Late in September a group of seminarians invited me along with them for a wine tour in the Niagara wine region.  This was our "second annual" such excursion.  Our "first annual" last fall was so much fun we decided to do it again this year.  It was apparent to all that the spiritual director in me was coming out when I suggested that, instead of calling it a "wine tour" we refer to it as a "wine pilgrimage".  After all, as I explained, "tours are for the unspiritual, pilgrimages for the spiritual."

The following reflection is not an account of the interesting wineries we visited, nor is it an evaluation of the many delightful wines we tasted.  Rather, it has more to do with what we might call "the spirituality of wine in our daily lives".

 One of the first things I notice when wine is served with a meal – no matter how mundane the meal or occasion – the whole experience is immediately elevated into a celebration.  Not only does the wine enhance the quality of the food, more importantly it enhances the quality of our dining together and our shared humanity.  Wine enlivens our conversation, fosters good will and encourages our hope that indeed human community will eventually triumph over disaster, tragedy and loss.  Wine in moderation brings out the best in all of us.  It gives rise to laughter and deepens mutual affection and appreciation.  In short, wine elevates our natural human experience into the realm of the spiritual.

 Perhaps that is why the Bible speaks of vines and wine and the making of wine so frequently.  I remember reading somewhere that of all the plants/trees mentioned in the Bible, the vine is the most often referred to.  Jesus himself was known to value and appreciate the human community that resulted from the enjoyment of wine.  We have only to think of the wedding feast at Cana (Jn 2:1-12).

Wine is intimately connected with the re-beginning of the human race.  After Noah disembarked from the Ark, and God had made his covenant with him, Noah is recorded as being "the first person to plant a vineyard". (Gen 9:20).  And in the new and eternal re-beginning of the human race, Jesus himself took wine and changed it into his blood, so that it was no longer wine but truly the covenant in his blood for the redemption of the world (Matthew 26:26-29; Mk 14:22-25; Lk 22:19-20).  We celebrate this sacred mystery "for us and for our salvation" in every Mass (1 Cor 11:23-26).  

This transformation of wine into the blood of Jesus (along with bread into his body) is the preeminent instance of God's ongoing work in the transformation of all matter – including our bodies. This transformation has already begun to take place in us when we were baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus (Rom 6:3-11).  

This transformation continues to overtake us more deeply and completely with every celebration of the mysteries of the Lord's body and blood at Mass, and the reception of his body and blood in holy communion (Jn 6:52-59).  This transformation will reach its fulfillment at the resurrection of the dead when we and all of creation are finally and fully transformed by the risen and glorified Jesus to become "like him" (1 Jn 3:2-3), when he, the just and merciful judge, returns in glory at the end of the world to hand everything over to the Father (1 Cor 15: 12-58; Rom 8: 18-30).

 In the new covenant of Jesus'  blood, his death and resurrection have become the indestructible seed, the "foundation of the universe" and "creation's binding force", now planted in the very heart of creation and in the centre of our own hearts.  This indestructible seed is nothing less than the victory of Jesus' love for us overpowering from within (by his dying) and blasting to bits (by his rising) the seeds of destruction planted in our hearts (Mt 13:24-30) by the "enemy of our human nature" (St. Ignatius Loyola).  

This indestructible seed is nothing less than the victory of the Lord's love for us working itself out in our daily lives with every breath we take.  Jesus says, "I am the true vine and my Father is the vinegrower … you are the branches … abide in me as I abide in you" (Jn 15:1-17).

No wonder wine can elevate our human spirits and enhance our living together when used in the service of building up human community in charity, joy, peace (Gal 5:22-23) and ultimately in Christ … "abundant life" (Jn 10:10).

So better than "wine tour", the expression "wine pilgrimage" more profoundly captures what our adventure was all about.  St. Augustine, it is said, always had wine placed on his table for the noon and evening meals as he frequently had guests.  He knew that hospitality coupled with wine promoted an enjoyable encounter, fruitful exchange and ultimately … delight.

While Scripture is very clear in many places that drinking to excess – including drinking wine to excess – is not only a danger but an evil (e.g. Prov 23:20-21, 31-35; Gal 5:21-22), Scripture is equally if not more clear, that wine is provided to man as a gift of God's Providence for many good purposes (e.g. Ps 104:15; Sirach 39:26; 1 Tim 5:23). It was Pope Pius Xll  who once said: "Wine in itself is an excellent thing."