What follows suggests that Jesus had already arranged for them all to accept the hospitality from someone. He wants an evening meal with his companions away from public demands for his attention, away from resentful suspicious eyes, out to discredit him.
There's nothing to hide, he just needs a quiet space for fellowship in prayer to honour ancient custom that is meant to be observed by a family in a home. This band of brothers and their sisterly support group are like kith and kin to each other after three years of travelling together.
No address for the place is given, the disciples must reach there circumspectly with the help of discreet guides who share the secret that will preserve the privacy of what turns out to be his last supper with them all in this life.
A week or so later, resurrected, he will appear to a couple of disciples at another meal table and be recognised.
"Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread." (Luke 24:35)
At the Galilean lakeside it's the risen Jesus who prepares a meal for the disciples to share
Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. (John 21:12)
Wherever God's Good News and Jesus' story is told and people gather, a meal happens full of joyful thanksgiving, remembering all that he did and achieved. It takes many forms, many different kinds of gathering, yet each with this consistent purpose.
Although Christians through the ages have created great sanctuaries and temples in which to worship through the Eucharist, the 'where' of these meal gatherings knows no limit. What started in homes has been reproduced in public places, in prison cells, hospitals, mountain tops, watersides, on ships, in battle trenches on campsites, among friends and among strangers. In his last passage on prayer in Matthew's Gospel Jesus says
"Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." (Matt 18:19-20)
The Teacher's promise is fulfilled in our experience as we find ourselves in different places on life's journey, even if the setting is strange and unfamiliar, we find that our memory of what is being done together by people who share a faith becomes more recognisable, not, least by that sense of God's presence, which become so much keener when we are with others like us, who pray.
"For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Cor 11:26)
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