It happened on a spiritual retreat. I traveled to a Catholic Retreat Center where I knew no one, but I wanted to hear the speaker. I am of a different faith, but growing up I used to go to a Catholic Hospital with my Dad who was a doctor there. A nun, Sister Philitheus, used to take me by the hand and show me around. We would visit patients and eat cookies. She was my friend. I could hardly say her name, but I learned about faith through her. I loved her.

I discovered that at the spiritual retreat Mass would be given every evening. “Oh great!”, I thought with dismay. “I won’t be able to share in the meal.” I respect the different belief, and yet I don’t really understand. My belief is different. In my belief Communion is open for all. A young priest was there and in preparation for the meal I never heard him say I could not come. So, in my somewhat rebellious nature I suppose, I took it. Then later I felt bad and I went to see him. I confessed and said I respected his faith, his belief. He said, “Did you know that if you are in line, ready to receive the bread and wine, and you want it, I cannot refuse giving it to you”. (“WOW”‘ I thought). “Well”, I said, “I WANT it”.

That was pretty much the end of that discussion. The next night during Mass I  listened again and never heard the words that I was not invited. I got in line. When it was my turn and the young priest and I were face to face, He reached out and gave me the bread out of his faith tradition. I reached out and received the bread out of my faith tradition. And in that MOMENT, I felt that in the Gap between us was the purest expression of Jesus Christ. It was the place both of us had yet to become.

There are many moments of “The Gap”. Two people may not be able to be fully together for whatever reason. Perhaps it is because of circumstances, of different beliefs, distances of any nature. Yet could it be that in the Gap between us is something deeper than each of us yet have or know? It is a mystery I suppose. But that would be Communion. It stretches all boundaries of time and place to make us all one. Such love runs very deep!

nk