When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 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.
John 2:3-7
Have you ever tried to move a case of water bottles? I have a really hard time carrying one more than a few yards. Yet a package of 40 bottles only holds about 5 gallons of water. And the bottles themselves are made of lightweight plastic.
When the wine ran out at the wedding in Cana, Jesus instructed the servers to fill the jars with water…not plastic jars, but stone jars. Holding 20-30 gallons each. And they filled six of them. To the brim.
Can you imagine how heavy those were to move? I bet I’d be grumbling under my breath the whole time (if I even agreed to do it in the first place.) After all, who gave this Guest the right to ask anything of us? And didn’t he hear, we ran out of WINE, not water?!
I don’t know if those servants obeyed because they were obliged to do as they were told, or because they knew and trusted Mary, or because they were just plain curious to see what Jesus would do. But imagine their delight when Jesus rewarded their efforts in a way that surpassed all expectations!
Going out to pray on the sidewalk can be a heavy task…especially when it’s cold, or raining, or passersby are hostile. And sometimes it feels like what we’re doing is never going to solve the problem at hand. But we should listen to Mary when she says, “Do whatever He tells you.” In time, we too will be thrilled to receive the reward that is beyond all our hopes!
-Jen
SIDEWALK REPORTS
7-9 AM +++ Barbara and Richard
Richard, Bill and I noticed the new thing. Daylight accompanied us as we arrived!
Barbara
Another new thing happened. A “volunteer escort” stepped out of the PP front doors. She put her coffee mug on the windowsill and assumed a guard position. She greeted and opened the door for the pregnant women. “How old fashioned,” I thought. Early in my lifetime, women and children received the first places in line to get into the life boats.
Today the women and children are the life boats.
One young man accepted our new help-for-women handout. His girlfriend is pregnant. They are no longer together. I showed him the contact numbers. He thought this could work. “She said she needed someone to talk to.” It was late. He had to leave.
Mark arrived and the next shift arrived.
Thank you, Beloved Father, for our chance to take on the behemoth, foul-breathed abortion industry, one person at a time. Our Pittsburgh 40 Days for Life team makes my heart sing.
Peace.
9-11 AM +++ Michael, Kathy, and Mark
“I’m not ready to have another.” This was the answer given to me by a woman having an abortion today. She accepted resources and conversed with me five or so minutes, but entered PP anyway.
Kathy
With me today were Mark, Michael, and Theresa. A few positive remarks for our presence there. A PP escort was also there until 10:30 opening the door for clients.
11 AM-1 PM +++ Katie and Elsie
When I arrived on the sidewalk I was greeted by a Happy Birthday serenade by a group of pray-ers who had been tipped off by a certain Elsie. But unfortunately many children won’t ever get a single birthday, and many mothers will remember this date for the rest of their lives with sorrow. It has always struck me as odd when abortion supporters call us “pro-birth”, as if that’s some kind of insult. Of course we support birth; birth is a joyful event, not as biologically consequential as fertilization of course, as it’s merely a change in location, a new method of receiving our oxygen supply, but an exciting milestone nonetheless. Everyone celebrates not only when a baby is born, but the anniversary of that occasion for everyone they love, for the rest of their lives. Why would you want to deny that joy to a child, OR to his/her mother? We define ourselves, sometimes too much, by the number of years that have elapsed since the day of our birth. It’s the date we write on forms, and one of the sets of numbers that will be on our headstones. It’s interesting that they’re by default calling themselves “anti-birth”, “anti-birthday”, and they don’t see how hopeless and nihilistic that is. If you have anyone in your life who supports abortion, maybe try taking the opportunity of their birthday to invite them to reflect (because everyone gets a little more contemplative on their birthdays) not just on their own value, but on our shared value as members of one 8-billion-member family. (As someone I used to know used to say, “You’re special, just like everyone else.”) Thank you to Holy Sepulcher and St. Killian’s parishes for standing vigil with us on this busy Lenten Friday.
Katie
1-3 PM +++ Elaine and Donna
Joining Elaine and I on the sidewalk today were: Rick, Bob & Gretchen from Holy Sepulcher, Bernadette, Theresa, Frank & Bob from St. Matthew Parish and Lisa came for a little bit too. Thank you all for being with us in prayer for the unborn. It was warm and there were a lot of people out and about. Unfortunately PP was busy too. There was a gay pride protest that passed and yelled obscenities and jeered. One gentlemen drove up and felt compelled to call us fascists. I politely told him he had us confused with the other side. We prayed Father forgive them for they know not what they do. And that is our prayer for all who work at PP and all who enter for an abortion. One kind gentleman came by and made a point to tell me that he was happy to see us. I said thank you and God bless you. God always gives us some positive affirmation because we know He is with us in this battle for life. Blessings For Life
Donna
3-5 PM +++ Val and Mike
5-7 PM +++ Pat and Bill
Beautiful commentary
Thanks
Thank you for the beautiful reflection, Jen! Very encouraging!