我和孙子一起去购物时，他替我决定买两盆新植物：一棵柠檬树和一棵雪茄竹芋（又称祈祷植物，prayer plant）。他精心挑选了这两盆植物，并把它们放进了购物车。
我的祖母曾种过柠檬，所以我想：“种种也无妨。”现在，我的办公室里既有柠檬树，也有祈祷植物。柠檬树后来开始开花，现在又开始结果。其中一颗柠檬是主角，现在已经有苹果那么大了。有很长一段时间，柠檬都是翠绿色的，所以我听到很多人说，也许我种的是一棵酸橙树。但现在黄色开始显露出来了。也许再过几周，我们就能做个柠檬派，开个派对了。
在耶稣时代的犹太文化中，庆祝活动是非常重要的，婚礼通常也是非常奢华的。没有人愿意看到失败的婚宴。然而，在这个故事中，酒用尽了，耶稣的母亲马利亚知道解决问题的最好办法，她知道耶稣可以解决这个问题。她没有做其他的选择。
我们常常不知道该向谁求助，却又常常先寻找其他解决办法。今天，正如马利亚所建议的，我们应该先听从耶稣的吩咐。我们准备好让祂来做事了吗？会有哪些新的可能呢？
主耶稣，感谢你如此爱我们，以至于你走进了我们的生命。感谢你的怜悯和看顾。愿我们凡事先寻求你的帮助，愿你得荣耀。阿们。
约翰福音 2:1-11
1第三日，在加利利的迦拿有娶亲的筵席，耶稣的母亲在那里。
2耶稣和他的门徒也被请去赴席。
3酒用尽了，耶稣的母亲对他说：“他们没有酒了。”
4耶稣说：“母亲，我与你有什么相干？我的时候还没有到。”
5他母亲对用人说：“他告诉你们什么，你们就做什么。”
6照犹太人洁净的规矩，有六口石缸摆在那里，每口可以盛两三桶水。
7耶稣对用人说：“把缸倒满了水。”他们就倒满了，直到缸口。
8耶稣又说：“现在可以舀出来，送给管筵席的。”他们就送了去。
9管筵席的尝了那水变的酒，并不知道是哪里来的，只有舀水的用人知道。管筵席的便叫新郎来，
10对他说：“人都是先摆上好酒，等客喝足了才摆上次的，你倒把好酒留到如今！”
11这是耶稣所行的头一件神迹，是在加利利的迦拿行的，显出他的荣耀来，他的门徒就信他了。
"[Jesus'] mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'" - John 2:5
While my grandson was out shopping with me, he decided that I needed two new plants: a lemon tree and a prayer plant. He carefully chose both and placed them in the cart.
My own grandmother had grown lemons, so I thought, "Why not?" I now have both the lemon tree and the prayer plant in my office. The lemon tree eventually started to flower, and now it is beginning to bear fruit. One lemon has been the star of the show and is now the size of an apple. For a long time, the lemon was bright green, so I heard a lot of comments that maybe I had a lime tree. But now the yellow color is beginning to show. Maybe in a few more weeks we'll have a lemon pie worth making a party for.
In the Jewish culture of Jesus' day, celebrations were important, and weddings were often lavish events. No one would want to see a failed wedding party. However, in this case the wine had run out, and Jesus' mother, Mary, knew the best solution to the problem. She knew that Jesus could solve this. And she didn't look for other options.
How often don't we also know whom to turn to—and yet we often look for other solutions first? Today, as Mary suggested, we should do whatever Jesus tells us to. Are we ready to involve him? What might the possibilities be?
Lord Jesus, thank you for loving people so much that you step into our lives. Thank you for your compassion and care. May we always call on you first, and may you be glorified. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
