Appearances
Originally scheduled for
February 8
She’s at the health club every
night. Most of the regulars know her story. She works out, and her body is in
good shape. She knows how to keep it that way.
She wears her wedding ring – a
symbol of hope and despair. While she’s at the gym, her husband is with
another woman. It’s not that she’s unattractive; it’s just that the other
woman is twenty-five years younger than she is. Her husband values women – all
women – by their appearance. By his standards she is old, used up and worn
out.
That’s the story of our
society. We buy cars only if they look cool; a big, roaring engine helps too.
Our clothes must be the latest style. Our homes require interior decorators to
obtain just the right look. We must keep up appearances. Appearance is
everything.
Consider, then, the Lord’s
Supper. Even with all the elaboration possible, it is a simple ceremony. Its
elements are simple too. Have you ever heard of “designer bread?” The cup of
wine or juice is rather plain as well. If it’s wine, we see no vintage marks,
no cork presented by a waiter in a tuxedo. Grape juice doesn’t come with
vintage marks, just an expiration date on the cap. What kind of show can you make
with these?
The truth is this: those
elements are not for appearances. By their very simplicity they invite us to
look beyond the outward appearance to discover what they really mean. “This is
my body; this is my blood,” said the Creator of the universe. Do not judge by
appearances, but rather discern the true meaning – and its impact on you.
“Do not judge by appearances” –
this is required of the Christian at Communion. It might possibly be a good
rule in life, as well.
