Years ago, I was shown (I did not "go see") a film called "Babette's Feast." It is a foreign film (Danish, I believe), and it tells the story of two sisters who live in austere piety. They take in a housekeeper named Babette, and she cooks for them. After ten years or so, Babette wins a lottery in France, and in gratitude she decides to prepare a meal - a feast - for the sisters and their friends. Babette goes all-out with the food, and she sets out a marvelous banquet. The very religious (and Protestant) sisters decide, carefully, to eat the meal, but not to enjoy it. The feast goes on, with only one of the guests apparently savoring the food - he announces each course and drools over the opulence of Babette's magnanimous cooking.I want to find the movie and see it again (actually "go see" it now). Just recalling it gives me joy. Why? Because of what it symbolizes. Babette's feast was a gracious and gratuitous gift of love - a gift of herself - in which she almost completely loses herself for the sake of the meal and her guests. It is eucharist.
Today, Jesus "loses himself" for his people, turning to them and with generous abandon feeding them until they are satisfied. It is the "feast of rich foods" that Isaiah envisions, and it continues for us in the Breaking of the Bread at Mass. Advent is our time to prepare ourselves for the Feast that God prepares for us, and we are called to the Table even now.
3 comments:
We watched the film in one of my pastoral counseling classes last semester. I am still processing it. The first thought I had was that it was a lesson about appreciating abundance. Then I decided it was a study in contrasts and how we can gain deeper knowledge by noting them. I'm glad to read your response about the feast being "eucharist." This film is like the feast: it keeps on giving.
Teri
This is a great movie!
One of my favorite films ever. The food, the people, the obscure religion- all ingredients to make me happy. Thanks for posting this!
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