The Last Call community has a tagline that helps get at our purpose: Communion with God; Community with Others. Below is a riff on that central theme.
Have you ever noticed that most of the time when people get together, it is centered around food? You rarely say, “Let’s just sit and talk”, but instead you suggest “Let’s get a cup of coffee” or “Let’s have lunch together”. Many business meetings are made more tolerable by the presence of coffee and doughnuts. And when someone visits your home you ask, “Can I get you anything to drink?” When offering a snack you insist “Help yourself!” There is something about pairing conversation with food and drink that makes it easier, more comfortable. Strolling down the sidewalk with an ice cream cone and talking about future plans; sitting down to a hearty meal to celebrate an accomplishment; or catching up with an old friend over a steaming mug of hot chocolate; many of the moments which we remember and which define our relationships are centered around food. And although the food itself may have been delicious, it merely served as the conduit for the exchange; the ideas, friendship, and shared experiences far outlast the momentary pleasures of food and drink.
And so, when the 12 friends sat down to dinner together with their teacher one last time, they gratefully ate the bread, and drank the wine that was provided. Christ valued his relationship with each of them, and he told them to remember him with food and drink. Jesus took a concept that was and is difficult – his body broken, and his blood poured out – and he served it to humanity on a dinner table. Even today we are invited to remember his sacrifice, to commune with God, by eating and drinking together. Jesus experienced human life first hand, and so he knew the relationship building power of sharing a meal. He fed his disciples, comforted them, built relationship with them, and does the same for us today when we accept his offering of bread and wine, and accept his ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. Jesus is host and he welcomes us to the table, saying “Help yourself”.
Post by Jarrett Jackson
Photo by kino-glaz on Flickr.com
