Shortly after His baptism Jesus went to the wilderness to commune with the Father. He went fasting, which lasted 40 days. Then came the devil tempting Him, asking Jesus to turn stones into bread to feed His body. Jesus responded, "It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." Luke 4:4
This seems very relevant to this time of year that we celebrate how two very different peoples came together to break bread.
The problem that we face is that the many calories that we intake over the next few days do not last. Hours later the body craves more, we just cant get enough! We are never full for very long, but Jesus promised the people of His day, "I am the bread of life...I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:52-53
For those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are promised to be filled. Nephi teaches us how we are to move forward. He states, "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." 2 Nephi 31:20
While celebrating the heroic act of the the pilgrims let us remember why many of them battled the seas, famine, and disease, to worship their God according to their conscience. While others came for a sense of success, and riches. The promise from the Word states that we can have all those things in Christ. Freedoms unknown and riches untold are ours!
Come feast upon the word. If we do this we will find ourselves invited to the feast and marriage of the Lamb. Where Jesus Himself stated, "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them." Luke 12:37 Yes, He will serve us! Oh how I look to prepare myself for the society and the culture there. If we fail to do so, how uncomfortable will we find ourselves. For what will you speak about to the brother to your left or the sister to your right at the dinner table? The local sports team, or the newest fashion of shoes? Fortunately neither of those things are found there.
I invite you to feast now to prepare yourself for that great feast. This will be a real feast with real food, not some metaphor, but a real celebration. We are all invited.
