The More Excellent Way of Jesus

Please read John 21:1-19.

I had learned late in the afternoon that we were going to dinner at the “Y.” I was young and it sounded exotic to me, a suburban kid from Cincinnati. Of course I found a lot of things “exotic” in rural Iowa, where my parents grew up and my grandparents lived. To go the Y for dinner was of interest to me because it was in Floyd, a small town of about 450 people. Floyd consisted of deserted stores on the main street, a gas station and the Y on the corner. It was dark inside when we entered. Directly across from the door sat 6 men who I assumed were farmers because they were dressed in overalls and plaid shirts. Two of them were wearing bright orange hunting hats like you would see in the old Warner Brothers cartoons. My grandfather often wore one.

We sat at a table in the corner as a family. A woman approached our table and announced that she would be our server. Her name badge indicated she had a very unusual name - Cornice.

After she left, I asked my Grandmother Yost about the name Cornice as I had never heard it before and it seemed odd to me. Grandma replied, “It’s an old name, from the depression era.” I asked her what it meant. She continued on, “It’s an abbreviation of the word Cornucopia, you do know what a Cornucopia is – right?” I assured her I knew and wondered out loud, “Why would you name your kid after a horn of plenty?”

Grandma filled me in by saying, “During the Depression everyone was struggling. If we didn’t have our garden on the farm and chickens, pigs, a cow and a couple of bulls, we would have really struggled. We didn’t have any money. In fact, no one had much. We all shared food with each other. Your Grandpa Yost’s father was a barber and often bartered his services for food.”

Grandma continued, “People were living in hope that better days were ahead - that days of plenty would come. This is where Cornice’s name comes from.” In a recent post by Dr. Diana Butler Bass titled “The Holy Thursday Revolution,” from her 2022 Grounded in Lent series, she speaks of the post- resurrection stories and how they are centered around the meal, bread, and the table. Jesus never takes the disciples to the Cross but instead to places of food hospitality and togetherness. This is a profound insight into Jesus' return as depicted in the Gospel stories. When Jesus breathes on the disciples and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” it is in the context of the kind of togetherness of sharing that happens at the table.

Togetherness, Table, Community... like Cornice’s name... Jesus offers a more excellent way completely grounded in HOPE.

Enjoy this hymn sung by the A&P Choir, Union Seminary: UMH #632 Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether

For a history of this hymn from Discipleship Resources, click here.