Visions in an Empty Glass

On Sunday at church I had a vision. No I don’t think I am going off the deep end but I do believe that God touched me in a special way. As the rector lifted the empty cup, a handblown clear glass chalice, before filling it with wine for communion it caught the light and sparkled in the glow. I felt the love of God sweep over me.

I shaped you as an empty cup, have filled you with living water and am transforming it into wine.

It was a profound experience that I carry with me as I go through the week. It is the centre of my reflections each morning as I do not believe that this was meant to be a momentary experience but an enduring learning opportunity. You may like to spend time on this guided meditation God led me through as a result.

This morning I searched for scriptures that connected to the three images in these words. The first imagery that came to mind was from Isaiah 64:8 (The Voice)

Still, Eternal One, You are our Father.
    We are just clay, and You are the potter.
We are the product of Your creative action, shaped and formed into something of worth.

Even the empty vessels that we are are shaped by God’s creative action, not for destruction but into something of worth. Read through this scripture in several translation and allow God to speak to you of your worth as a vessel of the living God.

The second scripture that came to mind is John 4:10 (New Living Translation)

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

God’s desire is to fill all of us with living water, all we need to do is ask.

The third scripture that I meditated on was John 2:1-10, the wedding at Cana (New Living Translation):

The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”

“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.

When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”

Jesus kept the best till last. The wonder of the transformation Jesus brings about in our lives is that, like a good wine, is that it continues to improve with age. And the banquet at the end of time will bring out the best wine in all of us.

But the thing about wine is that it must be shared to be appreciated. We must give it to others to drink for it to be fully enjoyed.

So much to think about here. So much that God is still saying to me. Would love to hear what God might say to you through this too.