April 6, 2012

The Final (Meatless) Friday of Lent

For a final Lenten meal reflection, I returned to a book my priest Father Peter gave me as a new Episcopalian: Your Faith, Your Life by Jenifer Gamber. Often during Holy Week, I experience a personal transformation that really connects me to Christ's own journey and suffering. Sometimes it is a sadness I cannot shake.

This week, I find myself in a spiritual dry spell--ironic considering I'm spending vacation in the "Holy City" (Charleston, South Carolina). So I returned to this book hoping to revisit the meaning of Holy Eurcharist in the Episcopal Church.

When I work creatively, I often know where I want to end, but rarely how I will get there. For seven days, I knew I was going to talk artichokes for Good Friday--but how to make it relevant? "As we eat the bread and drink the wine, we are nourished in a real way by Christ's presence and healing grace in our lives" (Jenifer Gamber). Indeed, our bread-breaking ritual leads right to this artichoke I considered all week: we are breaking open to reveal the cherished heart. God's presence in our hearts, through communion, through kindness, nourishes us with His peace. "By partaking in the bread and the wine we are strengthened to serve God in the world" (Jenifer Gamber).

I hope your Lenten journey has been this deep a transformation, and that your Easter celebration is exuberant. Today's recipe requires tender patience, and what better day? Take your time, tear through thorns, savor the heart, give thanks.

Today's recipe.

Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again. 
God's peace be with you,