Communion

So, in doing my weekly EfM Group mailing, I included the following; as it had just come across my email this morning. It spoke to me, and I felt compelled to share:

Communion
Daniel Berrigan

Sometime in your life,

hope that you might see one starved man,

the look on his face when the bread

finally arrives. Hope that you

might have baked it or bought it

or even kneaded it yourself.

For that look on his face,

for your meeting his eyes

across a piece of bread,

you might be willing to lose a lot,

or suffer a lot,

or die a little even.

Shortly I received back a reply from one of our more learned scholars in the group who said:

"Re: Daniel Berrigan--It’s always intriguing to me how persons considered to be radicals or on the fringe at one time can eventually become seen as wise and more or less mainstream.

Thanks for sharing it!"

To which I replied:

"You know, I didn't pick up on the author when I read this, only the message. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

I suppose, after due consideration, there could be some deep theological reflection over our recognition of wisdom and truth, no matter who the source or what the politic behind it."

For  I believe that when we search for matters (particularly those of faith) that we can agree on, those which fundamentally divide us can be recognized as being of worth in the eyes of others and we can then work towards unity in all things rather than division.