Bread and Wine

At our house we frequently have bread and wine, “in remembrance”. Usually there is also some cheese. And tomatoes. Crushed up tomatoes. Sometimes a little sausage. Okay. We have pizza and wine.

Pizza and wine is a really easy way to share a meal with friends and family. Most everyone likes at least some variation even if we have to pull the cheese off for a few. What is the best part is the fellowship around the table. There is something about eating together that evens out all the rough edges.

You do not have “meal fellowship” with other diners in a restaurant unless they are at your table. When Carrie Newcomer sings about “Room at the Table”, she is singing about extending fellowship. It is entirely possible to be at a meal with others where there is no fellowship but what’s the point. Eat at your own house by yourself.

“Meal fellowship symbolizes peace and reconciliation with each other. It also symbolizes the protection requirement of the host.” (Full disclosure: I wrote this in my Bible but forgot to write where I found it. These are not my words but I’ll be danged if I know whose they are.) In truly ecumenical faith practices, everyone who fellowships with Jesus is welcome at His table. He is the host and no where does He say there are any requirements for coming to His table except that the eating of the broken bread and the drinking of the wine be done in remembrance of His sacrifice and death. (Luke 22:19-21; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Just as we cannot truly fellowship with others and come under or give protection – regardless of the amounts of wine and pizza – unless we are at peace and reconciled with them, we also cannot come under Jesus’ protection unless we are at peace and reconciled with Him. Fortunately He always provides a way.

Do we? Do we provide a path for peace and reconciliation with others? Do we have room at our table?