Remember Why We Gather

The Stone Soup Legend

There exists a tale, handed down from times long ago, of two travelers on a pilgrimage. Hungry and tired from a long day’s journey, they come to a small, impoverished, medieval village, where they decide to rest by the side of the road. One of the travelers builds a small fire, upon which he places a large pot, while the other, having drawn water from the town well, fills the pot and places into the vessel a simple stone. As the two men sit by the fire, bringing their "stone soup" to a boil, the local villagers become inquisitive of the curious antics of these strangers. Eventually, several townsfolk decide to investigate the matter and approach the two travelers to engage them in conversation.

Shortly thereafter, there is heard the sound of merriment, as the visitors, who turn out to be quite friendly, share their tales of the lands and people they have met throughout their journey and pilgrimage with the local villagers.

Finally, a young boy asks the travelers "But why, pray thee, are you boiling a stone?"

One of the pilgrims replies, "So we may eat stone soup."

"It must be terribly bland!" says an old woman. "But I have a cabbage, which will add some flavor!"

"And I, some carrots, which will add color!" says another villager.

"Some potatoes!", offers another, until, shortly, by the contribution of a little by many, a hearty stew was made, upon which the entire village and the weary pilgrims dined...and while doing so, shared their tales, talents, and camaraderie throughout the night.

The very next day, the travelers (who by now could be called "strangers" no more), continued their journey, leaving the little town, and its people, behind. But the villagers never forgot them, and the lesson they had learned. In fact, during the hardest of times, in such a time as this tale, that little village thrived, because the townsfolk never forgot how to make "stone soup."

Men and Women of Intermission, may we never forget:

1. Without the Stone, Christ the Solid Rock, the foundation of Truth (John 14:6) - our soup is worthless.
2. If you and I do not each bring something, our soup is incomplete, bland, and tepid.
3. We do not gather for the sake of community, but we discover community as we gather around The Stone ("strangers no more"). Community is not our goal, however community is a most wonderful by-product of our common journey to the soup pot.
4. Individually we are incomplete and will go under-fed and malnourished. We NEED one another. We are incomplete without one another. Christ is in community. I am not the Body of Christ, WE are the Body of Christ. Hence, "the holy catholic (or christian) church."