At the Table | Join the Meal

17 After taking a cup and giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 I tell you that from now on I won’t drink from the fruit of the vine until God’s kingdom has come.” 19 After taking the bread and giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, he took the cup after the meal and said, “This cup is the new covenant by my blood, which is poured out for you.

Luke 22:17-20 (Common English Bible)

We all have rituals around our tables. Maybe it's holding hands before a meal. Maybe it's going around the table sharing highlights from everyone's day. Maybe it's the special china that only comes out for holidays. These rituals matter because they help us remember what's important.

Jesus understood the power of table rituals. On that night before his crucifixion, he took the most ordinary elements from their meal – bread and wine – and transformed them into something that would help his followers remember him for the rest of their lives.

But Jesus didn't create something completely new. He took what was already there, what was already familiar, and gave it deeper meaning. The bread they were already eating became a symbol of his body. The wine they were already drinking became a symbol of his blood.

This tells us something profound about how God works in our lives. God doesn't usually show up in spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime moments. More often, God takes the ordinary stuff of our daily lives and infuses it with sacred meaning. The conversations around your dinner table aren't just small talk, they're opportunities to know and love each other more deeply. The simple act of sharing food isn't just about nutrition, it's about community and care.

When we gather around the communion table at church, we're not just participating in a religious ritual. We're joining a meal that connects us to Jesus and to two thousand years of believers who have also eaten this bread and drunk from this cup. We're part of something much bigger than ourselves.

Personal Application: Think about the rituals and traditions around your own tables. How might God be present in those moments? The next time you sit down for a meal with others, take a moment to recognize it as more than just eating; it's an opportunity for connection, gratitude, and even encountering God through the people around your table.

Prayer: God, thank you for taking ordinary bread and wine and making them sacred. Help us see how you take the ordinary moments of our lives and fill them with your presence. When we gather around tables – at home, at church, or anywhere else – remind us that you are there too, turning simple meals into holy moments. Amen.