The Spirituality of a Shared Meal
“The Son of Man has come eating and drinking…” (Luke 7:34)
When reading the Bible, paying attention to all the details is essential. It is easy to overlook parts of the text we deem ordinary. If one believes the Bible is the word of God, none of it is unimportant. It is not just a historical document but a living and active guide that speaks to us today. Even the details about what we think are everyday activities offer us wisdom that applies to our lives.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus repeatedly takes time to engage with people while eating a meal. He eats with tax collectors and sinners, Pharisees, and his disciples. Luke emphasizes meals because this is how Jesus connects with people and engages in meaningful conversations. There is something special, you could even say spiritual, about eating together.
In the book “Bowling Alone,” Robert Putnam notes how Americans now spend less and less time together. Families do not eat together like they once did. Shared meals are often brief and take place in the presence of distracting devices like televisions or smartphones. Entertaining friends and neighbors has also declined drastically in recent years. We have replaced gathering around tables with staring at screens. It is no wonder we are in the midst of a loneliness epidemic and more polarized than ever.
Hospitality is an important theme throughout the Bible. In Genesis 18, Abraham shows radical hospitality to strangers, and it turns out his guests are more than strangers. His hospitality leads to an encounter with God. Luke records something similar in his gospel account. Meals take place in nearly every chapter of the Gospel of Luke, culminating in one final meal story in the last chapter. Jesus appears as a stranger to two people walking on the Road to Emmaus. Even though they openly converse with one another, his identity is concealed until they sit down to share a meal.
“When he was at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.” (Luke 24:30-31) Twice in Scripture, God shows up as a stranger, and his identity is revealed when he is invited to a table and shown hospitality.
Extraordinary things happen around tables. Friendships are forged. Barriers are torn down. Eyes are opened. Forgiveness is made possible. Loneliness dissipates. New realities are revealed. God shows up!
The next time you open your Bible. Pay attention to the details. Don’t dismiss anything as ordinary. Practicing something you find in the text, as simple as rest, silence, embracing interruptions, or even eating together, may bless you in ways you never imagined.