By the Rev. Micah Krey
Revised Common Lectionary reflection for the Second Sunday after Epiphany, Year C
January 19, 2025
Key verse: “Everyone serves the good wine first… but you have kept the good wine until now.” – John 2:10
Reflection Body:
The wedding at Cana, where Jesus turns water into wine, is more than a miraculous moment—it’s a sign of abundance and God’s grace overflowing. In John’s Gospel, this is the first of Jesus’ “signs,” revealing God’s transformative power and the lavishness of God’s love. When paired with Paul’s exploration of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians, these texts invite us to reflect on stewardship as a response to God’s abundant grace.
At Cana, Jesus turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. Stewardship often begins with the ordinary—the water jars of our lives. We may think our time, talents, or resources are insufficient, but God transforms these offerings into something extraordinary for the sake of the kingdom. Stewardship, then, is not about scarcity but abundance, trusting that God can use what we have to create something new and beautiful.
Paul reminds us that spiritual gifts are given for the common good. Each of us is uniquely equipped to serve God and others, not out of obligation but out of joy and gratitude for God’s gifts. This is stewardship in action—recognizing and using our gifts, both spiritual and material, for the benefit of the community. Just as the wine at Cana flowed freely, so too should our lives flow with generosity and service.
Preaching Possibility: What are the ordinary things that we offer that God makes extraordinary? As preachers, we want to be careful about not belittling any of these gifts that we offer. But we also don’t want to give any reason to suggest that there is any gift that is too little. Water is ordinary and yet also one of the most necessary elements of life. Jars are ordinary and yet they were a building block of civilization to settle, travel, and trade. Weddings are common and yet they are a complex joining of communities and partnerships. God takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary.
These texts also highlight the importance of community. The wedding feast is a communal celebration, and Paul’s letter underscores that spiritual gifts are meant to build up the body of Christ. Stewardship is not an individual endeavor but a communal one. It calls us to participate fully in the life of the church, offering our gifts to strengthen and sustain the community.
As we move through the season of Epiphany, these readings remind us that God’s abundance is not just for us individually but for the world. When we steward our gifts faithfully, we become participants in God’s ongoing work of transformation and grace.
Preaching Possibility: In so many of the miracles of Jesus, they also take place in community. What is the importance of our stewardship taking place in community? While we don’t want to show off or shame others, is there something about public displays of stewardship, generosity, and abundance that is important for the Good News to be shared?
In Worship:
Highlight the themes of abundance and spiritual gifts through a visual display. Place jars or pitchers at the altar to symbolize the vessels at Cana and invite congregants to consider what “water” they might offer for God to transform. Incorporate hymns like “Come, Join the Dance of Trinity” or “All Are Welcome” to emphasize community and gifts. During the prayers of intercession, lift up the variety of gifts within the congregation, asking for guidance in using them for the common good. If you wanted, you could have congregation members write these gifts and place them in the jars and pull them out and read them during the prayers or at the offering. Include a commissioning moment at the end of the service, blessing individuals or groups who serve the church and community.
Worship with Youth:
Explore ways to transform something ordinary into something extraordinary, mirroring Jesus turning water into wine. Provide everyday objects (e.g., paper, string, empty jars) and ask them to create something meaningful or helpful for someone in their lives. For instance, a jar could become a prayer jar, or paper could be folded into notes of encouragement. Afterward, discuss how their creations reflect God’s ability to take what we offer—no matter how simple—and use it for something greater. Tie this to their spiritual gifts by asking how they can “transform” their talents into ways of serving their community.
Worship with Children:
Begin by bringing a puzzle with large, colorful pieces. Show the children a few pieces and ask, “What do you think these are for? Can we make something with just one piece?” Then, begin assembling the puzzle together, explaining that each piece is important and has a special place.
Connect this to Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 12 about how God gives each of us different gifts, just like the pieces of a puzzle. Say, “Each piece is different, but when we put them together, they make something amazing—just like all of us when we use our gifts!”
Invite the children to share something they are good at or enjoy, and affirm how their unique gifts help the whole church and community. Finish with a prayer: “Thank you, God, for making each of us special. Help us use our gifts to love and help others.”
Previous reflections for Epiphany 2C:
2019 – Gifts we have been given for the common good
2016 – Steadfast
2013 – Special gifts and the party that never ends
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