The Great Lunch

On one occasion when the disciples had just finished a road trip across the country preaching about universal salvation, Jesus scheduled a meeting with them at the downtown library so that he could hear about their experiences.



Even though he had been careful to choose a secluded alcove on the third floor, the crowds who loved to be near him still managed to find him. Jesus noticed men wearing dirty jackets and carrying worn backpacks, mothers with small children and people who seemed to be talking to no one in particular. Before long, more than a hundred people had gathered in the small space.



Since the people were waiting so patiently for a word from him, Jesus had compassion on them and because their numbers were more than he had expected, he took them outside to talk so that they would not disturb other library patrons.


He talked about his vision for a world where each person would be valued for the unique gifts they bring to their community and a world where justice was practiced and not just preached. He spent some time talking about the word love and how society had turned it into a syrupy sentiment instead of an action word that demonstrated to broad love of the Divine in each of individual. The people applauded and said “Amen” and encouraged Jesus to keep talking.

Soon it was lunchtime. The disciples pulled Jesus aside and told him to send the people away so that Jesus and the twelve could go and get lunch. Jesus told them he would like to invite the people gathered to eat lunch with them. 


The disciples were appalled that Jesus would want to invite all these people to lunch.  “Besides,” they said, “we were going to just go up to the street or a sandwich. After our teaching trips we have very little money left. We were going to pitch in and get something for us all to share….we will be lucky if the 13 of us get enough to eat. For sure there will not be enough to feed all of these people. Let them go and get their own lunch.”

Jesus could not bear to send all of the people away hungry when he was going to eat so he told the disciples to go and buy as many sandwiches as they could. When they returned he took all of the sandwiches and cut them into pieces, gave thanks for the food and those gathered, and then he invited everyone to join them for lunch. Many of the people at the lunch opened their bags and purses and took out what food they had brought along and pretty soon they had a nice little pot luck lunch. Each person took a piece of sandwich and one or two other little treats and then they all sat around eating and laughing. They must have looked like they were having a party because several people walking by decided to join in too.

After a while the crowd began to break up and the disciples helped Jesus clean up. They noticed that there was still some food left over and they gathered up the left overs – just enough left so each of the disciples and Jesus could put a snack in their pockets for later.

As Jesus departed for home, he thought about the day and what a great time it had been talking about what the world could become and making new friends. He thought about the meal and how everyone had been fed. “Just goes to show you what can happen when everyone gives what they can,” he thought, and he smiled, looking forward to the time when the spirit of the day would become a reality for the world.