Page 32 - Lessons and Activities on Prayer

8
meaL Prayer
Catechist background
catholics pray before meals, giving thanks to God for the food we are going to eat. at times we pray a short prayer, and at other times we pray a lon- ger prayer, giving thanks for the many gifts God gives us throughout the day. no matter whether the prayer is long or short, we are following in the footsteps of Jesus, who prayed before meals.
when Jesus multiplied the loaves and shes and fed well over 5000 people, he began this miracle by “giving thanks” (Matthew 14:19–21). at the last supper, before Jesus passed the cup and the bread to his disciples and told them to eat and drink his body and blood, he gave thanks. in chapter 24 of luke’s gospel, we nd Jesus walking with the dis- ciples on the road to emmaus. when he stopped to eat with them, he “took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them.”
when we give thanks to God for providing for us, we recognize that everything we have comes from God (romans 11:36). Praying before we eat reminds us of the many ways God blesses us throughout our lives.
Prayer
Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive through Christ our Lord. Amen.
MeAl PrAyer LeSSon PLan 1
Objectives
□ To know the order of the words found in the meal prayer
□ To know the meals in which Jesus gave thanks
materials
□ 9 paper spoons for each child, run o on colored paper (page 34)
□ 9 paper spoons for each child, run o on white paper (page 34)
□ Pencils
lesson
▪ Gather the students around you and talk about the prayer before meals.
▪ read the story of the loaves and shes in Matthew 14:19–21, and discuss how Jesus gave thanks.
▪ read the story of the last supper in Matthew 26:26–28, and discuss how it is similar
to the story of the loaves and shes.
▪ read the story of the disciples on the road to emmaus in luke 24:28–32, and discuss how these three stories—the loaves and shes, the last supper, and Jesus on the road to emmaus—show us how to give thanks before we eat.
▪ have students draw one of these scenes and then print the word “ anks”
at the bottom of the picture.
▪ explain the spoons of ankfulness activity. ▪ if time allows, end class with the meal
prayer and enjoy a simple snack.
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