In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of the wedding at Cana.  We hear that Jesus’ mother, Mary, was at the wedding.  In fact, the writer of John’s Gospel story tells us this detail before he tells us that Jesus and the disciples were there. 

 Careful reading and hearing of this story, which is only found in John’s Gospel, leads to some interesting observations and questions.  Where was Joseph?  Had he died by the time of this story?  Mary does not come across in this story as a passive, gentle person.  In fact, she has enough authority and enough to clout at this particular gathering that she is comfortable in giving orders to someone else’s servants.  She says to them: “Do whatever he tells you” confident that Jesus would step up and address the shortage of wine. 

 Let’s listen to this story again for it is not so different from the family dynamics present at weddings today. 
Mary is there as are Jesus and the disciples he has called thus far, which would be just four…Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip and Nathaniel.  The hosts run out of wine.  Mary, observes this, walks over to Jesus and the guys and notes the wine shortage. Jesus is short with his mother in his reply.  He is clearly not ready to act.  He’s in no mood for miracle making.  He’d rather just enjoy the party with his friends.  And he tells her so, saying “My hour has not yet come”. 

 So, is Mary deterred by this?  Not at all!  I’m certain that none of you ever talked back to your own parents or had children who talk back to you, right?  But on the occasion or two I tried talking back to my mother about something she wanted me to do, she would just give me “the look” and walk away, knowing full well that I would do what she’d asked, despite my protests.

 It’s entirely possible, then, that this is exactly what transpired between Mary and Jesus.  Because in the very next verse, Mary is ordering the servants to do as Jesus tells them.  Jesus who has just told his mama he’s not getting involved.  Jesus who is basically saying he’s not ready for this yet. 
But Mary knows better.  Mother knows best. 

 And so, those six stone jars, which were large enough to hold water to purify the entire assembly, are suddenly filled with the finest wine.
 You see, Mary is not content that Jesus remain in the background.  She moves ahead in her parental, godly capacity to know him better than he knows himself.  At this moment in their lives, Mary the mother is the better judge of the appropriate time for Jesus to act. 
 By what authority could she do this, we might ask, because after all, this is Jesus the Christ.  One way to interpret her actions is that God was working through her to affect Jesus’ willingness to begin his mission.  She serves as God’s motivational instrument. 
 How many of you, how many of us, have had a “Mary” in our lives?  Maybe more than one?  Can you name them?  Those are the people who know you well enough to remind you, to push you, into doing that to which you have been called.  Sometimes those people are your own mothers, sometimes not.  Sometimes, often times in my life, those people have been friends.  They have been people who have watched me waffle, who have witnessed my waver, who have sensed my pause and have said: “Just do it”.  Just go to seminary.  Just move to Northwest Ohio.  Just be a pastor.  Or, perhaps they’ve said to me, to us, “Just give up the grudge”, “Just forgive”. 
 On Thursday one of those people in my life died.  We have prayed for my friend and sister in Christ, Amy Fauquet, ever since my arrival here.  Amy and I met as we entered seminary and the candidacy process at the same time and we clicked.  We were like two peas in a pod and enjoyed a fun filled, blessed friendship for the five a half years since.  And Amy was a “Mary” to me.  She might listen to me complain or hear my uncertainties and she would always speak the truth in love to me that pulled me back to my call.  She was God’s motivational instrument n my life on many occasions.  After a three and a half year battle with cancer,  we will celebrate Amy’s life at the congregation she served as pastor, Good Shepherd in Springfield, Ohio. 
 My words to you, to us today, then are this.  Look for the Marys in your life and listen to them.  They will not always be women, either, by the way.  But listen to the people who are speaking the word of the Lord to you, who are serving as God’s motivational instruments.  Discern what they are telling you. 
 Then, pay attention to the times when you are called to be Mary.  This doesn’t mean that we are called to go around telling everyone else what to do, but it does mean that when the Spirit calls us to speak to another, we do so and then we let it go.  You’ll note that Mary didn’t micromanage Jesus’ miracle.  She stepped aside and let Jesus perform his first miracle, thus offering the first clue to those gathered and to us as we hear again this story, of his identity as messiah. 
 And finally, know that when it seems as though we have run out of wine, when the jars are empty and we don’t know what to do, Jesus is standing there with us.  He who is able to do more than we can understand or comprehend has saved the very best wine for last.  It is the wine Amy is drinking even now.  It is the heavenly banquet, of which we experience only a foretaste when we gather around this table.  It is the miracle of eternal life with Christ.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.