For the last several months in our neighborhood group, we’ve been discussing the Lord’s Prayer and last night we came to the phrase “give us this day our daily bread.” It is a relatively simple prayer, but one filled with profound implications. The author of the study, John Smed, suggests that by praying for God to give us our daily bread, Jesus is “teaching us trust and thankfulness,” He is building “generosity and kindness,” and He is “developing our contentment and simplicity of life.” If there were ever three things I needed, those would be them. Give me this day my daily bread, oh Lord.
The first thing we must do in praying for daily bread is to “acknowledge our dependence on God” and understand that everything we have is not the product of our own thrift or industry or even our birthplace, but is an unwarranted gift from God, the Giver of all things. This allows us to cultivate a trusting and thankful spirit before the Father. We can ask for our needs and trust that He will provide them. Instead of anxiety and worry, we have rest and expectation. Look at the birds of the air, look at the lilies of the field.Then, when our needs are met, we can respond with gratitude and thanksgiving, instead of how I usually respond, with smug entitlement.
Smed also writes that “thanksgiving is an antidote to greed and to envy.” How true. I notice that in the arc of my own sin, envy comes directly from a heart that is not grateful and from a spirit of bitter discontent. That sneaky, accusatory voice of the old man whispers that God has neglected or forgotten me, that I am not really His child, and moreover, that I actually deserve whatever it is that I am coveting. I feel entitled to it. My ludicrous pride calls out that I should have the accolades or praise or things that I desire, as my eyes begin to flit from side to side, constantly comparing myself with others. What a lie this is. What I deserve is not comfort or blessing or approval. I deserve condemnation. But, all praise to the God of grace who, as Psalm 103 reminds, “does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”
Because of my great sin, which is a direct affront to the goodness and holiness of God Almighty, I deserve separation from the Author of Life. I deserve the cross. But God, my Father, full of mercy and compassion, poured out the judgment due me on Another. And I receive what Jesus deserves, the smiles and gifts of the Father. Psalm 103 continues, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” Only the gospel will change my entitled, prideful, covetous heart that looks around at others and replace it with a thankful one that looks to Jesus.
It is only because of this gospel that we can pray as Jesus taught us to our Father, not as children of dust and death but children of light and life. The daily bread we ask for is not simply that that we eat, our physical needs, but also the daily knowledge of the gospel, of the Word, of Jesus, the Bread of Life.
I would like to start by asking you two questions. One: Can you can give an accurate definition of the phrase: "Lamb of God"? We all know that this is one of the names used for Jesus, like Messiah, Savior, Son of Man, or Christ. But exactly what is the importance of the name "Lamb of God"? And why is it important to me as a Catholic?
ReplyDeleteThe second question I would like to ask you is: Why the Catholic Church would offer The Holy Eucharist every day at every Mass throughout the world in over 3000 languages. What knowledge do they have that would make them feel compelled to do this for thousands of years? In answering this question, we'll see why the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.'" (CC 1324)
I think what she is saying here is that the substance of our relationship with Christ is two fold... both spiritual through His Word and physical through his "Body," the Word made flesh. We cannot separate one from the other, just as we cannot separate our body from our soul. God must commune with us under both "species," if you will, because we are such a creature. Prime example, the Incarnation. To redeem us, he had to become like us. Now he can feed us like the being we are, both spiritual and material.
ReplyDeleteTo that extent, I am quite in agreement, that the Mass is the best expression of the Word of life and Bread of life coming together to aid the Christian pilgrim in enduring to the end.