Someone said recently that our church has an ‘obsession’ with food, eating and hospitality. If you want evidence, think of the Bakehouse (food distribution to several hundred people every Thursday and Saturday), the earlier ‘Food in the Barn’ (when a meal was served each month by people from different churches), the ‘Last Breakfast’ (breakfast/brunch with worship on the side on the last Sunday of the month), our monthly Communion (first Sunday of the month), our Morning Tea in the Barn (every Sunday) and all the extra meals that happen.
An ‘obsession’ sounds like we have unwanted, intrusive thoughts about food that can cause distress. It may be more accurate to say Box Hill Baptist Church has a biblical passion about food and eating together.
One of the earliest references to food in the Bible relates to the leaders of Israel who “saw God, and they ate and drank.” (Ex. 24: 11)
The New Testament scholar, Robert Karris, made this famous observation about Jesus and food: “In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal”.
This Sunday, our Scripture from the last book of the Bible has the risen Jesus saying: “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you with me.” (Rev. 3:20)
Food reminds us that we are dependent beings—“Give us this day our daily bread.”
Food shared can turn strangers into friends.
Food is about justice—ensuring that hungry people are fed.
Food is about welcome, when we give every person a place at the table.
Food reminds us that God is interested in every part of human life.
Meals can be the places where we may encounter God.
Can you hear the knock on the door? See you at the Last Breakfast this Sunday at 10am.
