Raj Nadella wrote: “Meals are occasions where people either enact inclusion and deep care for others through table fellowship and radical hospitality, or practice exclusion and tell others they are not invited. In that way, food functions as an extension of our values, of ourselves.”
And, he continues this by noting that John’s gospel continues to talk about the eucharistic phenomenon as both a Christological and political experience. Today’s Gospel reading is shortly after the feeding of bread and fish to the multitude. “Those who eat Jesus, the bread personified, will live differently because of him.” Jesus is taking on the role of the Passover Lamb. When folks ate the Passover Lamb and rose with full bellies, sandals on and staffs in their hands-they were full of God when they headed out from the Passover meal.
Jesus is saying, eat my flesh and you will be full of God, ready to take on the tasks at hand. Jesus creates a symbiotic relationship-one that places demands on the disciples and by extension, on us.” And, on hearing these words, many of the followers abandoned Jesus.
The Eucharist is central to our lives as Episcopalians-as it is for many Christians. And, my hope is that we don’t see it as a routine devoid of Jesus and the values he treasured and passed on to his followers. Raj wrote, “The ritual on Sunday must not become a substitute for living the life of prayer, service, sharing, and prophetic vision that Jesus lived. Living in active solidarity with the most vulnerable and providing an alternative outward sign of the good news in the world are essential demands of the eucharistic practice-a practice that helps us to ‘fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel’(Ephesians 6:19).
Gnawing on Jesus is a catalyst that capacitates a eucharistic life.” I love the Eucharistic Prayer C that reminds us: “Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. Let the grace of the Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name.” John doesn’t tell the story of the last supper, he conveys to us the importance of the Eucharist-the Christology behind it-the reason for doing it. And, all this after a picnic with thousands of people. Is John telling us that every time we sit down for a meal that is inclusive-every time we feed the hungry, that it is a sacrament-a sacred act? I believe so.