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The best until the next comes around

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By Rev. Peter Bauer

The Wedding at Cana is probably my favorite New Testament Jesus story. After all, it’s the first thing we see Jesus do, it begins his public ministry. The story signifies a beginning, and it is framed within a celebratory event.

Weddings are usually memorable occasions. They can be highly choreographed. One wedding that I officiated was at the Gazebo at the old Ursuline Convent on the San Antonio River Walk. The family was Indian, and all the women wore beautiful silk Saris. The groom’s family was Scottish, and the men wore kilts. There was a chamber orchestra playing during the wedding and a blues band that was playing during the reception.

Another wedding that I officiated at occurred at the first church I served in rural Missouri. Everything went fine right on schedule until the power went out. The rest of the wedding literally occurred in a darkened sanctuary with the only light being by candlelight at the front of the altar.

Weddings signify a new beginning; a new life is emerging for two people who are now committing themselves to one another in a covenant of love and support. Weddings can also bring out the best and the worst in people. The best might include the old school friend who shows up with whom you had a previous falling out. But they come to support you because they love you and want the very best for you. The worst can be your uncle who gets very drunk and then spills a drink on your wedding dress while leering at one of the brides’ maids.

At weddings, the host family always want to show their best and yet in the process a lot of vulnerability gets revealed. Look at the movie “Father of The Bride,” with Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, and you see that portrayed very well.

Families at weddings do not want to be seen as anything less than perfect. They want to put their best presence forward. They want others to know that this occasion is important.  

During the first century, CE weddings were elaborate events. They went on for days. Host families were expected to host visitors, procure all the food, refreshments etc., that would be necessary to sustain a large group of people. Hosts were also under the burden of keeping everyone happy and satisfied.

One can appreciate how the host could be experiencing anxiety preparing for the wedding as being a stress inducing experience in and of itself.

The Wedding becomes a metaphor for describing the free and unmerited grace of God.

Contemporary Christianity, make that progressive Christianity, represent a variety of opinions and a myriad of different ways we live out the meaning of “the beloved community” within our midst.

So, what could the best till now really mean for us now?

In the movie, “Conclave,” Cardinal Benitez is heard to say, “The Church is not about the past; it is what we do next.”

I totally agree with this assessment. People will not be impressed with continual dialogue and debate regarding arcane church doctrine. But they will pay attention when hungry people are being feed, when homeless people are being housed. When support is given to those who lack affordable housing, to those who lack the ability to pay soaring healthcare bills.

Yes, Jesus may have said that “you will always have the poor with you,” but that doesn’t give you license to do absolutely nothing to relieve suffering and take the stance of “that’s the way God planned it” (Billy Preston).

Instead of living large, what would it mean if we lived responsibly?

The next few years are going to be challenging. Many of us will probably feel like we are taking a big step backwards, going back to address issues and to fight battles that we thought were long over.

What we must remember and advocate to others must be the immediate drive to secure one’s selfish needs at the cost of necessities for others will not lead to a happy life. Selfishness and avarice beget more selfishness and avarice.

More hatred and marginalization and outright contempt for those who don’t look like us, think like us and who potentially threaten our power base will only contribute to the diminishment and the shrinkage of our souls to the point of being soul-less.

“But you have saved the best till now.” It was a statement and affirmation of hope.

As followers of Jesus, we live in hope. We live and are committed to a new way of living, a new way of being manifested in the Kingdom of God.

Kindness, compassion, and generosity are never wasted actions. “Just as you have done to the least of these, my people, you have done unto me” (Matthew 25:30).

May we move forward always with the best that we have to offer ourselves, our church, our community, and our world.

May it be so.

Amen, Shalom, Salaam, Blessed Be

Rev. Peter E. Bauer is a United Church of Christ minister. He has been a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and Medium.Com. He currently serves as the Intentional Interim Minister of Touchstone Community Church (United Church of Christ) in Boerne.

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