Jesus sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognised him. And then he disappeared. (Luke 24: 30 – 31)

Jesus tried to explain to his downcast disciples on the road to Emmaus what had been fulfilled by his birth, death, and resurrection, but it wasn’t until the breaking of the bread that the truth really sunk in. The meal gave the disciples a chance to process all that Jesus was telling them. That is why the shared meal (the Eucharist) is central to our faith. It is the time for us to gather as a Christian family, share our stories, ask for forgiveness, give thanks, and receive wisdom, insight, and the strength to carry on. The benefits of this sacred ritual are endless.

Researchers are finding the same holds true for our domestic meal sharing. Studies show that the more often families eat together, the less likely kids are to smoke, drink, do drugs, get depressed, delay having sex, eat their vegetables, learn big words, and know which fork to use, reports Time in “The Magic of the Meal”. In fact “A meal is about civilising children,” says Robin Fox, a Rutgers anthropologist.

Some days with the busyness of our lives, it’s hard to get everyone gathered and food on the table, but it’s well worth the effort for the sake of our children and our society.

Now that you know the facts, as a special treat, try coming to dinner – and Mass – when you’re called.