Why Do We Pray Over our Meals?
Why Do We Pray Over our Meals?
By Angela Halliday
Most of the latter-day prophets have at least mentioned the importance of the tradition of praying by offering a “blessing on the food.” Is it a commandment? No. Is it an official Church policy? No. I cannot find any reference in the official Handbook of Instruction on it. Then, why do so many of us do it?
From my earliest memories, I recall stopping to “bless the food” before each meal. I did so throughout my teen years, and then into adulthood. My husband and I have taught our children to, and our daughter and her husband teach our granddaughter to. In recent years, I’ve even found myself praying over food in restaurants and other public places (aloud, in addition to silently).
These prayers often have the tendency to become rote, ritualistic, and rushed. How many times have you heard someone pray for unhealthy treats at the end of a Church activity to “nourish and strengthen our bodies?” It would be laughable if it weren’t meant at least somewhat sincerely.
Upon recent reflection, I have identified six reasons we pray before our meals.
1. Our bodies need continual temporal nourishment to survive and thrive. Offering a prayer each time we eat can turn our mind to constant spiritual nourishment. These prayers should lead us to more praying and other personal worship and spiritual devotion, such as sincere scripture study, meditation, and Christ-like service to others.
2. ALL we have comes from God. By expressing gratitude to Him for all food, no matter if we grew it, bought it, shared it, or prepared it, we acknowledge that He is the provider of every good thing (especially the very morsels that sustain our mortal life).
3. When traveling in areas where food sanitation conditions are questionable (but I do the best I can to acquire appropriate food), the “blessing on the food” could be considered a plea for sanctification not only for me, but for the food itself.
4. Other faith traditions “say grace.” Grace comes from the Latin gratiarum actio, which means, “act of thanks.” (As a sidenote, “grace” has other, deeper, much more significant meanings, but at its most basic definition it is an “act of thanks.”) In fact, people have been praying, pausing, and reflecting before partaking of food for millennia as ancient artifacts attest. It’s a human (especially those with religious or spiritual leanings) tradition.
5. It is a pause that allows us to be more present. Some people even feel it helps them to not overeat. This pause is important as we exercise self-control-not immediately diving into food as soon as we see it. This reflective moment also allows us to acknowledge how privileged we are-as so many go hungry each day.
6. And finally, Jesus Christ set the example in ALL things. Prayer is a commandment. Acknowledging the Lord and expressing gratitude are two of the absolute critical reasons we pray in the first place. Jesus Christ showed us the way as He prayed before feeding two of His multitudes:
“And he took the seven loaves and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.” (Matt. 15:35–36)
“Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.” (Luke 9:16)
So, even if we aren’t commanded specifically to “bless the food,” there are clearly bounteous blessings when we engage in this righteous tradition. I resolve to be more deliberate and help my children to be more deliberate, as we pray before eating. (Maybe it will even help me in my never-ending quest to have a healthy relationship with food!)
What an edifying, uplifting practice to pepper our day- seasoning each mealtime with grace!
Check out the following resources for further insights:
Is it outdated to ask a blessing on all the food we eat today?
