Many of our Mefarshim discuss the following; The מצוה of ברכת המזון and blessings in general pose a dilemma. Normally, blessings go from the greater being to the lesser one. If that be the case, how can we, the finite, recite a bracha which bestows the blessing upon the infinite G-D?
The answer, I suggest, is that the blessings we make are recited, primarily, to express our total dependency on the beneficence of G-D. In recognition of this relationship we recite our brachot. Without these brachot we would not be permitted to enjoy the blessings of the world that
G-D bestows upon us, our Brachot are basically a matir, to enjoy the gifts of life.
G-D is represented to us as our Melech, but more so, as our Father who is concerned for His children as is evident in our daily lives.
Interestingly, the Bircat Hamazon, which comes after our meal, uses the word ושבעת, when we are satiated.
All too often, when a man has all necessities in life he becomes indifferent to how and from whom he received these gifts. Only through the means of the recitation of the brachot he realizes he could not have accomplished so much in life without the Shefah of Hakadosh Baruch Hu raining down upon him.
Our Sages instituted the pronouncement of a bracha not only following eating of food, but preceding nearly every act through which we partake of in life.
The Torah states, מה ה׳ שואל מעמך "And now Israel, what does the Lord thy G-D, require of you."
Rabbi Meir in the Talmud uses the word מה in Hebrew, and he says that it sounds like the word מאה, one hundred. Rabbi Meir explains that a person is bound to say 100 brachot each day!
Understandably Rabbi Meir did not mean for us to walk around with a calculator counting our brachot. I believe he meant that if we are alert enough we can find 100 occasions during the day to thank Hashem for all the wonders of life.
May our prayers always be answered and the brachot of Hashem continue to fill our lives with health and happiness and may we be inspired never to take anything for granted - always being grateful for what we have!
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