Food shapes our faith
Albert Bogle
April 02, 2018
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Acts 10: 34-43
34 Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’
Today we find ourselves reading an account of the resurrection recorded in Dr Luke’s second book known as the Acts of the Apostles. In this section Luke records how the Apostle Peter began to understand the significance of the life and teaching of Jesus for everyone. The gospel of Jesus of Nazareth is inclusive, even for those who ate different kinds of food (see Acts 10: 9-18).
Peter, in today’s passage, highlights his role in speaking the truth about Jesus. He was one of a group who knew Jesus better than most. He now understood that he had been chosen to be a special witness. It’s interesting to note how in verse 41 Peter makes it very clear, that it was those who ate and drank with Jesus, after the resurrection, who now were the authentic witnesses of the power and significance of the resurrection. They were not eating with a spirit or a ghost, Jesus was there in person. Perhaps we only truly know each other when we share food together.
Eating and drinking not only establishes our physical reality it also creates within us a bond of trust and fellowship.
Forgive me
Gracious Lord,
When I eat and drink
And rush
To my next appointment
And take food and friends for granted.
Forgive me
Gracious Lord,
When I fail to recognise
The spiritual connection
Between food and resurrection
Transform my thinking.
Forgive me
Gracious Lord
When I refuse to make time
To eat with friends
And renew my spiritual connections
Make me generous with my time.
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