Comfort Food
It may lose something in literal translation, but I would bet that the experience of comfort food is universal. A meal, a dish, possibly prepared by a particular individual which brings with it not only the comfort of being fed, warm food on a cold empty stomach, but also elicits the warmth of memories of times past and the reassurance of healing and strength in times to come.
We Americans speak of comfort food – maybe meat loaf and mashed potatoes or mac-n-cheese ideal for a damp and drizzly evening or homemade soup and dense crusty bread on a cold blustery day. Often families have traditional meals served in times of grief and mourning. A favorite treat meal in times of healing. Each nationality, each cultural, each region, each family celebrates, honors certain events and times with specific meals. There is nothing universally significant about the dish itself. The memories evoked and the relationships attached to the dish or meal give it significance. Comfort food is a symbol of the comfort and consolation experienced in the sharing of a particular meal in the midst of true companionship and intimate relationship.
We can only imagine the number of times Jesus and his beloved disciples shared a meal of fresh fish cooked over an open fire. The fruits of their labor shared in the intimacy of their relationship. On seeing the figure on the shore, they did not need to ask “Who are you?” They knew in their hearts who he was. He called them “children’, he invited them to “come have breakfast.” He fed them the comfort meal of open-fire roasted catch of the day. Again, we can only imagine the consolation, comfort and reassurance these men and women experienced as Jesus took the bread and fish, and gave it to them in a way that only he could – as he had done so many times before. Consolation, comfort and reassurance filled their hearts at a time when they least expected it. They were in grief and mourning for their beloved Jesus who was no longer with them – or so they thought.
During this joyful Easter season, let us be open to the unexpected presence of the risen Lord. Let us pray for those who hunger for essential nourishment, and for those who hunger for the Spirit of comfort, consolation, and reassurance.
Joan Blandin Howard
After working and teaching at Creighton for many years, I am officially retired, but hardly so. Having 5 adult children, in-laws, and 11 grandchildren I keep pretty busy! My husband and I spend hours in our garden planting, pruning, dead-heading and of course weeding and mowing! We spend even more time sitting in our garden, delighting in its beauty. The beauty overwhelms me and invities me into a space of en-Joy-ment and gratitude to the Creator and Artist of all. I have much for which to be grateful. I also like to travel, read, write and make art. My ministry of spiritual direction and silent retreats continues.
I count my blessings. You among them.
Initially I thought I was writing for myself. I use the readings as a source of personal prayer. I thoroughly enjoy the time I spend in prayer, study and preparation. The writing seems to be a natural end product. The wonderful e-mails I receive tell me that I am not writing just for me and they reconfirm my faith in the presence of the Lord, who speaks all languages, permeates untold experiences, and surfaces in the most ordinary of daily delights and disturbing distractions. That the Lord would speak through me is a gift I had not anticipated.
I thank you, the reader and fellow pilgrim, for joining us on our journey. God bless us.
