Christian Living

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Cupcakes

Ever notice at Church bake sales there are hundreds of cupcakes there? Seems like everyone has bakes cupcakes. And why not? They are miniature cakes that one can indulge in and not feel guilty about eating more than one. Unlike asking for a second piece of birthday cake, asking for a second cupcake is almost mandatory. They are usually two for a dollar anyway so no guilt there. Can’t ask to buy just one. Not to mention that the little girl behind the table looks at you with those puppy dog eyes and says “I helped Mommy make these”. That did it. You reach into your wallet and pull out a buck.

We can trace the cupcake of today back to 1796 in a notation recipe in the book “American Cookery” written by Amelia Simms. The notation stated “a cake to be baked in small cups”. In 1828 we find the earliest documentation actually using the term cup cake. It was in Eliza Leslie’s “Seventy-five Receipts for Pastry, Cakes, and Sweetmeats” Receipts Cookbook. Later they were referred to as 1234 cakes or quarter cakes. This was because they were made up of four ingredients: butter, flour, sugar and eggs. Simply put, it’s a large cake that is portioned out to feed many.

So back to the table with the little girl behind it. You knew that she had helped open a box of cake mix. Pored out the mix into a bowl. Added the milk and eggs to the flour mix. Stirred it ever so well. And then took the batter from which a large cake could be made and broke it down to feed many. She helped Mommy make those cup cakes. She told you so. She wanted you to remember as you ate that delicious cup cake that she did it for you. Does this sound familiar? Have we heard that one has feed thousands with only 7 loafs of bread? And we are asked to remember as we eat a part of bread?

Matthew 15:32-38
32 -Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
33 -His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” 34 -“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”35 -He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.38- The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

23-For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,

24-and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

25-In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

26- For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.


So the next time you go to that Church bake sale and buy those cupcakes remember that even though they are a wonderful treat, there can be another way to look at them. Is it irony that there are hundreds of cupcakes there on the tables made from only a few cake mix boxes? Made by Gods children to serve the Church and to feed those who are hungry. Is it irony that you will remember that cup cake throughout the day? How good it felt. How better you are after having it.

I don’t know. It may be irony. Ironic situations often have an effect exactly opposite from what is intended.

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