You are what you eat!

The 1987 Danish film Babette’s Feast tells the story of two sisters in a remote 19th-century Danish village who never marry and live a rigid life dominated by their father, the pleasure-denying pastor of their austere church. Both sisters had opportunities to leave the village. But their father objected and they instead spent their lives caring for him.

Many years later—their father is now deceased—they take in French refugee Babette Hersant, who agrees to work as their servant and cook. After winning the lottery, Babette wants to repay the sisters for their kindness and offers to cook a sumptuous French meal for them and their cold and barren congregation. The lavish feast proves to be an eye-opening, heartwarming experience. Meals can have that kind of power. Think of a meal where you sat down with strangers and departed with new friends. Perhaps that is why a meal—the Eucharist—is at the center of our worship and why meals figure so prominently in the gospels. (from Dan Grippo, as written in "Prepare the Word")

One of the criticisms of Jesus while He lived and moved about Judea and Galilee was that "he ate and drank with sinners". The miracle that is reported by all four of the Gospels is the Feeding of the Multitudes with a few fish and loaves. His first miracle in the Gospel of John is at the Wedding Feast in Cana. The Last Supper is also reported by all four Evangelists. After the Resurrection Jesus makes Himself known to the two disciples on the Road to Emaus at a meal. He fixes a meal for all of the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Today's Gospel has Him sharing a meal in the Upper Room again after the Resurrection. Meals were occasions for Jesus to reveal Himself and His Father's intentions to His disciples both before and after His Passion, Death and Resurrection.

The Eucharist is our meal where He still feeds us with His Presence. Just as meals were important to Him 2000 years ago, this lasting meal is important to Him. In the meal of the Eucharist He feeds us with Himself. He gives us Himself to help us be His Flesh and Blood in the world. He gives us Himself to imitate His forgiveness and compassion for the world so desperately in need of both. He gives us Himself to draw us closer (in Communion) to Him, His Father, His Spirit and His Body (Church). 

Meals do more than feed us nutrition for our bones and organs. Meals make us whole and holy. Appreciate the meal that Christ calls you to.

peace,

Fr. Chuck