The Grail Quest

In the parish church the Holy Grail is lifted high trembling under the lesser form of a silver chalice. The priest lifts the chalice praying, “I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.”

As he holds the chalice high he perceives in his fingers the tingling whirl of spinning atoms as the grail becomes manifest to his burning heart. “Neither is this, Thou.”  “This also is Thou.”  The grail trembles on the edge of sight.

The faithful dull, in their simplicity, are unaware; but the true liegemen of Jesus come with questing eyes driven by human need.  Here Mallory the author of “Le Morte d'Arthur” was mistaken.  The quest is not for the pure, but for the penitent in heart.

The grail trembles on the edge of sight, but it is not the grail that is important, it is not the silver chalice; but it is the blood in the chalice wherein lies the power of God that vanquishes demon foes.  

Yes, they are present, snakes and vipers and poisonous creatures all, cowering in a few wayward hearts, glowering at the priest, at the chalice, sensing, but not seeing the grail, fearing the power of the blood.

The faithful kneel in silent adoration.