A Supper Conversation

It's incredible how comfort food is culturally specific. Faced with a night alone in the apartment by myself, and a trip to the grocery store later, I have a pot of stew bubbling on the stove and a bowl of sukuma wiki and chapatis* sitting next to me. When push comes to shove, I always head home. This is true in more facets of my life than my culinary choices.

When I'm confused about my life, one of my first impulses is to either call my mother and father or head home to see them. When my world shifts, I look for familiar, for comfortable, and for love. A cup of tea and a cuddle on the couch. A mug of hot stew and a biscuit in front of the fire while my parents and grandparents catch up. Grape Fanta, cheese puffs, and Reese's Cups. Whether you're a vegetarian, vegan, carnivore, or some variation, it's undeniable that food is an integral part of your life. My home is where my heart is. My home is where I get fed and feed my family and friends.

The professor who taught my Gospels class focused on how Jesus' actions fulfilled Old Testament expectations of the Messiah--like, in the Old Testament, God is described as the one who walks on the sea and when Jesus walked on water, the disciples would have made that connection. The Jews expected the Messiah to heal them, to cast out demons, and to provide the great banquet in heaven. A great part of heaven is food--we will sit down at the marriage feast of the Lamb and we will be fed everything we could possibly need. "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19.9).

Ya'll, this is really freaking cool. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus ate with his disciples and told them how much he'd been looking forward to celebrating Passover with them. But then he adds, "I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (Luke 22.15-16) And then, hours later, he dies on a cross to fulfill his promise and and to invite us to participate in his marriage supper. We're not just invited to the reception; we're part of the ceremony! And at that feast, no one will go hungry and no one will be lonely or left out and all food allergies will be ancient history.

So when you celebrate the Eucharist with your church family, or eat comfort food at home, or find yourself staring at leftovers again, remember two things. First, this meal is just practice for the marriage feast of the Lamb. Second, Jesus died so that you could eat it.

Praise the Lord.

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*Please ignore the fact that chapatis do NOT taste the same with self-rising flour.