The table is nothing more than pallets. The chairs are old car tires and long-empty oil barrels. The twelve children eat rice held on paper plates with only their fingers as utensils. In the middle sits Jesus. He breaks a pita to share. The image resembles a classic scene from the Last Supper. But all of these models are desperately poor children from the slums of Manila.
The Philippine artist Joey Velasco painted the picture approximately four or five years ago. The painting is named "Hope's Table." And hope it has as created, for the children he painted, and many others with them. Cheap poster renditions of the painting are visible in many church sanctuaries in impoverished areas. A glimpse of a heavenly meal where all will receive their fill. With more than food.
Nearly 3,000 years earlier the prophet Isaiah painted a word-picture of another feast. "a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines." (Isa 25:6-7) This picture has also created great hope. God will prepare the feast! With the best food and wine we can imagine, in absurd amounts!
But if the food is never this good, it is the guest list, more than the menu, the ignites the flames of hope. More important than what is served, are those who are get to eat. More important than what is on the table is who sits around it.
A feast for all people. And all guests receive more than food. It was this that gave hope when Jesus sat at the table together with sinners, when he shared with the hungry, when he broke bread with his disciples. It was this hope that the prophet saw in a vision, and an artist painted in Manila.
(If you can read Norwegian, the original devotion can be found here: http://www.vl.no/andakt/article23915.zrm)
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