Dear Friends,
A Table is a Place of Revelation
The resurrected Jesus made appearances to his disciples and most involved food. On Easter afternoon with two disciples on the Emmaus Road Jesus reveals himself in the breaking of the bread. Easter evening, Jesus eats with his disciples. On the Sea of Galilee, there is another miraculous catch of fish and breakfast awaits the disciples as they come ashore to behold the Risen Lord. These encounters show us that somehow and by some means Jesus is made known, his resurrection, divinity, commissioning, is facilitated by a meal. Tables become the locale where Jesus is experienced. We might call them “Glory Tables” as the manifest presence of the Risen Lord is witnessed.
I was sitting with some folks (unchurched / de-churched) a tour community dinner, they did not know who I was but when they found out I was a priest the conversation as you might expect took a turn toward religion. I turned it to history and started talking about the beginning of the Church of England and the amazing 1500’s; a century of reformation, exploration, innovation and more. I shared with them how William Tyndale’s translation of the bible into English and the Book of Common Prayer written by Thomas Cranmer were so rich in language, vocabulary, and cadence. I shared this quote,“Without William Tyndale and Thomas Cranmer we would not have a William Shakespeare”. I then quoted some of Tyndale’s biblical texts and some of Cranmer’s prayers. They were moved by the language, the words had deep meaning. Not sure how to explain it but the weight of the Lord’s presence was manifest around that table with food and conversation, it was a revelation.
Like we see through the life and ministry of Jesus, relationships are formed around a meal; people connect, share stories, they listen and learn and where 2 or 3 are there, so is the Lord.
From “Should Your Church Start Dinner Church?” by Jon Davis
Blessings,
Pastor Hae-Jeong