Dinner with Friends

An evening spent sharing a meal with our closest friends brings more than joy; it creates a particular sense of belonging to one another.

At his last supper with his friends, Jesus offered us an insight into the fellowship of his coming kingdom. Sharing that meal with him were Judas who would betray him into the hands of his killers and Peter who would deny ever knowing him.

When we are invited to be a part of the Lord's supper, perfection isn't an entry requirement.

What truly gives us life?

This Sunday's gospel lesson led me to this quote from the prophet Isaiah

"Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?"    Isaiah55.2

And, frankly, that is the big question, isn't it? 

Why would we expend any amount of energy, resources, or time on pursuing things which do not feed us or satisfy us?   Probably because it takes us a while to come to the realization that we are chasing after ephemeral things:  (love that word: ephemeral) - things that are all smoke and mirrors; things that once obtained reveal themselves to be of no value or use.

For some of us, it is not until our last moments, our final months of life that this wisdom becomes a reality for us.  For many, a tragedy will bring this into focus.  For the few, that which is cosmically valuable is clear from an early age. 

Sunday we are invited to our Lord Jesus' table, to eat again the bread and wine, to be made one with the Son of God and become the body of Christ.  Most days we don't really understand exactly what that all means (even we who can explain it with $5 words) - but we are sure that in this meal, at this table, we are connecting with something/someone whose value extends beyond all time.

The Syro-Phoenician woman [Mark7.24-30] was willing to accept crumbs from our Lord's table; she was convinced that Jesus' crumbs would be sufficient.  For me, crumbs are generally all that I am able to handle.  Grace can be overwhelming to we mere mortals.