Easter (this year) is behind us and the historical Easter is behind us. We live in the light of the resurrection. I am not of the ‘sacramental’ background of ‘church’ (Lesslie Newbigin in The Household of God suggested there were three broad strands: Catholic (sacramental), Protestant (word) and Pentecostal (Spirit)) but have been reading of John and of Jesus’ disciples and their practice of baptism so of course am provoked. Beyond that Gayle and I have been thinking about ‘the breaking of bread’. Historically it references a meal where the ‘head of the household’ would literally break the bread so was a term simply referring to a meal. This carries over with the passover meal and what has been termed the agape meal.
Meals. I eat cos I am hungry, but the culture of the day was deeper than that – it was one of fellowship and openness. And there were special meals, banquets that strengthened the (hierarchical) culture. Who was invited and where they were seated was very important. That part of what went on then determined who invited you back and where you would be seated. Jesus’ instruction was so radical (‘do not invite…’); his behaviour was outrageous – allowing a woman from the street (the ‘doors’ were not closed so people could come in) to wash his feet with her tears and he himself getting up from the table to wash the feet.
Meals… I have quoted before but it is worth doing so again. Vincent Branick (a Catholic) wrote The House Church in the writings of Paul (1989)
The prohibition of Laodicea [365AD] completes a critical cycle. The Lord’s Supper had changed from evening meal to stylized (sic) ritual. The assembly had moved from dining room to sacred hall. Leadership had shifted from family members to special clergy. Now the orginal form of church was declared illegal.
Meals… the take the three aspects that make the content of the meal:
- Remember Jesus
- Proclaim his death
- Until he come
How about – a response of a biblical recounting of a Jesus story and a personal one. ‘I remember the story about… and when I encountered Jesus…’
As we eat and drink – we are proclaiming the death of Jesus, the victory over the powers, the carving out of a new path… and we do do ‘until he comes’ for we have entered an era that continues from the empty tomb and will continue until that day.
The other side of the resurrection – no need to simply home in solemnly on the cross – it is a vital part of the story, but so is the resurrection.
Meals – Jesus had meals at multiple levels. Maybe we could experiment?