What are some of your earliest memories? Mine are strange. Like the time my brother pulled the heads off his G-I Joe action figures. He would put the heads on his fingers and chase me all around the house in utter fear. Big Brothers! Another memory is my sister and I having a “who-could-tie¬-their-shoelace-fastest” contest! I was about four and she was six. I actually thought that was fun. She’s such a loving sister; she always let me win. I also remember my oldest sister sticking up for her younger siblings and getting into fights with some neighborhood bullies. I think my family put “fun” in “dysfunction.” We were a young Filipino family that immigrated to America when I was only two years old. My dad was a physician intern at the time and Mom left her teaching career to care for the home and family. That’s more than a full time job considering the kids! Since we were still learning the English language and experiencing the American culture for the first time, you could only imagine how we were teased and picked on for being a bit awkward. My oldest sister would get into a little trouble trying to defend us. OK, she got into LOTS of trouble… but that’s a different story.

It was a typical scenario of neighborhood kids who can be brutal to each other, especially to people who were a little different. But, isn’t that true for us “bigger kids?” (As an aside, my dad, brother, oldest sister and I are Black Belt Instructors in Tae Kwon Do and Arnis – Filipino full contact weapons fighting. Where are those bullies now? Just kidding.)

Actually, I also have another strange memory. I remember those same bully kids having regular dinners at my house! Yes, my mom and dad won over those kids! They actually became our friends simply by my parents’ invitation to our home for some “exotic” Filipino Food. Move over macaroni and cheese and get ready for some pancit (rice noodles with beef and veggies), lumpia (crispy Filipino styled egg rolls with marinated pork and shrimp) and adobo (vinaigrette marinated pork or chicken)! YUMMY! These neighborhood kids moved from being our biggest threat to our most voracious and grateful guests! It’s true: we can touch hearts and minds more easily if we go by way of people’s stomachs.

Providentially, these same bully kids are still in our lives as long time friends. Some of them now bring their kids to our karate school to be taught by us! Imagine that? Friendships were formed just because mom and dad welcomed them to our table. I guess they took Jesus’ example seriously, eating with the least likely group. Thank God mom and dad learned this Christian Precept very well.

This FIRST EVER Email Blast wants to take you down memory lane. For me, I consider how the Grace Before Meals project started. It was about five years ago when some of my priest friends got together to make dinner. It evolved into a “mission” to try and bring families closer together through their family meals. Tim Watkins, the producer of an award-winning documentary www.inthefaceofevil.com, faithful parishioner and also a now dear friend, heard of this idea through one of my brother priests – who just can’t keep secrets (except in Confession). Since then, we’ve had so many encouraging experiences and positive reactions to this idea that we believe Grace Before Meals is actually more of a “movement” which began, not with us, but with God who shared His meal with us… and what an unlikely group we are.

Each week I hope to provide for you some insights that could serve as food for thought, ideas to feed your body, and even a prayerful consideration to enrich your soul. It is also my hope that you will let the Grace Before Meals Team know what you’re craving for by going to the Blog and telling us what we can serve you.

Another blast from the past is the first meal I ever made. It’s called “Egg in the Nest.” It’s a wonderfully simple meal that even your child(ren) can help you make. Here’s the recipe:

1 medium sized egg
1 slice of American cheese
1 slice of bread
1 teaspoon of butter or margarine
1 pinch of salt and pepper

Instructions:
Melt butter in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Be sure to coat the whole surface of the pan with the butter. In the center of a regular slice of bread, cut out a small circle about 1 inch in diameter and place it on the buttered pan. Crack the egg open so that the yoke fits perfectly into the hole of the bread. Try not to break the yoke. Some of the egg white may need to be manipulated past the yoke and under the bread to cook more easily. Season with salt and pepper. Cover the pan in order to “steam” the egg until it’s almost cooked to the consistency of being poached. After 2-3 minutes of cooking, use a large spatula and carefully flip the bread and egg, trying not to break the yoke. Allow this to cook on the other side for at least 2-3 minutes. The egg should not be runny and the bread will turn toasty brown. Top off with the cheese and allow it to melt. Serve hot.

Be creative with this and use other types of bread, such as raisin bread or the Italian Panettone Bread. You can also use any type of cheese to your liking. My personal favorite is some melted Brie cheese!

This past weekend I had the opportunity to work with couples preparing to be married through a program called Pre-Cana, named after the city where Jesus performed the first miracle. It’s the place where Jesus changed ordinary water into wine. And not just ordinary wine – but vintage “snobby” wine! My nieces and nephews think it’s the coolest thing that their uncle priest can change ordinary tap water into Holy Water. But water into wine… that’s way out of my league! But isn’t that what God does for us? He changes things, or rather changes US, so that we can see the deeper meaning of something or someone. Faith can help us see how ordinary and normal things in life can become extraordinary, special and even holy. Take for example a simple meal. To some it could just be food. But add prayer before you eat and that food becomes a GIFT! Another example is marriage. Two people getting married could be considered common these days. But, a union with THREE people (Man, Woman and GOD) can turn that “union” into Holy Matrimony.

This transformational (and transubstantial) power of God was also very evident this past weekend when I had the chance to have breakfast with a bunch of guys from my old high school, Mount St. Joseph in Baltimore. We all graduated at different years. However, they are now parishioners at my church. One day I thought it would be good for us “Mount Men” to get together and just hang out and reminisce about High School Days (Gosh, I’m getting old!). What was supposed to be just a bunch of guys just chowing down, turned out to be a very edifying and spiritually uplifting opportunity. Without any hesitation, we said a prayer before we ate and shared what Faith had done for each one of us. We were just ordinary guys, but the prayer transformed us into brothers!

Here’s a Family Prayer idea that can change your ordinary meal into an opportunity of grace:

Father in Heaven, we thank you for this food which we are about to receive. Transform this food into strength for us so that we can change our hearts and make more room for you in our homes, in our schools, in our work, in our church and everywhere we go. We ask all through Jesus Our Lord. Amen!