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The Passover tradition of sharing a meal with others must have affected Jesus for table fellowship became one of the hallmarks of his ministry. The Gospels attest to how frequently he gathered people to break bread together – even on the last evening of his life.
Early Christians followed this way of life by gathering for a meal in remembrance of Jesus and by welcoming people they formerly considered foreign to the table of the Lord. Their hospitality enabled their communities to flourish, even as they came into contact with people in various circumstances, in diverse cultures. Their imitation of Christ in sharing meals with others resulted in communities that were able to experience unity while allowing for differences.
We too are called to manifest such hospitality. At Pentecost the same Spirit that emboldened the original disciples descended upon us. As we left mass, we carried that Spirit with us out into the world. May we, like the early Christians, be open and receptive to others, welcoming them graciously into our midst. In this way may we find all the meals we share are sacramental - and the ordinary occurrences in our lives overflow with extraordinary grace.