“When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it and some bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’”  John 21: 9, 12

Photo courtesy of Timon Wanner on Unsplash

Eating is an important part of our family gatherings, especially with great cooks and our Italian heritage where food is the centerpiece of every celebration. Grandma Barbatti’s handwritten recipes are still used and our grandchildren—the fourth generation—are now doing some of the cooking.

Food offers comfort, like my mother-in-law’s chicken and dumplings. I remember one particularly challenging time several years ago when she was in the hospital for what we all knew would be the last time.  In addition, a friend of ours had attempted suicide. Our emotions were raw and we were tired.  I made a big pot of chicken and dumplings for Tom and me that warmed our tummies and our souls.

So many other great memories of special family times center around food—our crazy July 4^th celebrations were everyone pitches in with a meal like homemade spaghetti sauce that has cooked for three days or the traditional Low Country Boil served off newspapers down the middle of the tables; the Thanksgiving feasts with two turkeys, a smoked lamb roast and fixin’s that could feed the whole neighborhood

Food is a symbol of love.

Eating was important in the lives of Jesus and His disciples. The Bible talks often about Jesus eating with friends and acquaintances—Mary and Martha, Peter and his family, Matthew and all of his tax collector friends and “sinners”.

The setting for these verses from the gospel of John take place after Jesus’ resurrection. He had already appeared to His followers several times.  On this occasion, the disciples are out fishing when they see a person cooking on the beach. They don’t recognize Him at first until John says, “It’s the Lord!”

Don’t you love the image of our risen Lord and Savior cooking breakfast for His friends?

One of my favorite miracles of Jesus is the first one when He turns water into wine at a wedding celebration. Our Lord loves fun and celebrations and provides for every detail of the party!

When Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, He says to ask for “our daily bread.” That is our God—He cares for everything in our lives whether it is spiritual, emotional or physical.

Sometimes “religion” tells us that God doesn’t care about the little things in our life like breakfast.  But in the words of Joyce Meyer, “God created the universe. Everything is small to Him!”

Jesus wants us to come to Him.  He wants to care for us.  He wants to fellowshjp with us.

The Bible also talks often of the feast of the Bridegroom that all followers of Jesus will partake of in heaven.  God is preparing that party for you and for me. I can’t wait to see the amazing food that will be at that banquet!

Lord, we thank you for our “daily bread.” We thank you for your fellowship with us that feeds our spirits. We thank you for your sacrifice for our sins that we remember through Holy Communion. Help us to claim all the blessings you have for us and share them with others as we eat together and in every aspect of our daily lives until we can eat the feast with you in heaven! In your holy name we pray Jesus. Amen