The Spirit of Fika / 菲卡的精神

[Dexu Xia]

The Spirit of Fika

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Luke 24:30

The coffeehouse in the town near my house is named Fika. It’s a Swedish word meaning to take a break with coffee and a pastry, always with family, co-workers, or friends. I’m not Swedish, yet the spirit of fika describes one thing I love most about Jesus—His practice of taking a break to eat and relax with others.

Scholars say Jesus’s meals weren’t random. Theologian Mark Glanville calls them “the delightful ‘second course’” of Israel’s feasts and celebrations in the Old Testament. At the table, Jesus lived what God had intended Israel to be: “a center of joy, celebration and justice for the whole world.” 

From the feeding of 5,000, to the Last Supper—even to the meal with two believers after His resurrection (Luke 24:30)—the table ministry of Jesus invites us to stop our constant striving and abide in Him. Indeed, not until eating with Jesus did the two believers recognize Him as the risen Lord. “He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened” (vv. 30–31) to the living Christ.

Sitting with a friend recently at Fika, enjoying hot chocolate and rolls, we found ourselves also talking of Jesus. He is the Bread of Life. May we linger at His table and find more of Him.

Today's Reflection  Lord, thank You for making time and room for us to abide at Your table.

 

菲卡的精神

到了坐席的时候，耶稣拿起饼来，祝谢了，擘开，递给他们。-路加福音24章30节

我家附近有间名为菲卡（Fika）的咖啡屋。在瑞典语中，菲卡意为与家人、同事或朋友一起喝咖啡和吃糕点的休息时间。我不是瑞典人，但菲卡却充分描述了我最喜欢耶稣的一件事，就是祂会安歇片刻，与人一同吃饭和休息。

有些学者指出，耶稣与人一同吃饭都有用意。神学家马克·格兰维尔（Mark Glanville）指出：“耶稣参与了旧约以色列节日和庆典中的盛宴。耶稣在与人坐席时，就活出了上帝要以色列民担当的角色，也就是成为全世界喜乐、欢庆和公义的中心。”

从喂养五千人到最后的晚餐，甚至是耶稣复活之后与两位门徒共同用餐（路加福音24章30节），耶稣其实是在邀请我们，学习凡事倚靠祂，常常与祂亲近。事实上，两位门徒也是到了与耶稣一起吃饭时，才认出祂是复活的主。“到了坐席的时候，耶稣拿起饼来，祝谢了，擘开，递给他们。他们的眼睛明亮了，这才认出祂来”（30-31节）。

最近，我和一位朋友在菲卡咖啡屋享用热巧克力和面包卷时，我们也在谈论耶稣。祂是生命的粮，愿我们能多与祂一同坐席吃饭，更深地认识祂。

主啊，感谢祢为我们腾出时间和空间，
让我们能与祢一同坐席。

让我们腾出时间，享用生命的粮。