Acts 9 doesn’t tell us what Paul said after his world fell apart. The Bible mentions Ananias's reluctance. Other than that, we skip right past how Paul and the others are processing what's happening. The detail that struck me as I reflected on that today was that, in the end, Paul ate.
That seems too ordinary to be a part of this grand story.
But before Paul did anything in Jesus' name, he sat at a table and ate. After days of fasting, fear, and disorientation, his entry into the Christian community was not a sermon or a new beginner's class. It was a meal.
Of course, he needed his strength. He waited a few days before leaving. But eating was not just about calories. It was acceptance and trust. On one side, Paul was saying, "I will receive what you are offering," and on the other, the community is saying, "You belong here now."
We love conversion stories. We celebrate baptism Sundays. We count decisions and mark milestones. But Acts 9 shows us something deeper. How far does our welcome actually go? Are we content to see people come to church, or are we also willing to bring them to our table?
For many Christians, communion is a neatly-timed ceremony. For the early church, communion was embedded in the meal itself. Bread was broken during our conversation. Grace was shared while the stew simmered. 
Belonging tasted like something.
Paul’s strength didn’t return when he understood everything. It returned when he ate. When he let others care for him. When grace was embodied.
So, maybe the next step of inclusion isn’t another program or invitation card. Maybe it’s a chair pulled out, a plate passed, or even a name learned.
Because sometimes the holiest thing you can offer someone who’s encountered God is lunch.
Stay blessed...john | 
No comments:
Post a Comment