I have lived in a number of different houses over the last 10 years. Some were student house shares, some were lodgings and some I was renting on my own. Some have been great, others were… difficult. But the one I am in now is a houseshare and I love it. When I tell people about it (because they know my track record with places to stay) I tell them it’s great. And then, every time, I go on to say, “we take it in turns to cook and then eat together in the evenings.”
It may seem something quite small but it’s unusual for me, something I haven’t particularly had in previous houses. There have been the odd night where I’ve had dinner with friends or invited them round to mine, but to actually know that most evenings I will sit with people to eat and catch up on their days and let off steam is something I treasure.
About a week ago at work we had a rare occasion where a number of us took a lunch break at the same time and we gathered in the small office kitchen and ate together. Conversation varied from serious to light-hearted. There was debate and there was laughter. And there was a sense of togetherness. There was an opportunity to get to know each other better and strengthen relationships between colleagues.
There is something about getting together over food that is special. In sharing a meal we open doors for easy conversation. In eating together and talking we get to know each other and build relationships, and the relationships strengthen, meals can become a time to relax and just enjoy time together on a daily basis.
That’s what Jesus did. He ate with people. He had dinner with Pharisees and sinners. He spent time with them, ate with them, talked to them. At the last supper, he was eating with his disciples. He had done this many times over their years together. They had followed him and learned from him, and they had eaten with him and each other. Their bonds had strengthened so they knew where they could turn. On Easter Day when Jesus had died and disappeared, they were gathered together. It wasn’t the best time for them. They may have been feeling scared or guilty or angry or all of these and more. But they knew they could stick together.
And when Jesus appears to the pair travelling on the Emmaus Road, he travels to their destination where he is invited in to eat with them. Which he does. There must be something special about eating together – that’s when they recognised Jesus. Again, on the beach while Peter is fishing with some of the other disciples, Jesus calls them in and eats breakfast on the beach with them.
Eating together is one of the greatest forms of welcome and belonging. It is something Jesus modelled with his disciples, building family so they would stay together. And it’s something I have come to appreciate, one of the greatest pleasures – to eat with people we love.
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