Before life became a hectic merry-go-round, some of us of a certain age remember eating breakfast and dinner together. Granted, breakfast might have been a meal with sleepyheads, but we ate together. With today's busy schedules lucky is the family who takes the time to dine together and spend time connecting with each other about their day and life.

Meals were important in Biblical times, to eat with someone was a sign of friendship and celebration — think of the meal the father provided for his son who returned. 

At the Last Supper, Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples and instituted the Eucharist for us. With this meal we are nourished on our journey of faith. In the same way that a family table symbolizes the unity of those seated around the table, the altar table does the same. It symbolizes the unity among all those seated around it. However, the altar table also reminds us of the sacrifice Jesus made for us, as well as our willingness to face the same sacrifice if we are asked.