Recovering the Lost Table

Table fellowship shaped early Christian identity more than most traditions. The bread and fish stories remind us that community was never about scarcity or exclusion. These meals were open, abundant, and real—everyone brought something, everyone was fed, and no one was turned away. That kind of table tells the truth about spiritual life. It invites participation, not performance. The bread and wine tradition narrowed the scope, reinforcing separation and ritual over nourishment and solidarity. The risen Jesus, cooking breakfast on the shore, returned to the more inclusive way. He offered forgiveness, not purity tests. That kind of table still matters. Spiritual practice should repair, include, and feed—both literally and spiritually. The story is clear. It’s time to recover what was lost.

May we restore the open table of abundance,
where all are fed, welcomed, and made whole.

(inspired by Richard Rohr, Jesus’ Alternative Plan)