Gen 43:30 - Gen 43:34 RSV ³⁰Then Joseph made haste, for his heart yearned for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. ³¹Then he washed his face and came out; and controlling himself he said, “Let food be served.” ³²They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. ³³And they sat before him, the first-born according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked at one another in amazement. ³⁴Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.

I once heard a young man as he recalled his childhood. His home life was punctuated by physical and psychological abuse. His father would come home from work and demand that everyone sit down to a meal together. It was then, at what might have been the most enjoyable part of a day that his father would work himself into a rage and, as his voice raised and became more and more threatening, this young man reported that his stomach would “be tied up in knots.” Mealtime, to him, was a frightening time – it was a dangerous time. He truly sat “in the presence of his enemies.”

I have a friend who has spent many years in sales and marketing. I would often see him in various restaurants with a client. He once said to me, “I go to lunch for a living.” I said, “That is good work if you can get it.” He relied, thoughtfully, “Some lunches are better than others.” Then, with a sigh, “Some are just plain dreadful.” I thought, but chose not to say it, “He has lunch with an agenda.”

Joseph has just revealed his true identity to his brothers. Benjamin is his one full-brother, the rest are half-brothers. Benjamin must have been a young child when Joseph was taken away. No doubt, Joseph remembered his little brother fondly and longed to renew their relationship. Joseph uses food to communicate his feelings for Benjamin. I suppose we can do the same.

A meal is a time of intimacy. It can be a very mild intimacy or a one of profound significance. You will often hear congregation’s say about themselves. “One thing about us, we like to eat.” A shared meal is where Jesus reveals his sacred destiny to his disciples. Jesus says plainly, “I really wanted to eat this meal with you all.” The Lord’s Supper is nothing less than a shared meal.

What will be your next meal? Tonight, I’ll enjoy a meal with many members of the congregation I serve. Several of those who read this will be there. At lunch, I likely grab a quick bite at a drive through and eat alone. Maybe I’ll skip lunch.

Before thee in humility, with thee in faith, in thee in peace.

Dag Hammarskjöld (1905–1961)

For the early Christians, koinonia was not the frilly “fellowship” of church-sponsored, biweekly bowling parties. It was not tea, cookies, and sophisticated small talk in Fellowship Hall after the sermon. It was an almost unconditional sharing of their lives with the other members of Christ’s body.

Ronald J. Sider

In a dream I walked with God through the deep places of creation; past walls that receded and gates that opened, through hall after hall of silence, darkness, and refreshment—the dwelling place of souls acquainted with light and warmth—until, around me, was an infinity into which we all flowed together and lived anew, like the rings made by raindrops falling upon wide expanses of calm dark waters.

Dag Hammarskjöld (1905–1961)

The only basis for real fellowship with God and man is to live out in the open with both.

Roy Hession