Have you ever been asked to do something that you just knew would not work? There are those bosses, supervisors, and even parents who ask you to do something that you don’t think will work and/or you don’t believe in. If you are like me, the response is, “you want me to do what?”
Some of those requests are things that just have to get done, no matter what and if I don’t do it, some else will have to. At work, we often call that “and other duties as assigned”. That part of your contract which is unwritten but expected.
In scripture there are several examples of this: Sarah, when she hears she will be old and pregnant has the “do what?” response. Moses had that response, “do what with Pharoah?” Perhaps the one we forget about is the wedding at Cana. You know the story, Jesus’ own mother asks him to do the impossible and resupply the wine at the wedding. And water miraculously turns to wine.
It is always taught that the lesson is about the miracle. In the Meeting God Bible (a very nice lectio divina styled bible) another point is made and that is, what about the persons filling the posts with water? YOu know for sure that one came under “other duties as assigned” because those pots of water were used to wash people’s feet when they first came to the wedding. You can just hear those servants saying, “Do What?” They were tired, they were not really part of this grand party and their feet and backs probably hurt to boot. But they did it even though they did not believe in it.
Aren’t we all that way with God? We see a path that we doubt but we know we should try. We converse with God and often start with “you want me to do what?” Silly things, you know, like forgiving others just the way God has forgiven us or remembering those who have no bread while we calmly eat ours. Or how about this one, even crazier, loving those who hate us, who are our enemies? Or perhaps the most important and craziest of all, be aware of all of those who are hungry, homeless, in prison or just in need?
This life we are called to if we say we are Christian begins with a huge “do what?” God, you want me to do what? Give up my ego, my way of doing things and trust you? Are you kidding, I cannot see how that is going to help me whatsoever. Maybe today is the day we each decide to just fill the pots with water, without even knowing what the outcome will be. Maybe faith is filling waterpots.
TMM