The Wedding In Tuxtla
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series III, Cycle C
Rebeca Ruiz had met Carlos Marin at a church convention. They entered the church separately -- late -- and the usher seated them together in the front row. The church was packed. They had to share a Bible.
Rebeca didn't think too much about it until her car didn't start and Carlos asked her where she was headed. They were going to the same town, Tuxtla Gutierrez. The trouble was, it was far away. He graciously offered her a ride, and they chatted the two hours it took to get from San Cristobal to Tuxtla.
She declined his invitation to take her out to dinner. Two days later, when he came to "check up on her," she accepted an invitation to lunch at a nearby cafe. They chatted for hours until it was time for dinner. This time she invited him to dinner. And so it began: the romance of Carlos and Rebeca.
Two years later they were in that same church before many friends and family members. This was their wedding day. A day Rebe, as Carlos called her, had carefully planned for months. The dress was sewn with what seemed like a million tiny clear seed beads. The pews were glorious with bows at the ends. The ten children who were pages were sitting still and the seven bridesmaids looked radiant.
All was ready and the minister had them repeat their vows. They exchanged rings and knelt at the altar. The pastor proclaimed them married in the eyes of the church. To be married in the eyes of the Lord, according to their tradition, he reminded them they had to be chained together and sip the wine of Holy Communion.
Two sponsors walked forward and slipped a delicate round chain of silver links around the shoulders of Rebe and Carlos. The chain had no beginning or end. They bowed their heads and a prayer of blessing was said. Two other sponsors came up to the altar and lifted a small crystal pitcher of wine up as the pastor recited the words of institution. He gave first Rebe, then Carlos, the communion wafer. Then he poured a small amount of wine into a delicate crystal goblet and handed it to Carlos. Still within the chain, Carlos carefully put the goblet to Rebe's lips and waited for her to drink. Carlos gave her a blessing. Rebe in turn gave Carlos a drink and gave him a blessing. The pastor smiled and declared that now they had participated in their first communion, "chained" together as husband and wife.
The marriage was now considered truly blessed.
Rebeca didn't think too much about it until her car didn't start and Carlos asked her where she was headed. They were going to the same town, Tuxtla Gutierrez. The trouble was, it was far away. He graciously offered her a ride, and they chatted the two hours it took to get from San Cristobal to Tuxtla.
She declined his invitation to take her out to dinner. Two days later, when he came to "check up on her," she accepted an invitation to lunch at a nearby cafe. They chatted for hours until it was time for dinner. This time she invited him to dinner. And so it began: the romance of Carlos and Rebeca.
Two years later they were in that same church before many friends and family members. This was their wedding day. A day Rebe, as Carlos called her, had carefully planned for months. The dress was sewn with what seemed like a million tiny clear seed beads. The pews were glorious with bows at the ends. The ten children who were pages were sitting still and the seven bridesmaids looked radiant.
All was ready and the minister had them repeat their vows. They exchanged rings and knelt at the altar. The pastor proclaimed them married in the eyes of the church. To be married in the eyes of the Lord, according to their tradition, he reminded them they had to be chained together and sip the wine of Holy Communion.
Two sponsors walked forward and slipped a delicate round chain of silver links around the shoulders of Rebe and Carlos. The chain had no beginning or end. They bowed their heads and a prayer of blessing was said. Two other sponsors came up to the altar and lifted a small crystal pitcher of wine up as the pastor recited the words of institution. He gave first Rebe, then Carlos, the communion wafer. Then he poured a small amount of wine into a delicate crystal goblet and handed it to Carlos. Still within the chain, Carlos carefully put the goblet to Rebe's lips and waited for her to drink. Carlos gave her a blessing. Rebe in turn gave Carlos a drink and gave him a blessing. The pastor smiled and declared that now they had participated in their first communion, "chained" together as husband and wife.
The marriage was now considered truly blessed.
