Comfort Food

In our family, and I know in many families, when we have a special occasion, it sort of centers around some sort of meal. Christmas, Easter, Birthdays, retirement parties, Baptisms, and even funerals all culminate in a meal shared with one another. Whether it is a small family event, a larger family event, a church event, or a rosary club meeting, we gather together in the community that we are, we share stories, we laugh together, and we enjoy some sort of nice meal. For many of us, some of our favorite, feel good foods, are what we call comfort foods.

I received one of the many cards and letters you guys are sending to us yesterday from one of my cousins. She said in the letter that at some point she wanted to make something for us, because when she feels bad or wants to help someone, she likes to make comfort food. It might be just a Jarding thing, but we like to eat and we like to eat in family gatherings. I remember the first Christmas that our then new daughter-in-law, Sara, spent at our house. She said one day, “I have been full since I got here.” Comfort Food.

When we gather together in a community of Faith at each of our Masses, the gathering culminates in our getting fed the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus took the bread at his Last Supper and blessed it and told us “This Is My Body, take it and eat it.” Then he took the cup filled with wine and said to his friends, “This is the cup of my Blood. Take it and drink of it. Do this in rememberance of Me.” 

Jesus knew that we would like to gather as a community to talk about Him and learn from His words. He provided us with the best Comfort Food there is, Himself.