The miracle of feeding

"There's a hunger beyond food that's expressed in food, and that's why feeding is always a kind of miracle.  It speaks to a bigger desire.  The feeding of the five thousand....the miracle wasn't that Jesus multiplied the loaves.  It's that the disciples took the bread and did what they were told, got up and started feeding, and something happened." *

What is that bigger desire that is addressed in bread and fish?  Could it be a desire to be connected to one another?  Could it be the recognition of our shared humanity in the sharing of food?  Does the passing of the bread invite us to open up to one another, to give the other a second glance?

In Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth he writes, "For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves."  (11.29)  Many denominations have used this passage to insist on examining all who step up to the Lord's table, and therefore, refusing the bread and wine to any who are unable to pass the examination.  What is this bread?  The body of Christ.  What is this wine?  The blood of Christ.

I believe Paul was speaking of an entirely different body.  I believe Paul is speaking about the body of Christ formed by the sharing of the meal; the body of Christ which is formed by those who gather at this time and in this place to become once again a part of the great mystery of God's love for us in Jesus.

Paul warns us not to step up to the Lord's table while rejecting another who the Lord has invited.  When you look across the table to those who are gathered for the meal, you need to be able to see the body of Christ and every single person gathered there as a part of that body.  You don't get to choose who is worthy and who is not.  If you cannot look with love on all the others, then step back and save yourself.  Come back when you are ready to open yourself to those whom God loved before time and who through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus are offered new life.

But is the communion table the only table of the Lord?  Are not all our tables filled with the bounty that comes from God's hand?  Are we ever to step up to a table and not see Christ's body poured out for all humankind?  Are we to take of any bread while judging others unworthy?

Those canned peas you brought to the food drive.....they too are the body and blood of Jesus, a love poured out for all whom God created.  Are you able to see it now?  The body of Christ, formed and re-formed again and again in diner and dining room and rescue mission.  The body of Christ feeding our deepest, biggest desires.


*thanks once again to Sara Miles for her book "take this bread".  The quote comes from page 175.

What is Christianity about?

"So much of Christianity seemed to be about claiming sides, about making distinctions, about finding a set of beliefs to cling to that excluded other people or made them scapegoats for all the evil in the world."*

What is Christianity about?

Christ?  The one who was crucified for claiming that God directed his path, a path of forgiveness?

Love?  Even when it means inviting 'those people' to dinner and accepting them as friends?

Forgiveness?  Although accepting forgiveness requires that we have something that needs forgiving.

Compassion?  All the time?  For everyone?

Being faithful?  Keeping our eyes on God knowing we will stumble, fall, fail, and generally mess it up on a regular basis?  Knowing we will be walking in the dark most days trusting in God?

Worship?  Is worship a once a week occurrence or a lifestyle?

Generosity?  How much is 'generous'?  Are we talking time, talent or money?

Or, is it a set of rules that make us feel good and clearly identify who 'those people' are?

I know that faith in Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, is a challenge on good days and nigh impossible on the bad days.  I know that the assurance of God's love, the very idea that I am called 'God's beloved' is powerful every day.  I know that without the witness of others, the communion meal and the richness of God's word, I would be shallow, lost and generally insufferable.

What are you thinking here?  Has it gotten easier or harder to live the life of faith? What story could you tell?


A quote from Sara Miles' book, "take this bread", page 161