Day 60: Let Us Gather Far Apart for a Dinner

DAY 60

Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic

A series of daily reflections for people of faith

by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland

WEEK NINE: WEDNESDAY 13 MAY 2020

Let Us Gather Far Apart for a Dinner

“Within days of the coronavirus stay-at-home orders, as I realized what we were losing – hugs, brushing one another’s shoulders as we scoot our chairs closer to the table, cooking and eating together, gifts of our time and attention – in isolation, … I missed my loved ones …” Samin Nosrat in a recent newspaper article: “Let’s Gather, Far Apart, for a Dinner of Lasagna.”

 

Meals figure centrally in the Bible. When Joseph saw his brothers after a betrayal followed by years of separation, “… he said to his house steward, ‘Bring the men into the house, and slay an animal and make ready; for the men are to dine with me at noon,’” a meal of reconciliation, Genesis 43:16. When the father saw his prodigal son coming home he said, “Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast …” a meal of forgiveness. Luke 15:23. Two men on the road to Emmaus, joined by Jesus after his resurrection, didn’t recognize Him. “When he was at table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, … and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, …” a meal of seeing someone in a new way. Luke 24:30-31.  

For Christians two significant meals, though separated by thousands of years, are intertwined – Passover and The Lord’s Supper. This central act of Christian worship involves a meal, and looks to the end of time when all of God’s people will be seated at the most extravagant catered meal in history: “‘I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, …’” Matthew 8:11.   

Challenge: following the Scriptural pattern of meals with others, put together your own “Gathering Together for Dinner Far Apart.” Pick a date and time.  At the appointed Zoom meeting time, each with their devices in front of them, tell stories, share your special food and tell its story, share family stories, laugh, cry, and if Christians, each share a meaningful Bible verse, pray together, then have coffee and dessert. No one should have to eat alone.

Reflective question: Who will you invite to your dinner and what will you prepare?

Reflective Scripture:  Psalm 23:5 – “Thou preparest a table before me …”

Reflective hymn:

“Christ, You Often Sat at Dinner” - Carolyn Gillette (1961 -    )

Same hymn tunes as “Alleluia, Sing to Jesus” or “Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy”

Christ, you often sat at dinner with the outcasts and the poor;

You reached out to every sinner, sharing bread and wine and more –

You proclaimed that God’s great table is a joyful, welcome place;

No one wears an outcast label or is turned away from grace.