Tuesday LEctionary Leanings: Got Wine!?!? Edition

Saw this picture on FB last fall and when I sat down to work this morning I just KNEW I had to use it this week.

Anyway....

This week brings us to the 2nd Sunday After Epiphany (which is a short-ish season this year only lasting for 4 Sundays before we get to T-fig on February 10).  The RCL passages are here, but first, shall we pause for prayer? (Prayer comes from here)

When we stand at the edge of desolation, staring down into our emptiness,
     you reach out to keep us from falling.
When we fumble and stumble
throw the shadows of our world,
     you offer us a little light,
          which is all we need until our eyes
          grow accustomed to the bright dawn
          of your grace and wonder.
When we are worn down
by the rough edges of life,
     you polish us until we gleam with hope.
When we feel deserted,
     you adopt us as your very own.
When the world files a bill
of divorce against us, turning its back,
     you slip the ring
     of joy on our finger,
     clasping our hands in yours,
          as you whisper vows of love
          which will remain longer
          than the stars will burn.

God in Community, Holy in One,
we give you praise for your presence,
even as we pray as we are taught,
Our Father . . .

So in Isaiah and John we have weddings.  But more importantly in John we have wine.  Gallons and Gallon of wine.  I did the math this morning and it works out to between 720 and 1080 standard bottles of wine.  [At that point any of several songs about drinking came to mind].  13 years ago I went to a community theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar and during the overture they were enacting various scenes from the Gospels and at one point they had the actor pour clear liquid into a bottle and it turned a lovely shade of red.  I have always wanted to do that but can not remember the (fairly simple I think) chemistry needed to accomplish that trick.

Or there is the chance of going with 1 Corinthians.  I am not always fond of Paul but 1 Corinthians 12 is one of those passages where he is at his greatest IMO.  Given that this is the Sunday that falls during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity this could be a wonderfully appropriate passage to lead into a discussion about why there are so many Christian churches in the world, particularly if you expand into the rest of the chapter and the metaphor about the body.

But it is a common "gift" in the church...

Then I believe there are those in our midst who are following the Narrative Lectionary and so will be talking about the calling of the first disciples (as Luke tells it) this Sunday.

And likely there are those who are off in a whole other direction.

Where are your headed this early in the week?  What questions, comments (relevant or irrelevant and also the irreverent) are jumping to the forefront of your mind?   Any great commentary columns you have found?  New insights?  Share all in the comments....