In our world of Skip the DishesTM, fast food, and drive-thru’s, meals have taken on a feeling of convenience. How often do we sit at our desk and eat lunch? Or gulp something down in the car as we drive to the next meeting or race to our kid’s practice? Sometimes eating becomes nothing more than filling our physical need for sustenance. No doubt, this was also true in ancient Israel, but if we look at scriptures, we find that sharing a meal together often came to mean much more beyond the need for sustenance.
When Abram was visited by three angels, he made a meal for them (Genesis 18). Jacob purchased Esau’s birthright for a bowl of lentil stew (Genesis 25). On the eve of the LORD’s rescue of Israel from slavery in Egypt, the Hebrews first partook in a meal (Exodus 12). And when Moses read from the Book of the Covenant, and the Israelites responded with “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey,” he, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel ratified the covenant with the LORD by going up and seeing the LORD and eating and drinking (Exodus 24). There are many other examples of meals to celebrate the conclusion of a treaty (Genesis 26.28-30 and 31.51-55, Exodus 18.12).
Come join us in a shared meal on September 12 from 5 to 6:30 pm at our provincial office at 2775 Emerson St. Abbotsford. More info here at 2024 AGM meal.
The New Testament is no different. Jesus, himself engaged in many significant meals. He fed 5000 with five loaves and two fish (Matthew 14, Mark 6). Another time he fed 4000 with seven loaves and a few small fish (Matthew 15, Mark 8). Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding feast (John 2:1-11). In fact, so much did Jesus enjoy a good dinner party, that he was sometimes accused of being a drunkard and a glutton (Matthew 11.19). Even before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus shared an intimate meal with his 12 closest friends (Mark 14).
After Jesus died, rose, and returned to his Father in heaven, the importance of meals continued. We find the new believers in Jerusalem devoting themselves to “the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…” (Acts 2:40-47)
I suppose you could say that the Bible begins in Genesis 1 with God’s invitation to eat and ends in Revelation 19 with a wedding feast, and the sharing of meals filled the spaces of people’s lives in between.
Throughout scripture, eating together was a way of building community, ratifying treaties/covenants (both political and spiritual), and celebrating social rituals such as weddings, etc. Sharing food together as they would do at a feast, signified joy and prosperity, while the absence of food or shared meals signified emotional affliction and mourning.
Bethesda has been richly blessed throughout our years of service in God’s Kingdom. Supporting and empowering people of all abilities and their families, to thrive and to cultivate a deep sense of belonging as we journey through the joys and challenges of life together, has given us so much joy that we want to shout that joy as loudly as we can! And what better way than sharing a meal?
Each September, we offer an inviting meal to share with our community before we meet for our annual general meeting. The meal is a chance for people we support, families, staff, friends and anyone curious about Bethesda, to come together to practice this time-honoured tradition of breaking bread as an act of worship and thanksgiving.
Come and celebrate with us! And reflect on the significance of engaging in a practice with such a deep and meaningful history, one that is very much pleasing to the Lord.
Bethesda’s annual meal and AGM take place on September 12, 2024 at 2775 Emerson St. Abbotsford. The meal will be served from 5 – 6:30 pm and the meeting runs from 6:30 – 8 pm. This year, we are offering pulled pork sandwiches and salads provided by local caterer, the Rolling Chef, including a gluten-free option, as well as desserts and drinks. There is no cost and no RSVPs are required. Just show up! This year we will feature crafts and treasures created by our self-advocates that are available for purchase at a pop-up market.
