Meals in the Bible and What They Teach Us
- MPadilla
- Nov 8, 2025
- 2 min read
Meals in the Bible and What They Teach Us is the 5th in a series of Care for Creation: Catholic Social Teaching presented at Santa Catalina and via Zoom.
Eating is never just an individual act. It is deeply communal, tied to our relationships with God, neighbor, and creation. As Catholics, we are called to approach food with reverence, acknowledging its sacred nature, considering its impact on others, and using it as a means of justice and charity.
Read more here: More Than a Meal: Eating is a Moral Act
There are many verses in the Bible which most of us know involving meals. One of the most significant ones is the Passover/Easter meal that is shared by both Christians and the Jewish people…albeit at different dates to the respective calendars.
Exodus 12:14-15 - This day will be a day of remembrance for you, which your future generations will celebrate with pilgrimage to the LORD; you will celebrate it as a statute forever. 15 For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. From the very first day you will have your houses clear of all leaven. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day to the seventh will be cut off* from Israel.
But for all meals we are asked to be thankful:
Dt. 8:10 - But when you have eaten and are satisfied, you must bless the LORD, your God, for the good land he has given you.
Meals have also been a time when Christians get to discuss the teachings of Christ and prayers.
Acts 2:42 - They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.
These meals can also become a moment to become more evolved and involved in the teachings of Christ.
John 21:12 - Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord.
From the presentation, these are verses that provide examples of other meals and their significance.
Genesis, Garden of Eden, God provides food for sustenance.
Genesis 18: 1-15 - covers Hospitality.
Exodus 12: 1-26 - preparing for the Passover journey; 16:1-35 manna provided by God while in the desert; 24:1-11 - of the Covenant.
Isiah 25:1-8 - Prophesy about a future banquet for all people.
Luke 1:53 - The Magnificat
John 2:1-11 - The Wedding at Cana
Luke 5:27-32 - Jesus invites Levi to follow him: Levi invites Jesus to a meal.
Luke 19:5 - Jesus sees Zacchaeus, who came to see him, goes to his home.
Luke 7:36-50 - While dining with Pharisees, woman washes Jesus’ feet.
Luke 10:39-41 - Jesus dining with Martha and Mary
As we are entering the holiday season of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, it might be a good time to read these verses again and reflect on what you may have learned from this presentation.
You can access the forum handout here:
You can access the video at our YouTube channel here:
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