Women are usually the chief "food
processors" and servers in their families. Food preparation was a high
priority throughout my lifetime, not only for my family of a husband
and four sons, but for the hospitality ministry among international
students to which we were called by God. I've been expected to make
things happen in the kitchen.
In the summit season of my life,
cooking for large gatherings of family or a great deal of formal
entertaining take a lesser place in my job description as a
mom-grandma. The focus is rather on drumming up enough energy to cook
for myself, select nourishing food, and avoid the pitfall of fast
food and junk food. Going out for lunch with friends assumes more
importance. I've put in the chronological time and earned the right for a senior discount. Besides, it saves cleanup, and I often bring back a doggie-bag for
another meal.
Since our human bodies constantly need
“our daily bread” to sustain ourselves with sufficient strength
to carry on our responsibilities in any season of life, it isn't
surprising that the Scriptures have a lot to say about food. It seems
obvious that Jesus loved to eat. He always seemed to be going to
dinner parties! Many of His parables revolved around food. He even
invited himself to dinner at Zaccheus’ house.
I’ll bet that Jesus' Jewish
Mama Mary was a good cook and so was His grandma Anna! He said of
himself, “The Son of Man comes eating and drinking….” (Matthew
11:19) Many events in His life and His divine declarations took place
in the context of food. Jesus declared that He is the Bread of Life.
(John 6:35) The Eucharist is the sum and source of our spiritual food. We look forward to the Marriage Supper of
the Lamb in Eternity. After His ascension to the Father, we have a
glimpse in Acts 2:46 of how His apostles ate: “…they were taking
their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising
God….” What a good model for us!
These days even promos in the media
remind us that to have a happy family we should eat our meals
together! So this is new? Past generations took that for granted and thrived.
For Christians, to share food expresses fellowship, celebration and
thanksgiving. What an incongruity that most of the world beyond our
shores prays for enough food to survive, and we pray for God’s
help to limit our food intake because we are overweight!
The following is not a prayer to use
verbatim in our family before diving into the food served so
abundantly on our tables—Cries may come forth, “The prayer is too
long! The food is getting cold!”
I offer it instead as a
thought-provoker for private meditation.
Dear Lord of all I am, including my
mortal body which belongs to You, (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20) I want to
eat and drink to Your glory. (1 Cor.10:31) May every meal I prepare
for myself or for my family be a truly spiritual event.
Heavenly Father, You declared that
everything You created is good, (Genesis 1) including food, and
nothing is to be rejected, if we receive it with gratitude as those
who believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4:3-5) Thank You for
providing the food which I prepare. Bless and sanctify it by Your
word and by this prayer. I offer to Your Lordship my appetite, the
good digestion of the food, and its nourishment for my body and for
the health of my family. (Romans 12:1)
Scripture declares that Your will for
me is to prosper and be in health, even as my soul prospers. (3 John
2) Help me to wisely keep my body, soul, and spirit in the best
condition so that I can daily walk in health to please and serve You.
(Ephesians 5:10) You said that man [and woman too!] does not live by
bread alone, that the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but
righteousness, peace, and joy. (Romans 14:17)
Teach me to watch and pray when I
choose foods; show me how to eat only food that is nutritious and
needful for me (Proverbs 30:8) lest I yield to the temptation of the
flesh. You know, O Lord, that my spirit is willing, but my flesh is
weak. (Mark 14:38) Nevertheless, I can do all things, even to control
my food selection and portions, through You who promised to
strengthen me. (Philippians 2:13) Help me eat only as much as I need
for my body’s health. (Proverbs 25:16) In order to be a better
witness for You, if I need to change my poor eating habits that "so easily beset me," (Hebrews 12:1) may I grow the Fruit of
the Spirit in temperance and self-control. (Galatians 5:16, 22-25)
Whenever I eat, may it be with joy and
gladness as a celebration because You, gracious Father, have given us
richly all things to enjoy. (1 Timothy 6:17) Give me a merry heart so
that I may have a continual feast. (Proverbs 15:15)
Lord Jesus, You were known in the
breaking of bread whereby You revealed Your real presence. (Luke
24:30, 31) When I come to Your Eucharistic Table, I receive Your Body
and Blood indeed. You, in turn, promised to be at our daily table to
eat with me and my family. (Revelation 3:20) I acknowledge and
welcome Your presence and preeminence among us when we gather to eat
together. (Proverbs 3:6) May our conversation be pleasant as a
honeycomb, sweet to our souls, health to our bones, and pleasing to
You. (Proverbs 16:24)
In the Name of the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. AMEN
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