Jesus is hungry...

The Reverend Deon K. Johnson

Preached at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Brighton MI April 22, 2012

Luke 24:36b-48

While the disciples were telling how they had seen Jesus risen from the dead, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you-- that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."

I have to begin by asking a question…

What is the one thing that Jesus is always doing in almost every story in the Gospels where people  are gathered?

He’s always eating! 

Feeding the 5000, dinner with Tax Collectors and prostitutes, multiplying the fish and loaves, the last supper. If I didn’t know better I’d think that Jesus main ministry message was “eat in remembrance of me” –oh wait, it is.

I suspect that the Food network would be Jesus’ favorite TV channel if they had it back then.  Jesus seems to know a thing or two about food and in almost every resurrection appearance Jesus is always eating.  Apparently after 3 days in the tomb, he’s kinda hungry, hungry to share a meal.  And a meal isn’t about just food. 

Food is more than just the maintenance of our bodies. Food speaks to who we are, where we come from, and the things we value. 

Can you think of any occasion in your life that did not in some way shape or form involve food? I suspect that you can't think of one because it is hard to avoid not sharing a meal. 

We share meals for just about every occasion; from baptism brunches to funeral wakes, we eat our way through life, and that is exactly what Jesus did in his time. Is it a wonder that our worship centers on a late night supper?  You see the thing is that Jesus knew that a meal is more than the nourishment; it is more than utensils and the place settings. It’s about companionship.  Jesus is hungry for companionship. 

Do you know what the word companion means? Com - with & panis -bread. Literally the one you share bread with. 

Our Gospel reading for today tells us that the disciples at first couldn’t believe they were experiencing the risen, living Jesus because they thought they were seeing a ghost.  Nobody ever quite recognizes the risen Jesus as Jesus until something else happens.  When Jesus points out his crucifixion wounds, they see.  But then, the thought that he is risen is so joyful and amazing, they still can’t believe it.  Too scary.  Too wonderful.  Either way, it’s hard to accept.

And then he asks for a piece of fish. Jesus is hungry: hungry to share a meal and celebrate life; hungry to gather again with his friends; hungry for them to trust the life giving power of God; hungry for them to become a new community of faithful, courageous living; hungry for them to break bread together and with strangers everywhere until strangers are strange no more. That is what Jesus wants of us as well.

There is a wonderful short story told by the humorist David Sedaris called Jesus Shaves, where Sedaris finds himself living in France and he decides that it might be a good idea to take an introductory French class. Because the class is made up of people from all over the world, with different cultures and backgrounds the teacher has them explore different cultural holidays that they celebrate BUT they can only speak to each other in French.

At the beginning of a particular class the teacher asked:  "And what does one do on Easter? Would anyone like to tell us?"

Sedaris writes:

The Italian nanny was attempting to answer the question when the Moroccan student interrupted, shouting, "Excuse me, but what's an Easter?"

Despite her having grown up in a Muslim country, it seemed she might have heard it mentioned once or twice, but no. "I mean it," she said. "I have no idea what you people are talking about."

The teacher then called upon the rest of us to explain.

The Poles led the charge to the best of their ability. "It is," said one, "a party for the little boy of God who call his self Jesus and…"

She faltered, and her fellow countryman came to her aid.

"He call his self Jesus, and then he be die one day on two . . . morsels of . . . lumber."

The rest of the class jumped in, offering bits of information that would have given the pope an aneurysm.

"He die one day, and then he go above of my head to live with your father."

"He weared the long hair, and after he died, the first day he come back here for to say hello to the peoples."

"He nice, the Jesus."

"He make the good things, and on the Easter we be sad because somebody makes him dead today."

Part of the problem had to do with grammar. Simple nouns such as cross and resurrection were beyond our grasp, let alone such complicated reflexive phrases as "To give of yourself your only begotten son." Faced with the challenge of explaining the cornerstone of Christianity, we did what any self-respecting group of people might do. We talked about food instead.

Explaining Easter and resurrection in any language is difficult at best furthermore trying to explain it in a language that is not your native tongue. But he is right when in doubt the universal language is food. Jesus knew that, Jesus lived that, Jesus died, rose and is remembered in that.

The resurrected Jesus is a hungry Jesus.  He comes to feed us with his bread and wine, his living, loving presence.  And then, he feeds us with his hunger, until we are hungry for the same things:  companionship, meals shared in community, a gathering of strangers and friends where everyone is fed and is so overjoyed they can hardly believe it, but so overjoyed they can hardly not.

That is what resurrection is about, it is about sharing a meal that has the power to transform us from what we used to be into who God wants us to be.  It is about being willing to let a simple meal challenge us and change us, and shape us and mold us until we more closely resemble the resurrected Jesus.

So come to Christ’s table. Come as you are. Come hungry, come helpless, come hopeful. Eat and live to go and tell. We are the witnesses. Whether bold or fearful, let us be full and faithful in our going and telling and inviting. There is room for all and plenty of food to share and plenty of companionship. 

Alleluia! Christ is risen! Christ is hungry indeed! Alleluia! Amen.