I had an English professor in my undergraduate studies that was fascinated with how food was featured in books. Even the most passing of references got the wheels of his mind turning. He was of the opinion that you could tell a lot about the author and her intentions by how she used food.
Our stories about Jesus are like that too. The one thing you can say about Jesus was that he liked to eat. And, he liked to eat in community. Food features prominently in our gospels because it serves as a vehicle for conversation and relationship building. So many of our stories in the gospels feature Jesus, sitting around a table with others, eating. He was sharing a meal. In Revelation 3, Jesus even extends a cosmic invitation to the church in Laodicea. "Behold, I stand at the door knocking, anyone who hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them and they with me."
I believe Jesus should be our model for how we approach food and how we view eating with others. Because, sometimes it isn't about the food. Sometimes, it is about the meal itself. The ceremony, the place settings, the joke that you only break out when someone is at your table for the first time. It is about fellowship and hospitality. It is about creating a space for our Lord to speak an invitation of life together.
Who can you invite in for a meal?
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