Water, Wine, Spirit, New Life

The new way of worship is rooted in God’s unending love, and an abundance of “grace upon grace.”

by Deacon Lorna Goodison on January 14, 2022

Water, Wine, Spirit, New Life

Wine has been a favorite drink since biblical days. Wine is served with regular meals and at festive
occasions. Psalm 104 speaks of wine making glad the human heart. Wine symbolizes joy and celebration,
the kind of joy and celebration one experiences at a wedding feast.


On Sunday, the second Sunday after the Epiphany, the gospel (John 2:1-11) presents us with a wedding
story. Jesus, His disciples and His Mother, Mary are guests at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. The wine runs
out and Jesus’ Mother draws his attention to the wedding host’s dilemma, “They have no wine.” Jesus
hears his mother’s intercession for the family, just as He hears our intercession for others. He initially
resists, stating that “His hour had not yet come.” But Mary is unrelenting. Jesus’ hour to inaugurate His
ministry has arrived. She directs the servants to “do whatever he tells you.” Jesus relents and tells the
servants to fill the six ritual purification jars with water. And Jesus miraculously changed pure, tasteless
water into fine wine, the best quality wine; 120 or more gallons. The miracle, the first sign, boldly
proclaimed that Jesus is One with God. Only through the power of God, the Creator, who blew the wind
of His Spirit on the waters before Creation, could the very essence of water be changed.


The steward, surprised by the great taste of the new wine, thought that the host had overturned the old
norm of serving fine wine first then the inferior wine after. Instead, Jesus’ new, fine wine was served
later. The new, fine wine symbolizes the Incarnate Christ, the One sent from God to usher in the new
covenant. The old wine of the old covenant has run out. The old legalistic way of worship was giving way
to a new deeper, more personal way of worshipping God in Spirit and in truth.


The new way of worship is rooted in God’s unending love, and an abundance of “grace upon grace.”
Under the new covenant, God presents Godself as the bridegroom who welcomes us, His bride, in a very
personal way and lavishes His favor on us. Under the new covenant we come to God in Christ, not in
perfection, but as we are, our feelings of emptiness, when we run out of steam or feel lacking. Christ
transforms our emptiness with His new wine of rebirth in Him, and joy and peace. He extravagantly
lavishes on us more than we can ask or imagine, just like He supplied a superabundance of fine wine to
alleviate the wedding host’s embarrassment and uplift the hearts of the wedding guests. May our lives
point others to Christ’s spirit of abundance, joy, love, and grace.

Tags: grace, new covenant, unending love

About the Author
Deacon Lorna Goodison

Reverend Lorna Goodison was ordained to the Diaconate on April 29, 2007. After discerning a call to ordained ministry, Deacon Lorna completed a process of spiritual discernment and pursued three years of study at the Diocesan School for Christian Studies. She also completed three units of hospice care training through Vitas and for a short while she was a volunteer Chaplain. Highlights of her continuing education activities include a guided visit to Israel and attending the Festival of Homiletics in Boulder, Colorado.

Soon after her ordination, Deacon Lorna was called to serve as Deacon at St. Mary Magdalene. She initiated an outreach ministry to the homeless at St. Laurence Chapel, obtaining the support and involvement of most members of the congregation. This ministry remained a vibrant outreach of the Church until the Chapel closed in 2019.  Other outreach ministries formed include an informal group of members who stay in touch with members who are ill and shut-in. Deacon Lorna remains committed to both the in-reach and outreach ministries of the Church. She has led quiet day reflections for groups within and outside of St. Mary Magdalene. She has often led Deacon’s Masses at small churches without a priest. Of all the ministries in which Deacon Lorna participates, she is most humbled and grateful to be involved in the ministry of praying with congregants facing life’s challenges.

Deacon Lorna serves the Diocese of Southeast Florida as a member of the Disciplinary Committee. She also serves on the Board of Deacons.   

Professionally, Deacon Lorna worked for some years in Human Resource Departments as a Training Manager, but most of her working years were spent in Social Work. She worked with at-risk teenagers counselling them and guiding them to resources to build a meaningful future. The last twenty years of her profession, were spent working with Seniors, guiding them to the resources needed to maintain their safety and independence. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Adult Education. She is now retired, cherishes some alone time for prayer and reflection, but divides her time between the Church and her family which consists of two daughters, their husbands and three grandchildren.

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