with me? I’m just a guest. Not withstanding, my hour has not yet come. The mother had no response but turns around to the servant of the celebrant and said, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’ Mary knew the child she bore. She knew Jesus was a unique child, possessed uncommon qualities and was raised well. While fixing wood in Joseph’s carpentry workshop, He demonstrated God’s uncommon gifts. Mary who hid in her heart everything the angel Gabriel told her about this unique son knew she had unusual conception and birth. Mary knew Jesus was a very uncommon child; and remembered the unusual greetings of the Angel in Luke 1:28-33 and her song of glory – the MAGNIFICANT. As if that was not enough, at the age of twelve, He was found in the temple robbing minds with the elders and teachers of the law. Mary observed that unusual nature of her son, Jesus who was God presence with us and came to take away the sin of the world. She knew He will honor her before that crowd.
Mary was concerned that the bar had run out of wine and yet they were more invitees still at the event. Her concerns suggest that she was closed relation of the celebrant. However, Mary was hopeful that her son could do something to alleviate that shortage of wine by acceding to her request and honor God. Have you been in a position to be drawn into something that was outside your original plan and after initial hesitation, you acceded to it? Our parents are fond of this. They could bring in people who are less privileged for help or those who need something in the city you live. It may not necessarily be money; it could be a demand on your time and tapping into your experience and exposure. It could happen when you travel home or when they are getting prepared to return home after a visit. I don’t know about you, I have suffered this fit severally just to honor my parents. It is part of who we are as a people, a community; trying to be there for one another.
Can your parents trust you to accede to their request even when it’s a sacrifice on your part? Before Mary said to the servant of the host, whatever He ask you to do, do it, she trusted her son had the authority and capacity to do whatever was necessary. This speaks in unspeakable terms the relationship that existed between Jesus and her mother. In the same vein, can our heavenly Father depend on you to be His disciple and witness, to be good servant / steward? Can Jesus depend on us to feed His flocks and to love and accept one another in spite of our differences and shortcomings? Can He rely on us as good ministers who would preserve in faith, to shine as light in the unchristian world; walking in righteousness and blamelessly without a reproach or guile? Can the throne of grace trust that like Job you will not deny the faith in the face of tragedy? Can God depend on you as on Abraham that you will raise and direct your children and household after Him no matter the trials of life? Can your spouse depend on you to protect and provide for her and the family; daily upholding them in your prayers. Can the Church depend on your love giving and benevolence for the kingdom expansion?
When our parents need a little help from us, some of us think they are bothering us and over bearing. The scripture directs us to honor our parents so that we may have long life, success and peace. This includes high respect, oblige, concede, and submit to them. They may not have done everything right or be the best model but God says honor them because there is a reward. I bet you God will honor Himself and bring His promise to pass. They depend on us to cover their shame, to uphold them in difficult times. They depend on us to give birth and raise their grand children who will grow before them and take over their state when they are gone. They depend on us to take leadership and improve their lives. As they pass the baton, our communities depend on us to step up and make collective progress in reengineering and redirecting our resources to enhance common goal.
Mary told Jesus that the wine was exhausted. Even though Jesus said His time had not come yet, He obliged the mother that request and before the celebrant and invitees Jesus turned water into wine. He made her proud and honor her; availed them with choice wine that was better than all the wines they ever served such that the governor of the feast charged the celebrant of bringing in the best wine last [John 2:10]. This was considered the first public miracle Jesus did as recorded in the scriptures. By this singular miracle, Jesus demonstrated the presence of God in their midst and how He can use the power of heaven to satisfy our longings and needs. Jesus is still alive and seated in His throne at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. He still hears us when we call upon Him. Most importantly, He is ever present always.
However, we should be careful not to obey our parents sheepishly, especially when we are asked to compromise our faith. When parents raise their children right and in fear of God, the children will grow up in love, abiding in God’s Spirit; become known and make impact in their world as well as affecting their generation. The child shall grow to enjoy the favor of God and demonstrate uncommon skills and gifts that touch the lives of people and they begin to ask: whose child is this? Little wonder parents are challenged to raise their children rightly, in unity of command; they shall become great assets to parents, community and nation. The righteous man walks in his integrity, his children are blessed after him. God has given each of us a unique talent to make us a success and affect our generation; only in him shall we discover it and reveal His glory here on earth. Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill at: weefreeministries@yahoo.com or P.O.Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.