(The following entry is inspired by Jean Francois-Millet’s famous painting, “Angelus”. It depicts an elderly farming couple coming to the end of their workday with a moment of standing-in-the-field prayer.)
Like many of you, Chris and I share words of spoken gratitude before our evening meal. Sometimes called “grace,” these varied prayers involve just the two of us, so they may seem small and routine. But what’s happening may be more significant than what at first appears to be going on.
In these years of life, our house and our meals are relatively quiet. We engage our daily routines and rituals inside the bubble of blessings that surrounds us at this time in our lives. So our before-supper prayers carry a whole range of emotions and attitudes about life.
During the moments of our *Angelus-like prayers, Chris and I join the millions of other people who—perhaps at the same time—are also sending to God’s heart their appreciation for another good day. Another day of being undeservedly blessed and becoming a blessing for others. Another joining of ourselves to God’s grateful people. Another opportunity to remember the source of all that we have and all that we have done.
I imagine the spiritual weight of these prayers gathered together as a kind of massive data packet heading towards God. At the moment of our thanks, we’re part of the collected witness of earlier and current saints whose work and gratitude must surely be evidence that God’s Spirit has herself been working alongside us this day. At those Angelus moments, Chris and I are not alone. You, too, are standing/sitting there, perhaps also weary from your work but deeply connected to the same grace of God that you’ve experienced this day.
As you share your before-meal thanks today, remember that, no matter how quiet and routine they may be, your Angelus prayers connect you to all of us who know the joy of serving God in everything we do.
Amen!
*Millet’s painting has been associated with the Roman Catholic practice of repeating the “Hail, Mary” prayer three times at the end of each day. This devotional habit doesn’t exclude any of us who, like the couple depicted in his portrait, are deeply grateful about each day.
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