Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Jan. 16, 2022 (Epiphany 2C)

First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5

In Sunday’s first reading, the people have returned from exile to Jerusalem, site of Mount Zion where the temple had stood. Now the joyous celebration of return is over now, and the people recognize that a long, hard time of rebuilding lies ahead.

“I will not keep silent … I will not rest,” pledges the prophet, promising to continue calling on God’s help until the temple and the city are rebuilt. God delights in the people and the land, the prophet says. like a bridegroom and will bring the people joy. Then, in Sunday’s Gospel we will hear another story of God blessing a new marriage – in a wedding feast at Cana.

Psalm: Psalm 36:5-10

We drop into the middle of Psalm 36 to hear the Psalmist celebrating God’s love. These trusting verses compare God’s faithful righteousness to the lasting, immovable strength of the mountains and the deep seas. God’s love is so broad that it extends to all humanity and to all animal life, we sing. God gives us shelter, abundant food and drink. God’s priceless love shows us a perfect model that can serve us well as we, in our small, imperfect ways, seek to build good relationships in our lives.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

The Christian community at Corinth, in Greece, probably consisted of fewer than 100 people, about the size of an average Episcopal church; but it had plenty of issues with differences of opinion, arguments and even cliques that called for Paul’s pastoral touch in this letter sent to them from far away. Through the rest of the Sundays after Epiphany we will read from three particularly beautiful chapters in this letter. This Sunday and next week we’ll hear Paul’s poetic thoughts about the people of God as Christ’s body, with each member of the church enjoying certain gifts and being responsible for particular duties, much as each part of our bodies has its own function.

Gospel: John 2:1-11


The miracle of water turned into wine at the wedding feast at Cana is surely one of the most beloved of the Gospel stories. But why do we hear it during Epiphany? As we go through the season, we will hear a series of “epiphanies” in which Jesus is revealed to the people of the world. Here, called on to sustain the joy of the wedding party by providing new wine, Jesus objects at first that it is not yet “his time.” But his mother won’t take no for an answer, and his newly gathered disciples are amazed at his glory and believe in him.

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Jan. 20, 2019

First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5

As we continue discovering Jesus during our Epiphany journey, this Sunday’s Gospel gives us John’s account of Jesus’ first miracle, changing water into wine for the wedding feast at Cana.

In Sunday’s first reading we are nearing the end of Isaiah’s great book of prophecy. The people’s long exile is over. They have returned to Jerusalem, to Mount Zion, where the ruins of the first temple lie in rubble. The celebration of return is over now, and the people recognize that a long, hard time of rebuilding lies ahead. “I will not keep silent … I will not rest,” proclaims the prophet. He will call unceasingly on God’s help until the temple and the city are rebuilt. In words that set the scene for the Gospel’s wedding feast, Isaiah personifies Zion and the people as a bride and groom united in joy.

Psalm: Psalm 36:5-10

Sunday’s Psalm starts in the middle, at verse 5, just as its narrative takes a sharp turn. The first verses were discouraging: The Psalmist sung in lament of being surrounded by wicked and deceitful people who fear neither God nor evil. But we come in just as the song turns from sadness to chords of hope. In contrast with human wickedness, we sing, God showers us with amazing grace and abundant love. God’s protection and faithfulness come to us all, in that day and in this day.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

We will spend the remaining Sundays after Epiphany in a close reading in three particularly beautiful chapters in Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Today and next week we’ll hear Paul’s discourse about the people of God as Christ’s body, with each member of the church enjoying certain gifts and being responsible for particular duties, much as each part of one’s body has its own function. This little Greek community probably consisted of fewer than 100 people; but that small group had plenty of problems with cliques, differences of opinion, and arguments. In this pastoral letter written from far away, Paul reminds the congregation that every member is blessed with God’s grace; every member has a role in bringing the good news of Jesus to the world.

Gospel: John 2:1-11

In the first chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus has met John the Baptist, been baptized, and assembled his twelve apostles. Now they go out into the world, and their first stop is at a lively wedding feast, where John paints a picture of a gathering in which the wine flowed so freely that the host’s supplies ran dry. When Jesus’ mother calls on him to save the situation, he complies somewhat grudgingly, revealing new wine that’s much better than the old. There’s plenty of symbolism to work with here, but consider this point of view: Jesus’ very first miracle, according to John, occurs at a social event of feast and fellowship, where he and his disciples enjoy good food and good drink with family and friends.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Jan. 17, 2016

First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5

Isaiah’s book of prophecy nears its end, and the prophet shouts in exultation as Jerusalem – the new Zion – and a new Temple emerge out of the ashes of the old. The people have returned from exile, and God’s glory breaks out like a glorious dawn. The new city will vindicate Jerusalem and its people as the city of God, God’s beloved bride in a marriage of joy and delight. Ideas of love and relationship form a theme that unites today’s readings, culminating in John’s wedding feast at Cana.

Psalm 36:5-10

The Psalmist celebrates God’s love, comparing God’s faithful righteousness to the lasting, immovable strength of the mountains and the deep seas. God’s love is so broad that it extends to all humanity and to all animal life. God gives us shelter, abundant food and drink. God’s priceless love shows us a perfect model that can serve us well as we, in our small, imperfect ways, seek to build good relationships in our lives.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

In a beautiful metaphor for family life – or parish life – Paul reminds the people of Corinth that we all receive gifts through the Holy Spirit. Those spiritual gifts are not all the same, and that is the point: Together the people of God come together in a beautiful chorus, and this is the result when each of us uses our particular gift as best we can, working together through the Spirit for the common good.

Gospel: John 2:1-11

The miracle of water turned into wine at the wedding feast at Cana is surely one of the most beloved of the Gospel stories. But why do we hear it during Epiphany? As we go through the season, we will hear a series of “epiphanies” in which Jesus is revealed to the people of the world. Here, called on to sustain the joy of the wedding party by providing new wine, Jesus objects at first that it is not yet “his time.” But his mother won’t take no for an answer, and his newly gathered disciples are amazed at his glory and believe in him.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013.

First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5
Israel has returned from exile to Jerusalem, to Mount Zion, site of the temple. But the joyous celebration of return is over now, and the people recognize that a long, hard time of rebuilding lies ahead. “I will not keep silent … I will not rest,” pledges the prophet, promising to continue calling on God’s help until the temple and the city are rebuilt. God delights in the people and the land like a bridegroom and will bring the people joy. Listen for another story of God blessing a new marriage in today’s Gospel.

Psalm 36:5-10
The Psalm picks up in the middle of a song, and to this point its narrative has been discouraging. Just before today’s verses, the Psalmist – perhaps like Isaiah looking at the hard work to be done on Mount Zion – has sung of being surrounded by wicked and deceitful people who fear neither God nor evil. But now the song turns to chords of hope. In contrast to human wickedness, God showers us with amazing grace and abundant love. God’s protection and faithfulness come to us all, in that day and in this day.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
The Christian community at Corinth, in Greece, probably consisted of fewer than 100 people, about the size of an average Episcopal church; but it had plenty of issues with differences of opinion, arguments and even cliques. In this pastoral letter sent to them from far away, Paul reminds the congregation that every member is blessed with God’s grace; every member has a role in bringing the good news of Jesus to the world.

Gospel: John 2:1-11
John paints a lovely picture of Jesus at a wedding feast, where the wine is flowing so freely that the host’s supplies soon run dry. When his mother calls him to save the situation, he complies, revealing new wine that’s even better than the old. There’s plenty of symbolism to work with here, but I like the underlying story: Jesus’s first miracle, according to John, occurs at a social event of table fellowship, enjoying good food and good drink with family and friends.