The always dashingly-dressed Chris Iosso passed along this Super Bowl food refection by Quinn G. Caldwell from the UCC Daily Readings. Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, which is particularly interesting to ponder if you’ve just done the monthly food crisis fast:
Food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.
Superbowl Sunday is the largest food-consumption day of the American year, after Thanksgiving. If you’re like me, you probably won’t spend much time thinking about what you eat today. Someone will just plunk some chips or wings or potato skins in front of you, and you’ll down ’em.
The Christians in Corinth thought about food a lot, trying to decide what to eat, who to eat with, and why it mattered. The quote above is from one of those Corinthians, and while I love how thoughtful they’re being about eating, I respectfully disagree that food can’t bring us close to God.
Food matters. What we eat, where it was grown, how far it traveled, who worked with it under what conditions: they matter. Food can tell us something about grace, love, life, God. Why else is a ritual meal the central act of our life together? Why else would Jesus have gotten in such trouble for eating with publicans and sinners? Why else would he have said that his body was bread?
I know, I know. You’re not about to spend Superbowl Sunday contemplating the wonder and mystery of your nachos. But maybe you could take a second–just a second–to look down at what you’re eating, think about it some, and praise its source.
Prayer
For daily food, for festival food, even for junk food, I thank you, God. Grant that in my eating and all I do, I might come closer to you. Amen.
About the Author
Quinn G. Caldwell is Associate Pastor, Old South Church, Boston, Massachusetts.
All glory to Quinn and the UCC Daily Readings. You can subscribe to the devotions here.