Encountering God

The last blog focused on the second way that people of faith interrupt regularity and normalcy in their lives - Fasting. Fasting is an exercise in extraordinary intentionality. Fasting requires self-control and so defies the self-indulgence of gluttony, lust, and greed. Like pilgrimage, it helps us to appreciate precious, mundane things we so easily take for granted - a sandwich, a mug of hot chocolate, our own beds, our front doors or gardens.
The first two Abrahamic practices are pilgrimage and fasting. The third is Holy Meal, epitomized in the bread and wine shared by Abraham and Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20). Later this meal takes the form of the Passover for the Jews, the Eucharist or Lord's Supper for the Christians, and the Eid ul-Adha or Eid ul-Fitt for the Muslims. This primal meal was not intended as an expression of exclusion - just for Salemites or Abrahamics. It was a meal of peace and fellowship, bringing together two different people with their different religious traditions. The Sacred Meal in this light becomes a celebration of hospitality, of community, of inclusion, and of reconciliation.

Once again, I thank Brian McLaren for his thoughts in Finding Our Way: The Return of the Ancient Practices.

Personal Encounter

• Examine Genesis 14:18-20. What do you make of this encounter and their Sacred Meal?
• The next time you share in the Lord's Supper, reflect on the connection between this sacred meal between Abraham and Melchizedek. Think also of the connection between these two meals and the Passover meal. What are the similarities? What are the differences?