One thing that does now make the city image a whole lot more vibrant and appealing to me is that the city is the location of a cosmic marriage, Christ is the bridegroom and we are the bride. As I’m sure many of you are aware I have just had the utter privilege of facilitating and conducting a wedding, for my son. We prayed and prayed for a sunny day, even though I did point out that other things like world peace, and healing were probably more important. The weather was rubbish, as the beautiful bride arrived the heavens simply opened, and yet she still looked transcendent.
However, the weather notwithstanding the day was simply glorious. To watch two people who clearly love each other was beautiful and then to witness their families and friends ensure that we have a great party whatever the weather, was exhilarating. Prior to this day I was pretty sure that the best days of my life were my own wedding day and also the birthdays of our three children. I now have a new day, a new contender, as I watched my son simply absolutely in love, and along with family and friends have such a great day.
So why was this day so special? Well it was a day of Covenant, a day of celebrating love being promised, given and received. It was also a day for a family banquet. A day when a very ordinary village hall in deepest West Wales was transformed, by flowers, decorations and of course by lots of people. Ultimately it was one really great party, and once Matt’s choice of live music got rocking, the whole place was dancing. Even 91 year old Grandpa’s on their walkers…as the picture I hope illustrates! I must admit when I’m dancing I often have a simple feeling of joy, as if somehow I was made to dance. Those watching my awkward flapping are forgiven that they may not have the same impression. But with water turned into wine, great music and absolute love for those around us, dancing is a deeply beautiful joyous thing.
Actually when you think about all these reasons why a wedding is so special you can see that these are all totally biblical images about our relationship with God. A God of complete covenant who longs to welcome us into his family. A God whose love transforms rainy days and sunny days, with flowers and acts of grace. A God who says that if we come to him there will be a party in heaven, all ending with a marriage here in a restored earth. A God who invites us all to a banquet where there is enough for everyone to share. A God who puts music and dancing into our hearts. There is no greater truth than to know that, ‘The joy of the Lord is our strength.’ For me Jesus’ first miracle makes so much more sense now, transforming stone water jars for ceremonial cleansing, into the wine of abundance flowing freely and clear. I began the day asking myself why on earth I bought so much alcohol. Then as the day progressed I began to panic that there wasn't enough. Finally there was the satisfaction of person after person simply wanting to tell me how happy they were and how much they'd enjoyed this Wild Wet West Wales version of a Wedding, whilst enjoying a drink and savouring a Pizza. If I'd have been given a £1 for every time someone said ‘I'm not religious, but.....today has been absolutely wonderful,’ then maybe I could afford to throw a party every week! (Over indulgence every week, is clearly not a good idea!)
You see the travesty of this, ‘I’m not religious’ comment, is that we've allowed the world to believe that Jesus's friends are actually the friends of Pharisees not the friends of 'tax collectors' and 'sinners.’ Jesus was attacked as a friend of gluttons, even though he did point out that it was the sick who needed a doctor! And yet we have made our following of him into a seemingly moral crusade, stripped of joy and love. We’ve allowed ourselves to get caught up in protecting some fake standard of morality where we choose who is invited to the feast, and we keep the riff raff out. We were called to be lovers, lovers of God for his abundant goodness and grace and lovers of all those he places around us. After all the one who allows us to have a beautiful Wild Wet West Wales Wedding, is also the exact same God, who freely gave his life so that riff raff like you and me could discover the joy of being loved like a bride and dancing like a Gangly Grooms father and Grandfather!
I pray that there may be days for you of sheer joy either to look back to, or look forward to. And I pray as well that you may sense the deep joy that God has for you here and now. After all his love for you flows so deep that he’s planning on transforming a city to make it a place filled with a bride fit to welcome home her lover.
Stephen
