Las Vegas, NV 89101

December 5, 2004

A Communion Meditation – J. Stuart Wells

I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to tell my favorite story. While the story is not true, there is truth in it. I’ve asked two people to participate in one important aspect of the telling of the story. Don Schmiedel will play the role of the Pope and Gail will play the role of Evelyn. So here goes.

During the middle ages it seems there was some unrest in Rome. The focus of that unrest was between the Jewish and Christian merchants. I’m not going to take sides in that dispute other than to say it was an uncomfortable time for both sets of merchants. It got so bad … (Gail: “How bad was it?”) It got so bad that the Christians merchants went to the Pope to complain. They asked the Pope to declare an edict expelling the Jewish merchants.

Now this Pope was a wise man. He listened carefully to the complaint and considered all of the options open to him. He knew that some of the merchants were simply attempting to get the Jews expelled so that they could prosper. Finally he spoke. He told the merchants that he was unwilling to simply expel the Jewish merchants but he was willing to do something. He would hold a debate with a leader of the Jewish population on the condition that both the sets of merchants would agree to his conditions. He said to the merchants gathered before him, “If I win the debate, the Jews must agree to leave Rome. However, if their leader wins the debate, you will need to accept that the Jewish merchants are here to stay and you will stop creating trouble.”

The merchants were disappointed that the Pope wouldn’t simply expel the Jews but after all, the Pope was the smartest man they knew. Surely he would win any debate. So they agreed. The Pope then added one other stipulation. The debate would be silent and there would only be three nonverbal exchanges. Now that was certainly odd but even given that stipulation no one was going to beat the Pope in a debate so everyone agreed. The Pope sent a representative to speak to the Jewish merchants. Soon they all gathered in Isadore’s pub. They drank a little wine and talked about the strange debate. They were reluctant to accept the idea but they were tired of the stress and needed to find a way to resolve it. So they agreed to the conditions. Then came the real issue. No one wanted to be the person to debate the Pope.

So they drank a little wine and talked. Then they talked some more. No one was willing to confront the Pope. They had heard he was a very smart man. This went on for a few hours and still no one wanted to agree to debate the Pope. Finally, Evelyn, Isadore’s wife who was the barmaid said, “You men are so chicken. I’ll do it. I’ll debate the Pope.”

The morning came when the debate was scheduled. Now, Evelyn wasn’t quite as sure about it all as she had been that night in the bar. She really didn’t want to do it. But she wasn’t going to back out after she had called the men chicken. So everyone gathered, all of the Christian merchants stood behind the Pope and all of the Jewish merchants stood behind Evelyn. Now the Pope and Evelyn are going to hold the debate.

First the Pope holds up three fingers. After a moment’s thought, Evelyn holds up one finger.

Next the Pope holds his arms up and spreads them wide. Evelyn points her finger to the ground.

Now the Pope picks up the Bread and Cup. Evelyn takes out an apple.

At that moment, the Pope announced, “The debate is over and Evelyn has won.” The Jewish merchants picked up Evelyn and carried her off to Isadore’s pub. All the Christian merchants gathered about the Pope and asked, “What happened? Tell us how she won.”

“Well,” said the Pope, I held up three fingers to declare that God is three persons and Evelyn held up one finger insisting that God is One. Then I indicated that God is everywhere and Evelyn pointed out that God also is right here. Then I picked up the Bread and Cup to say that Jesus Christ takes away the sins of the world and Evelyn took out an apple to show that sin is still with us. There is no question, Evelyn won the debate.” All of the merchants were forced to agree that Evelyn had really won the debate.

Meanwhile, back at the pub. Everyone was gathered around Evelyn asking, “What happened. Tell us what happened.” “Well,” said Evelyn, “the Pope held up three fingers to show us we had three days to leave town so I held up one finger to let him know no one was leaving. Then he made a gesture that let me know he didn’t care where we went. We could go anywhere. I let him know we were staying right here. “Then what happened?” “I don’t know. He took out his lunch so I took out mine.”

The reason this is my favorite story is that both sides were right. Both the Pope and Evelyn were true to their own history and both interpreted the debate out of that history. It’s a matter of perception not logic. As Christians we should be ashamed of the way Christians have treated Jews over the centuries. We need to remember Jesus was a Jew. I don’t believe Jesus intended to start a new faith. He came to reform the Jewish faith. Jesus said nothing new. Everything he taught can be found in the Old Testament. He calls us to live out the wisdom found in the Old Testament. At the same time he provides a focus point to see and hear the essentials that are in the Old Testament. That is true even of Communion. Jesus pointed beyond the Passover meal when he broke the bread set aside for Elijah. The Bread and Cup of Communion could just be a very light lunch if that is the way you choose to see it. Or it can be much more than that.

There is an ancient tradition in Hebrew thought. If someone comes to your home, you are required to offer food and drink to that person. More important than that, you are required to offer that person your protection. Holy Communion transcends time. It is a moment where Jesus is our host as if we were present in that Upper Room almost 2000 years ago. It is Jesus himself who offers us the Bread and Cup. It is Jesus who tells us that as we eat this bread we are agreeing to be the Body of Christ as best we are able. It is Jesus who tells us that as we drink from the Cup we are agreeing to be included in the New Covenant Jesus proclaims. At the same time, Jesus is offering us His protection, His sanctuary, entry into the very Realm of God. Amen.