Yesterday night, at my local Church (The Rock of York) we held a meeting for the local Interfaith group; who approached us to see if they could come to one of our meetings and learn first-hand what The Rock of York stands for as a house.
So we decided to hold a “Raise a Glass” event, which most of you will know as communion, but with a modern twist to give a feel of our inclusive community for family, friends and guests. Anyone present can join us in the celebration of life, community, the finished work of Jesus and his awesome love for us. We rejoice not in what we think qualifies us, but in the awesome work He has done for us.
I had the honour of welcoming our guests; I introduced myself and helped direct them to where we would be sitting for our meeting. There was a high level of gratitude towards us; one member of the Interfaith group had an inspiring quote written on the back of their bike; which read, “What can you and I do today to make someone feel happier”. It made me think, even though we all have a different journey, beliefs or faith, we can all work towards making people happier by loving them. The coolest thing is that we can all do amazing stuff, we are all incredibly unique; imagine how much happiness we can spread.
(NIV) 1 Corinthians 11:27:
“So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.”
I think this is truly what community is about, it’s not the sin, but it’s about being inclusive. Never drink in an unworthy manner where there is a division but only community and inclusivity where all people are invited to God’s banquet, to sit at his table and eat, drink and communicate.
To finish, here is a beautiful story that was read out during our evening event, it is titled:
(The Rabbi’s Gift)
The Different Drum Version by Dr. M. Scott Peck
The story concerns a monastery that had fallen upon hard times. It was once a great order, but because of persecution, all its branch houses were lost and there were only five monks left in the decaying house: the abbot and four others, all over seventy in age. Clearly it was a dying order.
In the deep woods surrounding the monastery, there was a little hut that a rabbi occasionally used for a hermitage. The old monks had become almost psychic, they could always sense when the rabbi was in his hermitage.
“The rabbi is in the woods, the rabbi is in the woods” they would whisper.
It occurred to the abbot that a visit to the rabbi might result in some advice to save his monastery.
The rabbi welcomed the abbot to his hut. But when the abbot explained his visit, the rabbi could say, “I know how it is”. The spirit has gone out of the people. It is the same in my town. Almost no one comes to the synagogue anymore.” So the old abbot and the old rabbi wept together. Then they read parts of the Torah and spoke of deep things. When the abbot had to leave, they embraced each other.
“It has been wonderful that we should meet after all these years,” the abbot said, “but I have failed in my purpose for coming here. Is there nothing you can tell me that would help me save my dying order?”
“No, I am sorry,” the rabbi responded. “I have no advice to give. But, I can tell you that the Messiah is one of you.”
When the abbot returned to the monastery his fellow monks gathered around him to ask, “Well, what did the rabbi say?”
“The rabbi said something very mysterious, it was something cryptic. He said that the Messiah is one of us. I don’t know what he meant?”
In the time that followed, the old monks wondered about the significance to the rabbi’s words. The Messiah is one of us? Could he possibly have meant one of us monks? If so, which one?
Do you suppose he meant the abbot? Yes, if he meant anyone, he probably meant Father Abbot. He has been our leader for more than a generation.
On the other hand, he might have meant Brother Thomas. Certainly, Brother Thomas is a holy man. Everyone knows that Thomas is a man of light.
Certainly, he could not have meant Brother Elred! Elred gets crotchety at times. But come to think of it, even though he is a thorn in people’s sides, when you look back on it, Elred is virtually always right. Often very right. Maybe the rabbi did mean Brother Elred.
But surely not Brother Phillip. Phillip is so passive, a real nobody. But then, almost mysteriously, he has a gift for always being there when you need him. He just magically appears. Maybe Phillip is the Messiah.
Of course the rabbi didn’t mean me. He couldn’t possibly have meant me. I’m just an ordinary person. Yet supposing he did? Suppose I am the Messiah? O God, not me. I couldn’t be that much for You, could I?
As they contemplated, the old monks began to treat each other with extraordinary respect on the chance that one among them might be the Messiah. And they began to treat themselves with extraordinary respect.
People still occasionally came to visit the monastery in its beautiful forest to picnic on its tiny lawn, to wander along some of its paths, even to meditate in the dilapidated chapel. As they did so, they sensed the aura of extraordinary respect that began to surround the five old monks and seemed to radiate out from them and permeate the atmosphere of the place. There was something strangely compelling about it. Hardly knowing why, they began to come back to the monastery to picnic, to play, to pray. They brought their friends to this special place. And their friends brought their friends.
Then some of the younger men who came to visit the monastery started to talk more and more with the old monks. After a while, one asked if he could join them. Then another, and another. So within a few years the monastery had once again become a thriving order and, thanks to the rabbi’s gift, a vibrant center of light and spirituality in the realm.
Anyone could be the Messiah, this is where the community will truly thrive.
Raise your glass!
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