This morning's appointed Gospel reading is from Mark 14. It is Mark's presentation of the Last Supper. This meal means so much to the Christian community. It serves a wide range of purposes.
Most of these were covered last night, in Kat's sharing with the group about her year in Mexico with the Young Adults in Global Mission program. Her first slide was something along the lines of "Kat Loves Food."
She spoke of food as that which sustains us. The meal we share as Christians sustains us. It provides the spiritual nutrition we need to be able to face all that the week will bring.
Kat spoke of food as community. We not only eat, we share a table with others. As we share the table, we learn of the others' hopes and their needs. They become a part of our lives and we become a part of theirs.
Kat's love of food involved celebrations. Did you catch the part where her hosts attempted to replicate a "Thanksgiving Meal" for her. They cooked chicken and tortilla - "That is poultry and bread stuffing," they offered. We celebrate at this meal - celebrate what Christ has accomplished for us as we celebrate the presence of Christ in our lives.
Finally, she spoke of justice. The intricacies of international trade are too complicated for me, but those she served spoke of how food choices had changed once trade began. Gone is the great variety of locally developed hybrid corns. Watching the pre-school children drink cola for breakfast raised questions of how food reflects greed rather than an attempt to share and to seek the betterment of others. Surely, our shared meal is about God's will might be done, by God, but also by us.
We are all in love with food; and we love the sharing of meals. They are so important to us and to the life we seek to live. No wonder Jesus made the sharing of a meal the core gathering for his followers. He knew that around the table so much can be accomplished. And around his table, so much is.
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