Eating Together as a Spiritual Practice
“The question of bread for myself is a material one, but the question of bread for my neighbor is a spiritual one.”—Nikolai Berdyaev.
Indeed, Jesus gives us continued examples of feeding thousands and of eating in the homes of others, often with the most despised, such as Zacchaeus and Matthew, tax collectors. Jesus, a role model in this, feeds others and lets others feed him. For Christians, Jesus leaves us with another meal, the Eucharist of bread and wine, a sacrament that reminds us of his care and brings his presence to us.
When I am having difficulty with someone, I imagine us together at the altar rail, kneeling, if possible, to receive the bread and wine of the Eucharist. Jesus is with us. After kneeling together, I see the person in a different light. Sometimes I see the Christ within them.
I have given up trying to understand why sharing a meal with someone else can help us build a relationship faster than spending hours talking to that person. That is why I so strongly believe in the ritual of family meals together. As we are being fed, we see the person more clearly. Often, we can have a deeper conversation when food is present. It is almost as if the food is a natural icebreaker.
I remember working with nine other physicians in my medical practice. Each had unique gifts and advocated for different parts of our practice. Each person wanted their area to be funded and fully staffed.
Partners at Work
One day, we decided to have lunch together once a week to work through complex issues. The situation changed almost overnight. We began to see each other’s needs in relation to our many areas of interest. We prioritized the needs of the patients we cared for over our own. Some of us even became lifelong friends!
Joanna https://www.joannaseibert.com/