Setting a New Table

Acts 10:9-15 - About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.”

Luke 14:1-6, 12-14 - On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching him closely. Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy. And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, “Is it lawful to cure people on the Sabbath, or not?” But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him, and sent him away. Then he said to them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a Sabbath day?” And they could not reply to this.

He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

How many times have you seen a bucket of fried chicken at the end of the fellowship-hall table hoping your favorite piece would still be available? Sometimes we eat our unhealthiest meal of the week at church. Similarly, family holiday feasts often fall short of what might be considered reasonably healthy and often show little consideration for the health needs of those around the table. The Bible gives us strong guidance on sharing meals.

Right after Peter’s vision reported in Acts, he is sent by God to visit Cornelius where he then witnesses the Holy Spirit coming upon Gentiles. With the dream fresh on his mind, he sees that God is informing him that Gentiles are also a welcome part of God’s kingdom. Peter is later criticized by his fellow Jews for eating with these unclean people. Peter then shares his vision and its meaning to them. According to the Oxford Companion to the Bible (Edited by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan; New York; 1993; Oxford University Press; p 507), “Peter’s vision of the sheet filled with clean and unclean animals (Acts 10-9 – 11-18) is one striking example of how early Jewish Christians used biblical meals to communicate their ‘face-to-face’ understanding of the Law across the babel of tongues and stomachs that characterize humankind.” Peter saw that sharing a meal could be a powerful way to bring people together.

In the account of the Sabbath feast in Luke, a man is first healed of dropsy, then there is a humorous jockeying for the best, most favored seats. Luke specifically mentions welcoming the poor, crippled, lame and blind, people who would be unlikely to return the favor in kind. Luke reminds us that our tables should welcome the strangers among us.

Divisions fade as people eat meals together. These two biblical accounts demonstrate the power of opening our tables to others. One way to welcome people to our tables is by preparing foods that are both delicious and sensitive to the known (and sometimes unknown) health conditions that people at our tables might have.

What concerns me about church and holiday meals is this: the lack of healthy options for those who desire or require them. Keep the cheese grits and chocolate cake at the table, but also provide some steamed veggies and whole grains. Given the number of people suffering from heart disease, diabetes and obesity, our tables are often inconsiderate of their particular needs. To welcome a diabetic at your table, means being sensitive to their health needs.

Since Jesus often participated in meals that welcomed others, I wanted to showcase some of the holiday recipes developed by the wellness and nutrition staff of the Church Health Center. Try some of these recipes and make healthier options a part of your holiday table tradition.

One note you might find surprising: you will not find a recipe for the entrée, often turkey or ham. The traditional methods of cooking these meats are actually fairly healthy. If you roast a turkey in the oven on a drip rack, it allows for much of the fat to drain off while the bird is cooked. You can then remove the skin as you prepare it for the table. Avoid stuffing the turkey since this provides a way for much of the fat to remain absorbed in the dressing. You can cook ham the same way, but you should avoid coating your ham with brown sugar. As with all meats, be careful to maintain portion sizes of 3 to 4 ounces per serving, an amount about the size of a deck of cards. Even if a guest takes a bit more than this, your meat will be healthier if prepared as noted.

The recipes below will provide your holiday table with color, aroma and something to talk about. They are also considerate of the health needs of most anyone who will be sitting around your table. And if you just have to have Mom’s pecan pie, just watch the serving size. Holiday blessings and bon appetite!

Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Squash

Gingered Carrots

Broccoli Casserole

Southern Cornbread Dressing

Gingerbread Upside Down Cake

Cranberry Applesauce Upside Down Cake

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