Not A Snake Handler

There was a time, and perhaps that time still exists in some places, when some churches of the Appalachian mountains practiced snake handing in worship.  Of course, the snakes being handled were not the common rat snake which is found in barns, or the common green snake which stays hidden in the grass, but venomous snakes such the rattlesnake.  It is based on a few verses at the end of Mark which are not normally included in most of the ancient manuscripts. The supposition is that if you have faith the poisonous snake will not bite, or if it does, it will not be a killing bite.  

I thought about this today after coming home from worship in the local Episcopal Church.  This thought came as Communion was offered by use of a common cup.  Dipping the bread in the common cup is about as near as I can go to taking the cup and drinking from it after a hundred or more have had a sip.  Oh, I know wine is regarded as an antiseptic and I watched the priest wipe the cup after each person took a drink from the cup.  I even noticed the cup being turned just a tad after each person shared the common cup.  

Don't get me wrong.  I love Jesus.  The Sacrament which is shared is regarded highly.  There is nothing like sharing the Holy Meal with the people or God.  My problem is I did not even eat or drink after my own children and to drink after a room full of strange people is a bridge I cannot cross.  Intinction is about as close as I can come to sharing the common cup.  I guess I just don't have enough faith to think that a rattlesnake bite would not be fatal.  Neither can I force myself to believe that faith will wipe away all the germs from the holy cup.