DEEPENING HORIZONS

(To gain a further understanding of the meditation that follows, a reading of the suggested scriptures will be most helpful. The Editorial Notes at the end of the post may prove to be beneficial)

Suggested Scripture: John 2: 1 – 11. ” Jesus Changes Water
to Wine”

TEXT : John 2:9 The master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. (1)

Any approach to Scripture, particularly the scriptures of the New Testament, brings a definite challenge. One must rescue the Scriptures from the mists of antiquity and permit them to be contemporary. By doing so, the Good News of the transforming Gospel comes to life in the present world, through human personalities.The intensity of the challenge depends upon our willingness to engage our imaginations to supplement our critical faculties, and find a fuller response to the question: What Is Truth?”The present Christian milieu is not responding to some ecclesiastical stained-glass representation of the Christ.It is Jesus, our contemporary who must be put forward on our stage of history. Today, Capitalism seeks to shrink societies into smothering cells where opportunities exist just for a few. One’s particular worth depends, not on what makes an individual unique in his or her personality, but what she/he can mass produce that is more important than anything else. It is time to halt the shrinkage and the exclusivity and deepen our horizons to the limits of God’s Kingdom where everybody is a somebody, and God is Lord of all!

I invite you now to relive one such an occasion where a humble servant comes to exult in the mystery of being set free from limitations and fear. Also, his experience allows him to become a messenger to invite still others to partake of the Wine Of New Life.
Imagine him telling his story!

I am Ruben Ben Hadad, a hired servant in the house of Suzanna. I am the eldest child of a peasant woman, who became a widow at an early age. All these years I have the responsibility of caring for my mother who has a severe disability. Because of this circumstance, I know little of the freedoms and the excitements of childhood.There was neither time nor money available for me to go to school. My waking hours were spent searching for bread for my brother, my sister, my mother and me.
I came to work here at Suzanna’s house as an assistant steward one year, six months, two weeks and three days ago. I keep a strict account of every minute I have to be in this place.
Suzanna is kind enough towards me. It is the chief steward who shows an extreme dislike of me. He is a bully who has forgotten his humble beginnings, and his not so meteor-like ascent to his present position. He is always finding some reason to put me down and to flog me at the slightest of pretense.
I so wish I could escape. I often look towards the horizon as I wend my way home, following a hard day’s work here.I dream of some far away place where perhaps life might be more gentle. I try to imagine a situation where a fellow might count for something, and his dreams have a hope of survival. Is there anywhere on earth where justice awaits everyone, and there is unconditional love, and peace, and contentment for all?

The chief steward is beside himself these days! He is putting the finishing touches on the celebration plans for the mistress’ son’s wedding. Yesterday the steward flogged me mercilessly after accusing me of misplacing one of the six clay water jars. At his insistence, I have been into the cellar four times in the last three days checking on the wineskins. I tell you, if anything untoward happens at this event, he will kill me! Ah, it’s time to walk by the sea again and to look out towards the horizon.

There now! Preparations are complete, and the guests are already arriving.The tiny hawkish eyes of the chief steward leer into every corner of the banquet hall.

” Ruben Ben Hadad ! you thieving, no good scoundrel.Where are you? Get here, this instant! You have neglected to put wine on the head table. I will have your hide for this! ” His growling tones are audible in spite of his intense effort to hide them behind his fake smile, from that corner of his mouth reserved for the arriving guests. I race down the stairs to the wine cellar! Oh, horror of all horrors, not one more full wineskin remaining! Should I head for the horizon? I pondered.

Crushed, I made my way back to the kitchen. Then. I saw Him! And everything I ever dreamt might be possible beyond the horizon, suddenly flooded my being! I was looking into the eyes of Jesus of Nazareth. It seemed to me that someone had opened the doors to Suzanna’s house, and Heaven’s glory was touching everything.
I took notice when His gaze slowly turned towards the chief steward. There was a perceived glint of light in His eyes as he looked again at me.
” Go and fill one of those stone jars with water.” He suggested. For a mini-second, the obvious thought of protest flashed into my mind. But courage and a feeling of reckless liberty soon made hesitation vanish. I was dancing inside as I obeyed the next suggestion from Jesus. “Now bring some of THIS wine to the Chief .”

With a look of complete disdain, the chief steward took the goblet from my hands and began to drink. His beady eyes shot open wide. ” Where did you get this”: he growled towards me .”, It’s the best wine I have ever tasted.” “From my Friend there, “I said pointing in Jesus’ direction. “I must inform you, sir; I won’t be reporting for work tomorrow, My friend has invited me to follow Him. I gladly accept His invitation. Tomorrow  morning you and Suzanna will have to find another helper.” A feeling of complete exhilaration was mine as I danced into the night with Jesus and His other friends. I will remember forever how Jesus chose me to help Him perform His first Miracle.

Hymn:      I Can Hear My Saviour Calling

https://youtu.be/e9FqFC0WA-o

 

 

PRAYER TO FOLLOW THIS MEDITATION

Lord, stand beside us as we look out towards the horizons of our lives.Challenge us if our horizons form prison walls, shutting us in with restrictive views of what we could accomplish, walking forward with You. Horizons realistically viewed keep receding. And as long as You are with us, we will encounter no overpowering problem, nor will there be any crisis that will send us into the cellar looking for humanly made solutions.Give to us the faith that will let us know that You always act to protect our dignity and our self-worth, not to promote self-aggrandizement, but instead so that the glory of our God is in evidence against every force that would destroy it
Keep us on the tip-toe of expectancy, so that we too will help Him make others aware of the future wonder awaiting them.

EDITORIAL NOTES
1. Here and throughout the text of this meditation, the quotations from the Holy Bible are from the New International Translation, Unless otherwise noted in the text.

Photo: Fishing Schooner Arriving Grand Bank, Newfoundland. Courtesy of Wm. Tibbo, Grand Bank