I don’t know about you, but I often feel like God is a billion miles away.

Maybe to feel close to him, I should read the Bible more (or better?); I should pray more (or better?). Or maybe I need to slow down more (or better?). I mean, what do I need to do to get God’s attention? Send him an invitation? That is awfully hard to do for a bloodless and uninterested cosmic force. A billion miles away.

But then, Jesus was invited to a wedding at Cana. He could’ve RSVP-ed his regrets - “No thank you, messy humans. There will be far too much drinking and kissing. Ick!” But that’s not what he did. He showed up–with his Mom and a whole bunch of friends–ready for a party! A days-long, Middle Eastern party! Loud music, flavorful foods, bright colors, bells, toasts–and lots of clinking of glasses to make the bride and groom kiss! So much drinking. So much kissing.

And Jesus was right there with them. Just a guest. Another person at a table. Just eating, drinking, laughing and clinking his glass. And to remove all doubt about whether he approved of all this daily, earthy, human preparation, bustle and joy–whether he was concerned with their sudden stresses (“Oh my gosh. We’re out of wine!!)–he quietly created more (and better!) wine than you and I have ever seen at one event. So much wine. Because he was there. And because he loved their human moments. Not a sterile, distant, “cosmic” love, but a full blooded, full throated, laugh-and-cry-out-loud love. Because he was there, at a wedding–and he, his Mom, his friends, you and I, had run out of wine. And he had more glass-clinking to do!

This is his first miracle that “showed his glory.” His glory is to be in it with us. He is at our weddings, in our work, in our worries. He feels for our stresses, big and little. And whether we remember to call on him, he’s already with us. He is “God with us”.

I see him at the table, with his arm around his mother, listening to another wedding toast, laughing at the story that makes the groom blush. He is with me now, whether I feel it or not, even while I edit this piece. I’m not watched over from a billion miles away by a faceless, impassive cosmic power. I’m accompanied all the time by Jesus - who laughs and clinks his glass to make the bride and groom kiss.

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