Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren
Week 6: Chapter 5 — Eating Leftovers: Abundance, Scarcity, and Gratitude
Read Chapter 5 of Liturgy of the Ordinary. Key passages: 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; John 6:35.
Previewing Week 6 of Liturgy of the Ordinary
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 11-week guide when you’re ready.
What we eat and how we eat it turns out to be deeply theological — this chapter traces the line from a reheated lunch to the Lord's Table.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Warren begins with the humble act of eating leftovers and connects it to the eucharistic practice of the church. What is the argument she is making — what does an ordinary meal have to do with the Lord's Supper?
2.She explores the posture of gratitude before a meal — the practice of saying grace — as far more than a religious formality. What does stopping to give thanks before eating actually do to the way we receive food, our bodies, and the gift of life?
3.Warren writes about the economic and moral dimensions of eating — the reality that our access to food is unequal, that abundance and scarcity are unevenly distributed. How does she suggest that a eucharistic imagination should shape not just how we pray before meals but how we think about food justice and sharing?
a.Does the practice of Communion in your church carry a sense of solidarity with the hungry? Why or why not?
b.What would it look like for a eucharistic theology to spill over into your shopping, eating, and giving?