DIOCESAN SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR, REV STEVE NILAND,
My Cup Runneth Over: The theme for the September meeting of National Secretariat was taken from Psalm 23, verses 5 & 6: 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
These verses suggest to me an abundance of hospitality at the banquet of the LORD.
In ancient Near-Eastern culture, at a banquet it was customary to anoint a person with fragrant oil. Hosts were also expected to protect their guests at all costs. God offers the protection of a host even when enemies surround us. In the final scene of this psalm, we see that believers will dwell with the LORD. GOD, the perfect shepherd and host, promises to guide and help us through life to bring us into his house forever.
The passage from John’s gospel which describes the miracle of changing water into wine is very familiar to us, and in verse 11 we are told that
11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Jesus was on a mission to save the world – the greatest mission in the history of humankind. Yet, He took time out to attend a wedding and take part in its festivities lasting for a whole week. Many of us have succumbed to the temptation of not taking time out from our important work duties for social occasions – and I was very challenged while writing this! But what if these social activities were a part of our mission? Jesus valued wedding festivities because they involved people – and Jesus came to be with people. Our mission can often be accomplished by bringing Jesus into joyous times of celebration with others – it’s all about balance.
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