The Fisher King
Stories
Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit
Series V, Cycle C
Object:
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.... [Jesus said,] "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (vv. 1-5, 34-35)
The legend of the Fisher King tells that when the king was a boy, he had to spend a night alone in the forest to prove his courage so that he could become king. During the night, he had a sacred vision of the Holy Grail, the chalice used by Christ during the Last Supper and also thought to have caught Jesus' blood during his crucifixion. It was said to have the power to heal all wounds. The Grail appeared out of the campfire, and a voice spoke to the boy, "You shall be the keeper of the Grail, that it may heal the hearts of men."
Although vast flames of fire surrounded the Holy Grail, the Fisher King knew that terrific wealth, power, and glory would be his if he claimed the cup as his own. He reached into the flames to grab the Holy Grail but it vanished. All he got for his efforts was severe burns and a lasting wound.
He vowed to never give up looking for the Holy Grail, which he had come so close to obtaining. For years afterward, he and those he employed searched extensively for the hallowed Grail. He was so obsessed that he often neglected his country, his people, and his own pleasure in life.
As the years went by, the Fisher King became more despondent and alone ... and his wound grew deeper. In time, his wounded hand became more painful, until one day, life for him lost its reason. He had no faith in any man, not even himself. He couldn't love or feel love. He was sick with despair. He began to die.
One day, the Fisher King went for a walk in the forest. He encountered a wandering court jester. The jester noticed the king looked painfully alone and asked, "What ails you, friend? Is there anything I can do for you?"
The Fisher King replied, "Yes, I thirst. You could give me a cool drink of water."
The jester took an old dilapidated cup from his bag, filled it with water from a nearby stream, and gave it to the Fisher King. As the Fisher King drank, he felt his wound healing. When he looked more closely he saw the source of this healing, for the cup from which he drank had turned into the Holy Grail for which he had searched his entire life!
In amazement, the Fisher King asked the jester, "What wonderful magic do you possess?" The jester just shrugged and said, "I know no magic. All I did was give a drink to a thirsty soul."
The legend of the Fisher King reminds us that greed is destructive; it wounds our spirit. However, when we love and serve others, we become a source by which God reaches out and heals. It reminds us that while the world may value power, fame, and fortune, the way that Christ teaches is different. The core values of the Christian are compassion, love, and servanthood. This is what Christ modeled in the washing of the disciples' feet and what he taught before his crucifixion with the new commandment to love one another.
The legend of the Fisher King tells that when the king was a boy, he had to spend a night alone in the forest to prove his courage so that he could become king. During the night, he had a sacred vision of the Holy Grail, the chalice used by Christ during the Last Supper and also thought to have caught Jesus' blood during his crucifixion. It was said to have the power to heal all wounds. The Grail appeared out of the campfire, and a voice spoke to the boy, "You shall be the keeper of the Grail, that it may heal the hearts of men."
Although vast flames of fire surrounded the Holy Grail, the Fisher King knew that terrific wealth, power, and glory would be his if he claimed the cup as his own. He reached into the flames to grab the Holy Grail but it vanished. All he got for his efforts was severe burns and a lasting wound.
He vowed to never give up looking for the Holy Grail, which he had come so close to obtaining. For years afterward, he and those he employed searched extensively for the hallowed Grail. He was so obsessed that he often neglected his country, his people, and his own pleasure in life.
As the years went by, the Fisher King became more despondent and alone ... and his wound grew deeper. In time, his wounded hand became more painful, until one day, life for him lost its reason. He had no faith in any man, not even himself. He couldn't love or feel love. He was sick with despair. He began to die.
One day, the Fisher King went for a walk in the forest. He encountered a wandering court jester. The jester noticed the king looked painfully alone and asked, "What ails you, friend? Is there anything I can do for you?"
The Fisher King replied, "Yes, I thirst. You could give me a cool drink of water."
The jester took an old dilapidated cup from his bag, filled it with water from a nearby stream, and gave it to the Fisher King. As the Fisher King drank, he felt his wound healing. When he looked more closely he saw the source of this healing, for the cup from which he drank had turned into the Holy Grail for which he had searched his entire life!
In amazement, the Fisher King asked the jester, "What wonderful magic do you possess?" The jester just shrugged and said, "I know no magic. All I did was give a drink to a thirsty soul."
The legend of the Fisher King reminds us that greed is destructive; it wounds our spirit. However, when we love and serve others, we become a source by which God reaches out and heals. It reminds us that while the world may value power, fame, and fortune, the way that Christ teaches is different. The core values of the Christian are compassion, love, and servanthood. This is what Christ modeled in the washing of the disciples' feet and what he taught before his crucifixion with the new commandment to love one another.
