Babette Goes to Emmaus

In 1987, a sweet film (g-rated no less!) won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.  Babette’s Feast told the story of two adult sisters living in an isolated village in 19th Century Denmark.  The sisters’ father was the venerated pastor of a small Protestant church that is almost a sect unto itself.  The film depicts the pastor, his daughters, the community and their brand of Christianity as austere and joyless as the harsh Danish landscape.  Then one day, a French woman refugee, Babette, arrives at their door, begs them to take her in, and commits herself to work for them as maid/housekeeper/cook.  Unbeknownst to the father and sisters, Babette had previously been the chef for the finest restaurant in Paris.

Some years pass with Babette cooking nothing more than broth and bread and boiled fish, until one day she comes into an unexpected fortune.  The sisters are trying to plan a dinner to commemorate their (now deceased father) and Babette volunteers to cook and pay for the most lavish feast of their lifetime.  Only the sisters and few church members who are used to nothing but the most simple fare can barely comprehend, let alone consume all that has been given to them so freely.

For those of us who watch the film, the contrast between Babette’s generosity and the church members' struggle with receiving such grace, such beauty, such delight is part of the sweetness of the film.  We who can peer into the supper from a distance more completely comprehend that the very piety of these dour folks keeps them from enjoying the free gift given to them.  Yet we also see the inklings of their understanding, the flashes of experiencing the greatness of the feast before them.  We only wish that we could be there taking it all in!  We get it, we want it, we know what a gift this meal is, what a sign of love, what an act of grace. 

If only those who are at the meal could have eyes to see…

In many ways, we who read the story of Jesus’ meal with his disciples after their walk to Emmaus are in the same place.  When we read the story in Luke 24:13-35 we recognize long before the downcast disciples the great and lavish gift in their midst.  They are with Jesus!  They will walk, spend the day and then dine with Jesus!  This is the great perspective of faith, the advantage of living on this side of Pentecost.  But how often we miss our own holy moments, how rarely do we recognize that as we gather together, Jesus is fulfilling his promise to be with us whenever we “eat this bread and drink from this cup.” 

May we have eyes to see the lavishness of God’s grace present with us whenever we break bread together.  No matter the meal, tis always a feast!

Comments

[Dennis]

Tod, you've done it again! What great truth. I have not seen the film you mentioned but it just zipped to the top of a very short list. Thank you.

[Amanda Witt]

This is a fabulous film! Perhaps my all-time favorite.

Funny story about the short story upon which it's based: The author (Isak Dinesen) sent it to Good Housekeeping, figuring a womens/food magazine would find a story about women and food appropriate. The editor contacted her and said something to this effect: "We love this story. We've passed it all around the offices and everybody's stunned. But we can't possibly publish it because it would make everything else we ever publish look bad."

Let that be an encouragement to all the aspiring writers out there--you might be far BETTER than the competition.

[Steve]

Good word, brother Tod. May we all live lives that treasure moments of shared fellowship. And may we deeply long for this with those around us who have not yet experienced the Grace of Jesus!

[Tim C]

Tod,

Completely off topic, but sad news about an author that I know you referenced in chapter 9 of your book "It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian," Stanley Grenz. He has recently suffered a serious brain hemorage and seems almost certainly near death.

Stanley is one of several authors whose writing I'd come accross this last year, and his writing helped inspire a number of new spiritual direction of thought for me.

And only a couple of months ago, I had a chance to meet him in a speaking engagement he did with Brian Mclaren. In person he seemed like a humble, smart good guy.

I hate that this happens. But thought you might want to know.

Tim

Announcement regarding Stan Grenz

Mars Hill Community,

It is with a broken heart that I write to tell you that last evening Stan Grenz suffered a significant surge in his blood pressure, which resulted in a major brain event, similar to a stroke or an aneurism. He is in an ICU unit at St. Paul’s hospital in Vancouver, unconscious and on a ventilator, and it is expected that he will go home to be with His Lord.

It goes without saying that the world will suffer a great loss. Stan is a major thought leader in the theological world, a provocateur of many changed hearts, a beloved man of God and a dear friend. It appears likely the Lord will call him home, and we will miss him and mourn his passing forever. He will leave an indelible mark on each of us whether we knew him closely or from a distance. To the Mars Hill Community, he has been a great force for change and growth, and his fingerprints on our institution will be felt for generations. His legacy will certainly endure in our reinvented MDiv degree, one of his finest contributions to the theological community. We are honored to have him as part of our community, and privileged to have had his thought leadership grace us. Through our pain, we will find great resolve and courage to ensure his impact will live on in the generations of leaders yet to be.

As we know more, I will keep you posted. Jason Best will be sending out a linkage to a special blog site for us to interact with each other during this painful and difficult time. I would ask that you NOT be in direct contact with Stan’s family or the hospital at this time to give them needed space to prepare, plan, grieve and take care of themselves. When we know more, we can plan for how we as a community will respond.

In the meantime, on Monday afternoon from 1-2:30 when Stan would have been teaching his class at MHGS, those who are available and would like to will gather in classroom one to pray, process and celebrate Stan’s life and impact on us.

May His love and kindness sustain us all now and in the days ahead.

Ron

[Tim C]

Eulogy for Stan Grenz:

http://emergent-us.typepad.com/emergentus/2005/03/brian_mclaren_r.html