You have kept the good wine until now

Last week Tuesday, I turned 69years and this has caused me to reflect on my past, the year ahead and the coming of the 70s. My reflection has evoked mixed feelings.

First the anxiety of realizing that there are more years behind me than ahead of me. I find myself thinking of the different stages of my life story: my youth and childhood, my romance years and marriage, family life and career, and then the last ten years of becoming a deacon.

I also have a strong desire to make this a ‘big year’, one of significance that I can look back at with joy. In this respect, it has occured to me that it also coincides with a Jubilee year, a year of forgiveness and restart. How do I make this my special Jubilee year? How do I make this a year of joyful pilgrimage?

Then there are the looming senior years of the 70s. What will they bring? I remember that old song ‘Que Sera Sera’. Having by now the wisdom that God will have His way.

It is in this frame of mind that I read the line in this week’s Gospel John 2: 1-11 ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ I must say, the line brought to me a great deal of joy and comfort. It is as if God is saying to me ‘these are your best years’.

So often we think of our youth ‘when we have drunk freely of wine’ as our best years. we look back with nostalgia. I think of Rod Stewart’s song Ooh La La:

Poor old grand-dad
I laughed at all his words
I thought he was a bitter man
……. ‘I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was younger
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was stronger’

I believe the line of the Gospel tells us a different story - ‘this is your Jubilee year, live it.’

Friends, this is a significant year in our lives. Let us live the kingdom. Let each of us make this our own Jubilee year. It whatever circumstance we find ourselves, let us trust in divine providence and become mindful of the joy of living in God’s year of favour.