I love some of the spiritual “jabs” that I can make at weddings. Over the years, I’ve seen patterns develop and usually can hit at least 3 or 4 of about 7 typical places for making a point.
One of them is praying before the meal.
Almost always there is a cocktail hour at the wedding reception, where hors devours are served. Then before the main course, I’m asked to pray. I’ll say, “This prayer includes extra grace for everyone who ate hors devours without praying.” And then I hear a few chuckles.
Another old German tradition states that if you’re not eating meat, then you don’t have to pray.
On the other hand, when I visited Israel I asked my tour guide to teach me how to pray in Hebrew, and he did. He shared how Jewish tradition has developed different prayers for different types of foods (including when there is no meat). Each begins with BA-RUCH A-TAH A-DO-NAI ELO-HAY-NU ME-LECH HA-O-LAM, which means, “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe.”
I know a guy who just blogged this:
“I eat too fast.
This has been a lifelong struggle, and I’m not sure when it started. But when I’m out at a restaurant with friends, I always finish first … even when I intentionally try to eat slowly.
I’m not the worst offender in my family. We do have a Labrador retriever who eats like someone is about to steal her food. Unfortunately, I can relate.”
He goes on to explain how slowing down to pray and slowing down to eat work so well together, and why they become worship. Check it out here in his blog: “Not So Fast Food For the Soul.”
PRAYER: Jesus, Bread of Life from heaven, bless the food you here have given. As these gifts the body nourish, may our souls in graces flourish. Amen.
DISCUSSION: Ask friends what they pray before meals, and see what you learn.
