A Meal that Matters | Lent Devotional Day 30

Exploring the Meaning of Jesus’ Death
March 19, 2026
Written by Morgan Goymer

A Meal that Matters

Scripture:

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?”

18 He replied, “Go into the city, to a certain man, and say, ‘The teacher says, “My time is near. I’m going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.”’” 19 The disciples did just as Jesus instructed them. They prepared the Passover.

20 That evening he took his place at the table with the twelve disciples. 

Matthew 26:17-20

Reflection:

The practice for today is to host a meal with friends. Oftentimes, in our patriarchal society, hosting and cooking are labelled feminine traits and activities. So, I love that Jesus shares in the art of hosting a meal with his friends. His last moment before he was arrested was praying with God, Jesus’ divine comforter and liberator. Before that, he made sure to spend time in community, another source of comfort and liberation from the pain and grief he felt near his death. He was intentional by hosting a meal and continued his care for others by washing their feet, being humble and showing up for his friends.

My friends show me this hospitality. Our church prioritizes this hospitality as people take hours out of their day to greet and welcome all who walk into our building. Our CoreGroups often break bread with each other when they meet to do Bible study and life together. I love that our church has these aspects of hospitality and community care. Ultimately, this is what the Feminist and Liberation Atonement Theories is all about—understanding the Divine Feminine and Divine Community (especially of the Triune God being intertwined since creation). Elaine Storkey explains, “[b]ut to share mutual respect, gifting, loving, vulnerability and pain is very close to the calling of the New Testament Church and is there in the longings of much feminism today” (Atonement and Feminism, p. 234). We do see the shared meal and hospitality of the early church (Acts 2) reflecting Jesus’ dinner in today’s Scripture. Now, we at The Gathering share in communion every week to remind us that we are one in Christ, one in community in the church, and one in ministry to the world.

Prayer:

Triune God,
You invite us into community at an open, abundant table. Thank you for hosting and welcoming us. Allow us to feel your Spirit to be in community with one another and for each other. I pray that all who feel distant from community find it in You and in me.
Amen.

Reflection Questions:

Today, think about how you can take part in these traits of the Triune God. How can you invite people over (to church or your home)? How can you host? How can you care for each other?

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