The joy of eating together builds community (BJRE050)

 


The joy of eating together builds community. 

(By Dr. Edward Edezhath. Published in Kairos Magazine in 2021)

“One of my unforgettable memories is our after-meeting Dosa fellowship.” We had this online gathering to celebrate the 45th anniversary of our prayer group, and several people recalled the unforgettable eating sessions in the group.

One secret to the intimacy and continuity of our joy-filled fellowship was certain food-related rituals we practiced. The Dosa fellowship was one such ritual. On Wednesday evenings, after prayer and fellowship time, many would gather at a nearby restaurant. That Dosa-eating time provided an opportunity to connect with one another in a deeply personal way. Even decades later, most people cherished those joyful memories. Occasionally, Nishi and Augustine would bring snacks for the group so that those coming directly from colleges and offices could grab a quick bite and drink before prayer began. Special celebrations like birthdays were another regular occurrence, while Christmas and picnic times topped them all. 

Building fellowship, the Jesus Youth way

Many early leaders of the movement remember the monthly weekend gatherings of the First Line Group at Snehanilayam in Cochin. This place is a school for children with mental challenges run by sisters, and it was perfectly suited for us to come together, cook, dine, and share our thoughts and reflections. Although we met month after month to discuss how we were developing a youth network in each zone, these gatherings were not merely planning sessions; they were meaningful occasions for profound fellowship.

In a way, we learned that preparing food together and joyfully sharing it builds a community. The food was mostly quite simple, but the friendly interactions and laughter made it so delicious. At that time, there were 14 Jesus Youth zones. A positive outcome was that the members of the First Line initiated Zonal Sharing Groups. Those groups also gathered on weekends and underwent formation, which included input sessions and shared living experiences. In most places, they replicated the First Line's method of preparing food themselves and enjoyed simple meals in joyful company. 

One unbelievable development from these simple styles was the way in which Jesus Youth organized larger youth gatherings. Even when hundreds or even a couple thousand youths gathered for a four—or five-day convention, young people themselves prepared and served the food. Teams from the Idukki zone were famous for this. This changed the whole approach and spirit of JY gatherings.

For Jesus, eating together was very special

The Gospels mention many occasions when Jesus and his close friends ate together. He readily responded to invitations to formal feasts and private homes. There were occasions when Jesus himself prepared food and served it to his disciples. When the crowd that came to listen to Jesus was hungry, the Lord asked his close followers, “You find food for them.” Jesus was eager to provide food for the hungry and to have eating times of togetherness and companionship.

‘Man does not live by bread alone,’ and thus living one’s life solely to eat or working just to earn food is not God's plan. The Kingdom of God is not about ‘eating and drinking’ (Ro 14:17) or debating what to eat and what not to eat. However, sharing meals can be a beautiful way to cultivate friendships, as Martha and Mary understood and as Jesus knew when he spoke to Zacchaeus (Lk 19:5). For some, the joy of eating together may be merely about satisfying physical hunger, but for the Lord and those who grasp the secrets of the Kingdom, it signifies a profound fellowship of spirit, mind, and body, serving as a precursor to the great heavenly feast (Is 25:6-9; Rev. 19:9).

The best way is to share, pray, and enjoy a meal together. 

Fr. Patrick Peyton's saying, “The family that prays together stays together,” has recently been complemented by the phrase, "The family that eats together stays together.” Pope Francis has been emphasizing the importance of sharing meals as a family. 

In Jesus Youth, praying and eating together to build the Kingdom of God takes on various forms:

JY student groups in Ernakulam started a daily lunch-sharing program in the early 1990s. Every day, some students take 50 lunch packets to the nearby government hospital and distribute them to the needy. I will find a sponsor for each day, pack food, carry it to the needy, and build an active community around this initiative. 

A monthly informal gathering called “Kanji group” in our area used to gather anyone willing to join in for an evening of chit-chat, some time of prayer, and some simple food in one or the other family used to be a nice place to invite fresh youth to the joy of Jesus Youth culture.

I once visited a very different restaurant in Bangalore. An active JY, Joby, had started using a regular city restaurant as a place for Christian fellowship and evangelistic welcoming. 

In many cities around the world, there are places where JY youth gather, welcoming others to join them for dinner, creating a time for joyful interaction and prayer.

Jesus Youth families often serve as excellent venues for joyful dining and fostering local Christian fellowship. I have witnessed the Lord using many women quite powerfully in this ministry of food-sharing to strengthen the body of Christ. 

Finally,

It is no surprise that Jesus wanted his mission to be remembered through a memorial meal. The Lord desires us to continue on this journey until we join the eternal feast with the Holy Trinity, along with all the angels and saints. May we continue to create more memorable occasions to gather with love and joy, partaking of the Lord's gifts with joyful hearts. This is undoubtedly one of the best ways to nurture Christians along the path of the Lord and to foster beautiful communities among us. 


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