God in a Soup Bowl

Consider the very important role food plays in our lives. Not just the biological role of sustenance and fuel for the body. But all the other ways that food is used to define us as a people. One of the very first rules that God lays down for hungry Adam & Eve concerns food: Eat anything you want except for what comes from that tree. God gets very specific with the Hebrews in the book of Leviticus when he describes which plants, animals, and birds are off-limits for use as food. Jesus’ first temptation from Satan in the desert is to make bread out of a rock. More than once, Jesus made food the focus of a miracle when he fed thousands of hungry people with a few loaves of white bread and a couple of sardines. Jesus took great liberties with an age-old traditional holiday meal (Passover). He said from now on the bread would represent his body and the wine would represent his blood. Jesus, come on- that’s just gross… and weird.

We use food to commemorate and celebrate just about every milestone or special occasion: birthdays, weddings, graduations, new jobs, even funerals. Turkey and dressing is synonymous with Thanksgiving. You’re supposed to eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day for good luck. Whole cultures claim their own distinct types of food: Chinese food, Mexican food, Italian food. French fries, Spanish rice, Irish coffee, Canadian bacon, and so on.

When someone special is coming to visit us, we prepare a special meal or go eat at a special restaurant. We use food to help us make memories. We use food to help heal. We use food to comfort. We use food to just enjoy someone’s company. Food can be used to express genuine love. Jesus knew a little bit about this when he used bread and wine to symbolize his transforming love for us. He also made it very clear that we are to carry this transforming love to a hurting world. Let’s do this together by filling soup bowls in Miller Park on January 10, 2009. It’s like we were made for this.