Choicest Wine

And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,
without knowing where it came from
— although the servers who had drawn the water knew —,
the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,
“Everyone serves good wine first,
and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee
and so revealed his glory,
and his disciples began to believe in him.
—John 2:1-11

The wedding guests call out for more,
but all the jars are dry.
There's nothing left to give, O Lord:
I have run out of wine.

They beat the table like a drum,
and what am I to do?
But still your hour has not yet come—
What's this to do with you?

For at your wedding supper, Lord,
the wine will not run out
but flow on from an endless store
'til every thirst is drowned.

And endless feast of endless days
where every plate is full
and every song is thanks and praise
that God is bountiful.

But now you tell me, Fill the jars.
It's water, even so.
The feast's already gone so far—
Perhaps no one will know.

Yet we are given choicest wine—
You kept it until now
to fill the cups with joy divine:
O Savior, pour it out!

Print about the Wedding at Cana. Made at the end of the 16th century. Preserved in the Ghent University Library.[40] By Unknown author – Ghent University Library, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=94525555

Temple

Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,
as well as the money changers seated there.
He made a whip out of cords
and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,
and spilled the coins of the money changers
and overturned their tables,
and to those who sold doves he said,
“Take these out of here,
and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”
John 2:13-25

“Come,” you say; “remove your sandals:
Here you stand on holy ground.”
Here, where every flock has trampled?
Here, where all my deals go down?

Here within your tabernacle
I have built my marketplace,
paved it o'er with dimes and nickels,
veiled the image of your face.

I have feasted in your temple—
your own dwelling, set apart—
gorged myself before my idols.
Purge the altar in my heart.

Turn away the grinning merchants;
claim the dreams they count in coins.
Then forgive how I have worshipped
at the table of their joys.

Drive away the sheep and cattle
shod in silver, hormed in gold,
easy off'rings, prayers I prattle,
grace and blessing bought and sold.

Cleanse my heart to be your dwelling
where you only are adored.
Then, when time destroys this temple,
raise it up again, O Lord.

11th century unknown painters – Gospelbook of Matilda – The Cleansing of the Temple – WGA15960 By Unknown Miniaturist, Italian (active late 11th century) – Web Gallery of Art: Image Info about artwork, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15884839

No More Wine

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,
and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran short,
the mother of Jesus said to him,
“They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her,
“Woman, how does your concern affect me?
My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servers,
“Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,
each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told them,
“Fill the jars with water.”
So they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them,
“Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”
So they took it.
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,
without knowing where it came from
— although the servers who had drawn the water knew —,
the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,
“Everyone serves good wine first,
and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee
and so revealed his glory,
and his disciples began to believe in him.
John 2:1-11

My feasting has gone sour,
for there is no more wine,
and though I know 'tis not your hour,
O Jesus, it is mine.

My jars have all run dry:
There's nothing left for you,
but if you tell me, I will try
what you would have me do.

The water of my well—
Can you accept it, Lord?
For this is all I have to fill
the jars that must be poured.

So then I bring to you
what cannot be enough:
Can even mercy now make do
with what I have, for love?

From water into wine
the distance is so great
unless it travels through the vine—
then take it, Christ, I pray!

And make what I have, yours.
(Your hands first held it fast.)
Make wine where only water pours
and bring the best out last.