Honningsvag Church (1885) Honningsvag, Norway 2016
(Photo krb)
The cafe was ideal. It had tables that could be joined together to make one long table. It was central to the city and could be reached by car or public transport. It had convenient parking close by. And the coffee was good most of the time. So, we came, maybe 15 blokes, more at times. We came from all sorts of backgrounds, some were church people, some had been church people but were no longer and some had never been anywhere near a church. There were retired public servants, some former military men, all sorts of different backgrounds but we all came. We drank coffee and talked. We never had an agenda, but we communicated. We often disagreed sometimes strongly but that didn't interfere with our relationship. We were always noisy - there was so much laughter. The proprietor sometimes worried about that but then he discovered that the noise was good for business and we got on fine. We would leave each week better people, seeing other people's point of view a bit better.
And there was Communion of sorts. As we ate and drank together an ordinary cafe became a Holy Place.
Diana Butler Bass sees the Last Supper in somewhat the same way. In John's Gospel, she points out that the risen Jesus meets his close followers in an upper room. She suggests that it is the same room in which just as short time before they celebrated the Passover meal together. She sees a symmetry between the Passover meal and this post resurrection meeting and she points out the extent to which Jesus earthly ministry centres around communal meals.
In a simple meal or a lavish feast God is present and there is Holiness.
Peace, justice and blessing to all as you continue on your Holy Week journey.
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