I wonder sometimes, about parts of the story that aren’t told. As a writer I know the writer’s of the gospels had to choose what they wrote. They couldn’t write everything. John’s gospel tells us that Jesus did ‘…many other things, but were every one of them written…the world could not contain the books…’ (21:25). That’s a lot of things and a lot of books. So, I think it’s ok if I muse a little during Lent about one unwritten details of an event during Holy Week. Because Violet sent me her painting as a prompt this week – a beautiful selection of food with which to prepare a feast – The Feast actually, and it got me thinking. Who was in the kitchen…?

This is, after all, what we’re craving right now – hanging out, making meals together, being together. There’s a hunger in our approach to Easter this year and it’s for more than food. Perhaps the longing will help us to also reach for the promises.

Do This

I can imagine
a grandmother, someone’s bobe
in the kitchen at the Last Supper,
and a posse of women – tossing salad,
cutting well-seasoned slices of lamb,
cooling the freshly baked bread
and decanting wine.

My grandma made feasts –
not these trussed up
food-fashion fairs, but meals
I will never forget,
shared with people I love
who are still moved
by the same memories.

I wonder if Jesus
meant all of it, you know? The good food
and the people. Certainly
the gathering together and sharing
when he said –– Do this in remembrance…
You just want to, when it’s something
you’ll never forget.

© 2021 Laurel Archer all rights reserved

Title: Prepare the Feast –
pen drawing with watercolour wash & pencil crayon on 140 lb. cold press watercolour paper, 6×9 inches. Artist:Violet Nesdoly