Book Review: The Sacred Meal
The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher is one of eight books in the The Ancient Practices series which cover spiritual disciplines of the Christian faith. According to the book’s introduction, Gallagher explores communion as an experience of “waiting, receiving, and afterward.”
My personal church experience has not included a strong emphasis on the practice of communion, so I came to this book with the hope of gaining a greater appreciation and understanding of this “ancient practice.” Not only was I disappointed in this regard, but I was unclear as to why communion was important for Gallagher in her faith.
The Sacred Meal includes many stories of and reflections on Gallagher’s life – experiences with friends and family and service within the Church. While these were enjoyable to read, I felt that she never fully resolved how any of these stories were related to the practice of communion, nor did they in any way compel me to more actively participate in communion myself.
Gallagher claims to be Episcopalian but impresses me as being far more Unitarian in her belief system. She discusses the importance of social justice and social action to the point of exhaustion. She compares the practice of communion to the Jewish Seder and the Muslim Ramadan, and describes a nearly mythical experience at a Muslim prayer meeting. Near the end of the book, she recounts a story of encountering the spirit of her recently deceased brother in the “burning of the bulrushes, in the light and in the birds.”
I was disturbed by Gallagher’s theology, and I was disappointed that The Sacred Meal failed in its intended purpose as a manual on the ancient practice of communion.
I do NOT recommend this book.
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