May 24, 2009

“Living Bread” – Luke 24:28-43 – May 24, 2009

I was reading an article the other day about some companies that are seeing an increase in sales for some of their products. In spite of the economic recession did you know that sales of chocolate products are up? So is the sale of running shoes. Perhaps more people are running to work instead of driving and eating a candy bar on the way. There is also an increase in the sales of Spam. Apparently folks are dining in more and Spam has become the choice of stay-at-home meals.

At the same time there has been a decrease in the sales at fast food restaurants. Perhaps people are eating Spam instead of burgers and fries. One study suggests that people are eating at home more which means that families could be spending more time eating together instead of being constantly on the go.

A recent study showed that Americans have been spending more money on fast food than they do on higher education, personal computers, software and new cars. It appears however that the recession may be causing families to choose to eat at home. That is good news. Abandoning fast food in favor of “slow food” will provide quality time for families to eat together and have meaningful conversations.

In our story the disciples were walking with Jesus on the road to Emmaus, but they didn’t recognize him. When they were near the village they invited Jesus to have dinner with them and spend the night. Rather than eat and run or grab something along the road, Jesus accepted their invitation. During the meal “he took break, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.”

In other words, their fellowship together at the table enabled them to “see” that Jesus was with them. There is something remarkable about food that enables people to have meaningful communication and inspire relationships. What do we do with friends? We invite them over for a meal. Where do people usually go when they want to be closer to someone? They go out to eat. This however was not fast food, this was slow food. Jesus and the disciples dined together over a home-cooked meal. As a result, that quality time at the table transformed them and moved them to believe that Jesus had indeed been resurrected.

When you gather together this Memorial Day with family and friends you will have lots of food. During your meal you will tell stories and have conversations that will help to validate who you are and connect you with those who are present. Whenever we gather for food, people communicate on a deeper level.

When we choose fast food over slow food we may miss out on the presence of God. Or, to put it another way, we may miss an opportunity to experience newness, wise counsel, or spiritual enlightenment. I believe that we underestimate the presence of the living God in the breaking of the bread. Good things can happen when people of faith break bread together, hence, the purpose of communion on this Sunday here at St. Paul’s.

God is always near but we miss those encounters because we are in too big of hurry or we avoid quality time together over a meal. The eyes of the disciples were opened because their meal together reminded them of their last supper with him. Other events, like the feeding of the 5,000 or the wedding feast at Cana also inspired them. Sigmund Freud, one of the great teachers of Psychology, taught that we store meaningful memories and significant experiences in the unconscious part of our brains. When they are stimulated, as in the common practice of eating a meal, they move to the conscious part of our minds. It is very possible that having a meal with Jesus stimulated the unconscious memories of the disciples and made him real again.

What happens when Jesus becomes known to us in the breaking of bread? First, it is in those moments that we experience forgiveness. Things happen in relationships that can alienate us from those we were once close to. When an opportunity arises for a common meal, it often creates the stage for healing. It can also provide a time for personal growth.

There once was a lady who worked in a high rise office building in London. Every day for her coffee break she went down to the first floor cafeteria and purchased a Kit Kat candy bar from a vending machine, and a cup of coffee. This day was no different. After finding a small table in the corner and seating herself, she leaned over to search for something in her purse. When she sat up again a man had seated himself at the table across from her. He had a cup of coffee, a doughnut and her Kit Kat candy bar in his mouth. He didn’t apologize or offer any explanation. He simply ate it. She was surprised and irritated, but said nothing. As quickly as possible she drank her coffee and the more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Finally, she stood up to leave and stomped over beside him, grabbing the remnant of his doughnut and stuffing it in her mouth. “There, how does that make you feel?” she said sternly. She then marched back to her office, where she began to open her purse. To her horror, there was her Kit Kat candy bar. (from More Stories for the Heart, Alice Gray)

Two people were drawn together who shared a similar meal. But, sadly, one rushed to judgment and the scene turned ugly.

I enjoyed my three years in seminary. I took my studies seriously and learned many things. However my greatest lessons occurred in the coffee shop. It was there where my colleagues and I could share the common concerns of our ministry. Our time at the coffee shop also gave us informal time with our professors. There, they would let their hair down and pass on some real “nuggets” for ministry.

Second, in the breaking of the bread we feel the assurance of God’s presence in our lives and we are less apprehensive about life. In today’s world everyone is on the go. Young mothers and fathers are like chauffeurs. They are constantly driving their children to events. If you’ve ever been in a fast food restaurant on Saturday mornings, be prepared for a long wait. We live in a time where folks give priority to extracurricular activities and pursue them with reckless abandon. How often do you see folks skipping meals to make it to the softball field on time?

Our favorite restaurant is Max and Erma’s. Our family has met for years at the one at Fairfield Commons in Dayton. It provided us place to catch up with our grandchildren instead of gulping down fast food. When we traveled to Atlanta earlier this spring, we were looking for a place to have a “slow meal” instead of fast food to prepare us for our journey home. None of the restaurants seemed familiar, but low and behold we found a “Max and Erma’s. The familiar food and atmosphere made our whole trip. Last Christmas we took our grandchildren to see the Nutcracker. Following the performance we decided to eat at, you guessed it, Max and Erma’s. But, it was busy and we had to wait an hour before we could be seated. The grand kids were getting hungry and finally they cleared a table for our group of six. At the end of the meal the manager came over to our table and said, “The meal is on me, sorry you had to wait.”

I remember that incident because it reminds me of the importance of taking our time and being together instead of rushing through life with fast food. In that experience the wait paid off.

Third, when we live apart from the community of faith and we deny ourselves the opportunity of table fellowship we find ourselves alone and wandering. What this story in Luke illustrates is that in the breaking of the bread the presence of God becomes real. This is a gift made possible only through community.

In the film, Chocolat, Vianne Rocher and her 6-year-old daughter move to a small village in southern France, near Toulouse. She opened a chocolate shop across from the church, just as the town was preparing to observe Lent. The parish priest was horrified, especially since Vianne kept her tempting shop open on Sundays. But in time, the arrival of the mother/daughter team and their chocolate shop transformed the narrow minded community and brought them together.

It was in the faith community where the disciples received nourishment for their bodies and their souls. Jesus not only broke bread with his disciples, he also opened their hearts to the scriptures. He inspired them with the stories of their faith, both past and present. In the process their hearts “burned.” Not heartburn in the sense that they had too much to heat, but heartburn that encouraged them to be believe.

Jesus is the living bread who invites us to his table. It is a table of forgiveness and nourishment. In this meal we can receive his forgiveness. In this meal we can slow down and be enriched through the living presence of God. And, it is in this community where we can enjoy the fellowship of other members of the faith as we all are drawn closer to God.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio

SermonsbyWagner.com

"Lectionary Sermons for Everyday Living"