A revisiting of The First Thanksgiving.

The first Thanksgiving- Bruce Weaver and Luke Smith

When our 6th St Home first opened we placed up on the wall next to our table an image of the Last Supper. It is a familiar image to many who visit us. It was a familiar image to me and I thought I knew what it meant, what it represented. I thought I knew the story being told. But then I met Bruce, a man who in only a few words changed my understanding of what the Last Supper is.


One fall Saturday morning as we ate our breakfast, I asked Bruce what he thought heaven would be like; he simply shrugged his shoulders, as only Bruce can, and replied, “Thanksgiving, The first thanksgiving!” He pointed up to the image of the Last Supper, the institution of the Eucharist, and taught me what the Last Supper is, the First Thanksgiving. Bruce continued, “We came as strangers, we eat and we become friends, its Thanksgiving.” His smile, his words, his ability to point out the seemingly obvious, was and continues to be liberating.

Art by Sieger Koder

 How we are called to do similarly, as a family in L’Arche, to welcome each other as strangers, as we all were at some point, to share a meal, be nourished by word and food, to wash each others feet is Thanksgiving, is a celebration of, service, of forgiveness and celebration; of Eucharist.

Bruce I say to you, Thank you.