A Simple Supper

This reading is comforting in so many ways. It is like warm sand under your feet or a comfortable cup of tea with a friend. This reading evokes the love I feel when I share a simple supper of pasta and bolognese in the living room with a friend. The Gospel speaks of warmth, love, and intimacy, all symbolized by sharing food. As we see in the Gospel, this act is not just a physical necessity but a spiritual one, a way to know, in real-time, the presence of Jesus.

The reading begins with the disciples recounting meeting the risen Jesus and recognizing Him in breaking bread. When they see Jesus again, He asks them for a piece of fish and eats it with them. In John’s Gospel, we find the Risen Jesus on shore cooking breakfast for the disciples. In all of the Gospels except Matthew, there is a story of Jesus sharing food with His disciples after the resurrection. Matthew brings in another comforting element. An angel tells the disciples to go to Galilee, where Jesus will meet them. Essentially, they are being told to go home. Galilee was home. The angel tells them to go home where they are secure and comfortable. Jesus will be with them at home.

The disciple’s mission to the world will come. While the sting of his death is still raw, Jesus is there to comfort them with a meal and an invitation to go home. We should never discount the importance of the disciples’ post-resurrection meals with Jesus and what they teach us about our relationships with one another and our relationship with Him.

A marvelous little story about Saint Francis of Assisi comes to mind. Saint Francis is out in the woods fasting and praying. As he starts to make his way back home, he realizes his body and strength are depleted to the point of death. As he struggles, he sees across a field a small hut with smoke coming from the chimney. Leaning against the building, a sign proclaims, “Fresh Bread Baked Daily.” Saint Francis knocks on the door, asking for some bread. The woman of the house tells him she has no bread. Francis says, “But I saw your Fresh Bread Baked Daily sign.” The woman replies, “Oh, that. We don’t bake bread; we paint signs.”

The simple food shared among those who love one another is where we come to know the Lord. Indeed, this is most powerfully true in the bread and wine of the Eucharist. When we gather as a community of faith, the real presence of Jesus is with us. 

It is also true when two or more people share a meal, their love for one another, and their life stories. Jesus does not remain in our churches or at our masses. The risen Jesus is among us whenever we share time, food, and love with others. When we allow ourselves to bring our vulnerability to the table and share it in trust with those we love, Jesus is present. Jesus consecrates our time, our mutual care for one another, and the food we eat.

So often, we live lives that discount this intimate sharing of life. We get something “to go.” We leave a dish for others to microwave when they get home. We don’t need an elaborate table setting or extraordinary meals. Simple people, a simple meal, and love shared is all we need. That is the Eucharist of our daily lives. That is where Jesus will come and dine with us. A piece of fish and some bread, broken and shared. That is all it took for the disciples to recognize Him.

Often, we become like the woman in the Saint Francis’ story. We paint the signs that speak of bread, life, and love. We paint signs pointing to love, intimacy, and Eucharist. Sign painting is easy. The hard part is creating Eucharistic meals in our everyday lives with those we love. Simple suppers, shared lives, and love poured out. This is the heart of the Eucharist, and the real presence of our risen Lord lived daily. 

In God’s Unending Love,

Gwen