Where
Do I Find It?
Based on John 2:1-12: Turning Water into Wine
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So “Where Do I Find It?” Where do
I find the knowledge that will save the world, save the nation,
save me? The quest is not a small one. Literally the fate of this
world as we know it and the fate of ourselves hangs on how we answer
that question. Complicating the answer even more is the idea that
the “It” we search to answer may be more of a process
than a product.
Why is finding that process so important? Take, for example, three
topics: Global Warming, Osama Bin Laden, the War in Iraq. One can
search the Word, the Concordance, and New Search and find nothing.
So how do I find answers? The story of Jesus turning water into
wine gives us insight into that question. The water, outside the
celebration, was for ceremonial washing. Wine is for drinking.
The Lord wants us to move from knowledge to wisdom – from
water to wine. Water pictures truth in the external church (AE 3763).
Wine, in this context, pictures the truth in the internal church
(AE 376). That truth in the internal church moves literally to the
heart of the matter – love towards the neighbor and good of
faith (AC 6377). The story pictures just what Solomon asked for
– an understanding heart.
Knowing a lot of stuff (Understanding) and having good judgment
(Wisdom) are two different things. A rote, unpracticed knowledge
of innumerable facts avails us little. One could and can, for example,
memorize all the scripture but fail to see or to practice the Soul
within the words. The Pharisees were such individuals. However,
that Soul within the words is where your journey must lead and only
you can journey there.
For example, how do you handle two simple facts? Fact one: Arguably
the most successful youth group today is not ANC or BAC. It is al-Qaeda.
Fact two: You cannot out-hate a terrorist. How do you find answers
to those challenges? Or how do you find the answers to the challenges
of a parole officer as written in, “The Real Consequences
of Justice.” ( Frederic Reamer writing in “This I Believe,”
Henry Holt and Co., N.Y. 2007.)
So how do you find it? How do I cooperate with the Lord to turn
water into wine? How do I gain the wisdom of Solomon? First, one
must surrender the idea that they have all the answers. Note what
Solomon did NOT ask for – long life, wealth, the life of his
enemies. Restated, he did not ask for longevity, money, or revenge.
He came to the Lord in humility – as a child – and asked
for the wisdom to lead a great people. One of the most powerful
kings on earth stately simply, “Lord, I do not even know how
to go out or come in.”
Second, one must approach the Word of God. Approaching it does not
mean a rote, unpracticed knowledge of innumerable facts. It is finding
and living the Soul within the words. That takes digging, kicking
and ferreting – a fermentation process – moving beyond
the ink. The Lord is the Word made flesh. He walked the answers
that we need. Once you find it and it speaks to you, your life will
never be the same.
The third way to find it is the most intensely practical for the
congregation gathered here today. Take your education seriously.
As one famous educator stated, “Fight for your education like
you are fighting for your life – because you are.” “Good
enough” is not “good enough.” Mediocre is mediocre.
One cannot make wine without water. The Lord does not give a free
pass. To give up knowledge for true wisdom you have to possess the
knowledge. This Charter Day service is held in the Cathedral to
represent that approach, one that marries natural knowledge with
spiritual knowledge.
So come to your New Church education for that knowledge. Leave each
class, each semester, each year, and graduation with wisdom. Solomon,
king-of-kings, knew how significant that was. Do you?
That wisdom is critical. We need it. You are the future. One author
recently pointed out that we live in 9/11 world and it is time for
a dialog to develop about a 9/12 world. You are called to be part
of that 9/12 dialog, to be cumulatively the Class of 9/12.
The New Church has much to offer that conversation. It needs messengers
to shape and convey that message. Stated differently, you have something
to offer – a part of the Soul of the Word.
So go forth seeking to become the humble embodiment of wisdom, searching
for truth of the internal church, for judgment. Cooperate with God
in turning water into wine and you will blessed. DLW 286 speaks
of that blessing: “The embodiment of wisdom is human, and
because a person is the embodiment of wisdom, that person is also
the embodiment of love, mercy, forgiveness.”
With wisdom, you come to see that the Word of God does have the
answers – answers of love, mercy and forgiveness. Go find
it. God will bless that journey. “God gave Solomon wisdom
and exceedingly great understanding and generosity of heart like
the sand of the seashore.”
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