THE POWER OF FELLOWSHIP MEALS

      Some people call it "Eucharist;" some call it the "Lord's Supper;" some call it "Communion," but all would agree that it's a SACRED MEAL.
      Some people believe that, in ways they do not understand, the loaf and the cup become the very body and blood of Christ; some believe that this is true DURING the meal, but that before and after the Sacrament, the bread and wine are merely bread and wine; some people believe that, in a mysterious way, Christ offers them SPIRITUAL food when they gather for His supper; some believe that the Lord's Supper is about remembrance... but for me, Communion has always been a sacred fellowship meal... in which we are united with Christians in all times and places... as we encounter our God.
      In a lesser way of course, meals are always "sacred." They are always relational and, in many ways, intimate, and throughout the ages, in every culture, fellowship meals have been moments of grace, healing, and understanding. It is no accident that the people of God often gathered for feasts, and it is no accident that Abraham (Gen. 18) hurried to prepare a meal for his three visitors. Likewise, it is not surprising that Zacchaeus repented as he broke bread with Jesus... and that Peter  (John 21) was given the opportunity to express his deep love for Jesus in a fellowship meal. I have known Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Methodists, and I know that they all love to eat together. They love their church luncheons and their potlucks because they give them a chance to express their love for one another... and an opportunity to grow in their faith... together. Meals give us cause for gratitude... as we share stories with loved ones... and they give us a sense of  connectedness because we know that we did not create, grow, or butcher the food we eat. We encounter and honor our God at the table- in Jesus' time, no respectable person would have broken bread without giving thanks to their God- and our meals also give us occasion to celebrate our Lord's generosity... because instead of feeding us manna or broccoli, he feeds us with the finest cuisine. Meals shared together are also one of the last bastions of grace-filled time... because they give us respite from the competitive, combative, distrusting, and relentless world that we live in.
      For the Reformers, the Word of God- the Sermon- became the primary way of expressing God's grace and they erected big pulpits and put them in the middle of the chancel. The Word, expressed and taught, became the hallmark of the Protestant church... but it has never replaced the transforming encounter that many people experience in the breaking of the bread. Nor was it ever intended that one would replace the other. When Cleopas (Luke 24:13ff) walked the Emmaus Road with his friend, Jesus joined them, and he interpreted Scripture for them as they walked along.  They listened to Jesus opine on Scripture (Old Testament) for some time it seems, and according to Luke, their hearts "were stirred" as they listened... but it was IN THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD that they recognized him... as God's Christ!
      May God give us the grace to share our bread with others, may he give us the courage to feed... and eat with the hungry... and may he give us eyes... to see him as he sits at our table. May the Word of God stir our hearts... and may our souls be filled when he offers himself to us! Amen.