Growing up Catholic, we would always have someone lead a prayer before a big family gathering meal. This occurred maybe 3 times a year at best or whenever a priest came to visit. I understood this as more of a thanks for everyone being able to gather together for this meal. As I find out in the bible now that I study it, there are only a few instances where Christ gives thanks, and that's in Matthew 14:19 after feeding 5000, Matthew 15:36 after feeding 4000, and Matthew 26:27 when he gathered with his disciples.
I notice now how diligently Christians pray before meals and how this came to be. I have yet to begin this habit, for I feel like I would be doing it out of pressure instead of out of true gratitude. If I truly felt gratitude for every single meal I ate, I would feel the same gratitude for every car drive I take, and for every time I enjoy watching the television, or every time I see my parents. If I felt the truly ungrateful for eating without a prayer, I find that I would feel equally ungrateful for most events of my day. What sets food apart? Does a small snack count? Does the number of Christians gathered together at that meal count?
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