Stone soup

I grew up in a different time. TV was different. There was no Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, PBS, Sesame Street, Disney Channel, or any other 24/7 “children’s programming”. But I did love to watch Captain Kangaroo every morning. Captain Kangaroo was on every weekday morning for 29 years from 1955 until 1984. It was on this show I was introduced to the story of “Stone Soup” which goes like this:

Three soldiers, hungry and weary from battle, were walking through the land when they came upon a village. As they entered, the villagers moved towards their homes locking doors and windows. The villagers met the soldiers at the village square. "There's not a bite to eat in the whole province," they told the soldiers. "We are weak and our children are starving. Better keep moving on." "Oh, we have everything we need," one soldier said. "In fact, we were thinking of making some stone soup to share with all of you. You sir, look hungry. Would you like some?" “Stone soup! What a ridiculous thing!” the villagers exclaimed. “You can’t make soup from a stone!” But the three soldiers gingerly reached into their pockets, and each pulled out a smooth, round stone. “We have with us some wonderful stones that should make for a great and hearty soup. Do you have a large kettle we might borrow to make our stone soup in?” A large pot was brought to the village square, filled with water, and a roaring fire built under it. Each soldier in turn dropped their stone into the water. They waited for their stone soup to come to a boil as they stirred it with a large wooden spoon. By now, hearing the rumor of food, most of the villagers had come out of their homes or watched from their windows. As the soldiers sniffed the "broth" and licked their lips in anticipation, hunger began to overcome their fear. "Ahh," one soldier said to himself rather loudly, "I do like a tasty stone soup. Of course, stone soup with cabbage -- that's hard to beat." Soon a villager approached hesitantly, holding a small cabbage he'd retrieved from its hiding place, and added it to the pot. "Wonderful!!" cried the soldiers. "You know, I once had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of salt beef as well, and it was fit for a king." The village butcher managed to find some salt beef . . . and so it went, through potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and so on, until there was indeed a delicious meal for everyone in the village to share. The villager elder offered the soldiers a great deal of money for their stones, but they refused to sell them and traveled on the next day. As they left, the soldiers came upon a group of village children standing near the road. One gave his stone to the youngest child, whispering to a group, that it was not the stone, but the villagers that had performed the magic."

Sometimes we as Christians can find ourselves reliving this story in a spiritual way. After the world has beaten us up all week long, we may not think we have enough of God’s love to share with anyone in need. “We are weak and starving...move on” may be what we are saying unconsciously. We just don’t have enough faith to share with anyone. You may find yourself “hanging on by a thread”. But then, just like the soldiers, we are reminded of the stone that Jesus gave us. That blessed Gospel stone…the ROCK of Peter’s confession… "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."Mt. 16:16 to which Jesus replied "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Mt. 16:17-18. But just like the villagers, if we combine the faith we have with the “stone” of God’s word, we find that ALL can be nourished from the combination of our worship to God and our faith in Him. His son tells us… “I am with you always, to the end of the age." Mt. 28:20. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Mt. 5:6.
Jesus too, gave us a “stone” that money can’t buy. He gave Himself, the 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Mt. 21:42. And in this is the precious gift of salvation. Isn’t it wonderful to have that gift; the gift of the promise of Heaven, eternal life, and the love of God forever and ever?