Into the grief and silence of death, the prophet whispers: “Drink plenty of water. Get something to eat. Remember that the rain will still come, and the seed will still grow; there will be grains to harvest and fresh dough to knead” (AP).

The prophet gathers the exiles in Babylon, the land that feels like it has dealt a fatal blow to the Israelites’ faith and culture. Daily living in Babylon is a spiritual wasteland, an empty table, a failed promise. Yet the prophet imagines a day when the people will again be a testament of God’s covenant. Until that time, they must not give in to death and despair. “Seek God, even in this foreign land, and take pleasure in the food on your tables.”

Significant moments are best accompanied by food shared in community. At a table of fellowship, we find strength for what lies behind and for what may come ahead. A bit of bread keeps our spirits grounded when we might faint with anguish. A cup of water refreshes when our minds might rage against sensory inundation. A shared camaraderie draws us beyond ourselves when we might be tempted to withdraw into spiritual cocoons.

Eat. Drink. Be together. And remember, the prophet says, the work of God is stretched out across time and creation. The word of God is always unfolding, always planting and nourishing, always dying and renewing, always carving a new path like water through a rock, like the Hebrew people across the Red Sea.

When the sea flees from its usual bed, stay nourished and watch for life. When the mountains skip and the rocks melt, drink deeply and be at peace. When death overshadows and menaces, stay together and wait for God.