From Filet Mignon to Faith: What a Premium Cut Teaches Us About Community

Happy National Filet Mignon Day! Who knew a tender steak could inspire a blog post?!

When I first heard about National Filet Mignon Day, I’ll admit I chuckled. Another quirky food holiday in a calendar already packed with National Donut Day, National Pizza Day, and countless others. But then I got thinking – and you know how dangerous that can be for a pastor.

The Sacred Act of Gathering Around Food

There’s something profoundly beautiful about filet mignon that goes beyond its reputation as the “king of steaks.” It’s rarely eaten alone. This premium cut almost always marks special occasions – anniversaries, promotions, celebrations, or simply those moments when we want to honor someone we love. When was the last time you grabbed a filet mignon for a quick Wednesday lunch by yourself?

Jesus understood this connection between food and community better than anyone. His ministry was practically built around meals. He called fishermen away from their nets to share bread. He fed thousands on hillsides. He turned water into wine at a wedding feast. The night before his crucifixion, he gathered his closest friends around a table.

Food has always been God’s way of bringing us together.

While it certainly wasn’t a filet mignon meal, one of the best meals that I remember having was when I was younger with my grandma. She took me out for a special lunch, or maybe it was breakfast. I was younger and enthralled with fancy stemmed glasses, which we had on the table! It was the restaurant in the Holiday Inn down the street from our house. Grandma said I could have anything that I wanted – and you know those are both dangerous words and the best words you could hear your grandma say! So, with our table covered in a fancy white linen tablecloth, a fancy stemmed water glass, and a buffet full of brunch food, I came back with a plate full of bacon. That’s it, nothing else, just bacon. Grandma looked at me and smiled, and probably shook her head, but she said anything! That lunch brought us closer together, even as silly as it may have been.

More Than Just a Meal: The Theology of Table Fellowship

In our Lutheran tradition, we understand something deep about tables and community. Every Sunday, we gather around Christ’s table in communion – not because we’re perfect, but because we’re family. The altar isn’t reserved for the spiritually elite any more than filet mignon should be hoarded by food snobs.

When we share communion, we’re participating in the same kind of radical hospitality that Jesus practiced throughout his ministry. Rich and poor, young and old, saints and sinners – all welcome at the table.

This is what makes National Filet Mignon Day more than just a marketing gimmick. It’s a reminder that some of life’s most sacred moments happen when we slow down, gather together, and share something special.

The Gift of Intentional Gathering

Here’s what strikes me most about filet mignon: it demands intention. You don’t accidentally order it. You don’t grab it on the run. It requires planning, preparation, and presence.

Doesn’t our faith community deserve the same intentionality?

Too often, we treat fellowship like fast food – quick, convenient, disposable. We wave at each other in the parking lot after service and call it community. But what if we approached our relationships with the same care we’d give to preparing a special meal?

What if we set the table with intention? Lit some candles? Put away our phones? Actually listened to each other’s stories?

Creating Sacred Spaces in Ordinary Moments

The beautiful truth is that we don’t need filet mignon to create these moments. Jesus fed thousands with fish and bread – simple, everyday food made sacred by the act of sharing.

But we do need intention. We need to be purposeful about creating space for one another.

This week, I challenge you to think about your own table – literal or metaphorical. Who needs an invitation to sit with you? What relationships in your life could use the gift of unhurried time together? How can you create space for the kind of deep connection that only happens when we’re fully present with one another?

The Tender Heart of Community

Just like filet mignon gets its reputation from being tender, our communities thrive when we approach each other with tender hearts. There’s something about sharing food – especially special food – that softens our defenses and opens us up to real connection.

Maybe that’s why Jesus kept coming back to meals as metaphors for the kingdom of God. Food breaks down barriers. It reminds us of our common humanity. We all get hungry. We all need nourishment. We all crave connection.

An Invitation to Feast

So here’s my National Filet Mignon Day invitation: Don’t just think about the steak. Think about the table. Think about who’s sitting around it with you. Think about the conversations that happen when we slow down enough to truly see each other.

Whether you’re dining on filet mignon tonight or sharing a simple meal with loved ones, remember that every table has the potential to be sacred space. Every shared meal is an opportunity to practice the radical hospitality that Jesus modeled for us.

And if you do happen to be celebrating with an actual filet mignon today? Say a prayer of gratitude – not just for the food, but for the people you’re sharing it with. Because in the end, it’s not what’s on our plates that matters most.

It’s who’s around our table.

What meaningful meals have shaped your faith journey? I’d love to hear your stories of how food and fellowship have intersected in your own life. Share them in the comments below or stop by my office – I’ll put the coffee on.