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Enid Barron1 
Enid Barron

When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. . . . Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’  John 21: 9 and 12a

It’s no secret that I am very interested in food, both preparing it and (alas for my waistline) eating it.  Not surprising then that one of my favourite resurrection stories is that in which Jesus cooks a fry up for his friends.  We’ve read plenty in the Gospels about Jesus enjoying meals with others but Jesus as the cook, this is unique!  It’s simple fare, just bread and fish, but it is also amazing.  How did someone who had been brutally beaten and then put to death suddenly appear on a beach with the barbecue up and running ready to feed his hungry friends?

Thinking about this story led me to reflect on providing meals at this difficult time.  Most of us will be used to taking it for granted that there is a wide range of foods readily available.  Things are a bit different now.  It’s not so easy to get the things we want, we are having to make do with a more limited range of goods and be extra careful not to waste anything.  It is certainly making me more conscious of the blessing of what we do have to eat.  If we don’t normally give thanks before each meal this is a good time to start doing so and not just for the food on our plates but for all that it has taken to get it there.  Breakfast served by Jesus on the shore of Galilee was indeed amazing, but so in its way is every meal we eat.  As we give thanks let us also remember those who in this country and around the world lack even basic sustenance and consider what each of us might do to help alleviate their suffering.  (See for example: https://ealing.foodbank.org.uk/; https://thefelixproject.org/; https://www.christianaid.org.uk/; https://www.tearfund.org/; https://ealingtogether.org/.)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for all the wonderful things you have created to nourish us and for us to enjoy eating.   We pray for all those in the food supply chain who have worked to produce our food and get it to us, particularly at this time when people are risking their lives to meet our needs.  We hold before you those who do not have enough to eat.  We pray that they will be fed and, through your Holy Spirit, guide us to do all that we can to ensure that the fruits of your earth are distributed fairly so that no one goes hungry.   AMEN

Prayer Request:  Ealing Food Bank have sent these prayer requests: For safety for staff and volunteers, for clients being able to access us even though we have had to change our working methods and for sufficient resources to meet demand over the coming months.