Meal Time

                                                                                     Loaves and Fishes

 I saw a tweet on the weekend in which the writer claimed that every chapter in the gospel of Luke includes a meal. I've often said that Jesus did his best work at meal tables and picnics but this claim caught me off guard. Could it be true? It is a bit of a stretch because but there is a lot of talk about food in Luke, and some scholars suggest that shared meals are the organizing principle in this gospel. There are at least ten distinct stories of shared meals and six of them are specific to Luke. This is a big deal because Luke shares so much source material with Mark (the first gospel written) and Matthew yet he offers these additional meal accounts. All four gospels offer a version of the miracle of  the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, and the Last Supper. 

As we have a glimpse of life after COVID-19 many of us are looking forward to the shared meals we've lived without for months and months. Some have been the biggies such as Christmas and Easter, along with birthdays and anniversaries. We've also yearned for the dinner parties and the casual communal meals with loved ones and friends. 

Many meal ministries have been inventive in making sure that people are fed, but they haven't been able to offer sit-down meals through much of the pandemic. Ruth will leave shortly to work at the lunch ministry from Bridge St. UC but these are bag lunches presented with a minimum of conversation. It's often in the "breaking of bread" at table that meaningful 

I've appreciated that Rev. Isaac and Trenton United have figured out how to celebrate the sacrament of communion several times during the past 15 months but out of necessity it has been quite restricted. We can look forward to the opportunity to sharing this meal before long, we pray. 

                                                                Last Supper -- Paulo Medina