Symbolism of bread and wine

Post Christmas...

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Cathy: Did you attend a church service?

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Angela: We did, at a small church on a hill, established in the 1850s. Elegant small wooden structure, not so many people, but a service led by a vicar who tries to make the comments contemporary, and provides meals for the needy.

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Cathy: Do you go to church often?

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Angela: At Christmas I try to reconnect with the attempts my mother made to instill piety in us. Father thought that was a worthy way for Sunday to be spent, but he wasn't as committed to the endeavor as my mother.

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Cathy: Do you take communion?

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Take, eat this wafer
as a symbol of my body

Angela: Where the priest gives out bread saying “Take, eat, this is my body.”

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Cathy: Followed by “Drink, this is my blood.” Catholics believe the bread and wine become his body and blood. Do you?

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Angela: Nominally, I suppose I am Anglican but unlike many, I regard it only as a metaphor, as a symbol.

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Cathy: Pragmatism?

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Angela: Linguistics in a scientific age.

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Voice-over

“Take, eat, this is My body” (Matthew 26:26). Then He passed the cup to them saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is My blood” (Matthew 26:27-28). Now, a wafer symbolizes the bread, and grape juice symbolizes the wine.

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Magi Mistakes

After the gift giving…

Melchior: I thought she would have liked gold.

Balthazar: And I was sure she would prefer frankincense to Dior.

Gaspar: Likewise, I thought she’d prefer myrrh over chocolate.

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Voice-over

Gift-giving is a tricky business.

Some people want luxury, some want practical presents.
Like pampers.

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The Messiah as Ballet

Meeting the Messiah…

Audi: Great show.

Christian: Thanks.

Audi: I liked the joy you exuded. Dancing with the children. And the miracles you worked on the blind and the sick. Bearing the betrayal. And ending with the crucifixion.

Christian: We thought it would be good to contrast the charity and joy in the nature of Jesus with the greed and evil of the Pharisees and Judas.

Audi: Telling the story of Christ only through dance and Karl Jenkins music… even Jesus Christ Superstar included lyrics as verbal storytelling. Took the Bible into a new dimension.

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Voice-over

Another innovative production by the Austrian Ballet Company led by Rio Mitani and Christian Martinu: dancers, choreographers, teachers, and directors. Take this around the schools!

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An Avatar for Mohammed?

No images please, we're Muslims

Mohammed in a nutshell
Mohammed was born 571 years after Christ. He was an illiterate businessman. About the age of 40 he was praying to God in a cave near Mecca and heard a voice tell him “You are the messenger of God.” People followed his teachings. Persecutors attacked them so in 622 Mohammed and his Muslim followers migrated to Medina. Muslims began attacking Meccan trading caravans, because they had no resources. In the battle of Badr, Muslims defeated the Meccans and later moved back to Mecca to take over that city too.
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Voice-over
Parallels. God appeared before both Moses and Mohammed in a cave and told them to lead the people. In both accounts, persecution occurred and an exodus or migration took place. Mysterious commanding voices in dark places, gathering followers in need of a leader, migrating to higher ground. These simple events of a good story make a myth, build a culture, draw adherents.

Differences: In pragmatic approach: Christ taught his followers peace, Mohammed led his followers into battle. Christ gave himself up at the age of 34, Mohammed passed away after completing his work at 62. There are books: the Bible Christians read, written by Christ’s followers. And the Koran written by God through Mohammed.

Then there is the graphic issue. Christ’s picture is everywhere, Mohammed’s picture is nowhere. Is it better PR to fill the media everywhere with a Christ image? Or to disallow representational art forms and hope that mystery will attract as with Mohammed? In terms of numbers of adherents, (Christians 2 billion, Muslims 1.6 billion) both approaches seem effective enough.

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Idealism and Spiritualism, Realism and Secularism

I've hurt my hand!

Christ’s life in a nutshell

Jesus Christ was born in a cattle trough 2000 years ago. Three men, believing a Messiah was born, followed a star to pay homage. Christ worked as a carpenter until he was 30. He then traveled as an itinerant preacher, inspiring through parables, doing almost miraculous deeds. Religious leaders grew jealous of his popularity. A disciple, Judas, betrayed his whereabouts, he was arrested, tried, and crucified. And died, but came to life after three days and ascended into Heaven.

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Voice-over

Themes of Renaissance paintings depict Christ’s birth (Nativity, Adoration) and the last four years of his life (Miracles, Betrayal, Trial, Crucifixion, Ascent). These pictures imprint images of Christ’s birth and last years on popular culture.

Little is known of the years from Christ’s birth to the age of 30: the time he was a carpenter (or artisan). Naturally enough, pictures of his life in this period are also rare. An exception is John Everett Millais' Christ in the House of His Parents in the Pre-Raphaelite style, noted for its realism.

Not surprisingly, the periods for which Christ is famous are portrayed in epic or idealistic manner. His ordinary life is depicted in a realistic style.

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