Being Fed – Body & Soul

When we see how often Jesus is found in people’s homes sharing meals, is it any wonder that the central act of our worship is the sharing of food and drink? When we break a piece of bread and share it, when we offer another person the cup of wine, we look in their eyes.  It’s more than remembering Jesus, it’s an act of invitation and welcome, gathered around a shared hope.

When we gather around a table, whether it’s a degustation, rogan josh, or scrambled eggs on toast, there is an opportunity for us to share more than the food. We remember other shared meals, other friends, other homes; if we are courageous, we can tell those stories as guest or host.

In our lives which often appear to be full with “stuff”, creating the space for food and re-creation offers value to those with whom we share our meal, and it also renews our lives – body and soul.

When Jesus invited himself to Zacchaeus’ home for lunch, it is more than a meal – especially for Zacchaeus. What are we offering when we welcome someone to a meal – in our home or elsewhere? What are we expecting when we are invited and made welcome at a meal prepared by others?

Sometimes formality will stifle conversation, as easily as meals share around a television programme. The risk of being together with only background music and the aroma of roasting lamb invites us to share something of ourselves.

It is common practice for Jews to say grace at the beginning and the completion of a meal – for what we are about to receive and for what we have received, we give thanks.

I am quite fond of this “Pub Blessing” …

Bless this pub

where the snooker table slants with saving grace

where brass is polished with devotion …

 

Where we sit at a table

imbibing ale and conversation and

wine that makes us glad …

 

Where the jukebox plays sacred music –

numbered chants and anthems

we flip through choosing favourites

 

Bless this neighbourhood pub –

alight and alive with laughter –   

where we confess our failures

celebrate our victories

pray for health and happiness and true love

give thanks for our friends

sing

and raise our glasses to 

life in all its fullness.