April 09th, 2024

This obviously will not come as a surprise when I say, "I love food!"  Just one look at me and you can tell that :)
   
​ So when this Sunday's Gospel reading includes an occasion when the Risen Lord is eating, it caught my attention :).  And this passage in Luke 24 follows another occasion when Jesus ate with two of his disciples.  In fact, have you ever noticed how often the Gospels and Jesus' ministry includes eating and drinking with others? 

    Turning water into wine, asking a woman for water at the well, offering living water, feeding over 5,000 and then more than 4,000, calling HImself the Bread of Life, attending meals prepared by others, and hosting meals for others, eating the passover meal with his disciples, instituting the Lord's Supper, the Risen Lord eating with his disciples, making breakfast for 7 of his disciples, and promising an eternal banquet.  And I'm sure I've forgotten others times when Jesus ate with other people and used food and drink as examples of God's grace and love for all.
     Why?  Why is food and eating so important to Jesus and His ministry?  Maybe that last sentence of the previous paragraph answers the question.  Food and drink is a good example of God's grace and love for all!  
    In the months after my Mom died, and before my Dad died, he often referred to a picture he had on the wall of his room.  It is a long, long, banquet table, with the finest of everything on the table...all set for people to sit down for a banquet.  And the caption below the picture is a quote from Luke `14:17, "Come, for everything is now ready", from the story Jesus told of a great banquet and invitations to many.  My Dad would point to one of the empty chairs at the table and say, "There's where your Mom is sitting.  And soon I'll be sitting right next to her".  And he always was encouraging each of us to keep the faith and look toward the promise of eternal life with them in heaven.
     So today we are in the midst of the days of Easter, that will last until the Ascension of our Lord.  And the accounts of the Risen Lord often include sharing a meal together. And then the Ascended Lord promises to be always with us.  And one of the events that brings the Risen  and Ascended Lord to us is in the Lord's Supper.  So whenever you gather for Holy Communion, or when you sit down to a meal with family and friends, or even when you grab a snack and water bottle, may you remember that your Savior and Lord is with you.  Be assured that He will answer the common table prayer, "Come, Lord Jesus".  For He will come and be with you now and always!

Blessings,
Pastor Steve