Open Reflections

Give us this day our daily bread

για Ελληνικά πατήστε εδώ

Every day we carry on our work and various duties, spend time with family or friends, or sometimes are too busy to pursue certain activities and hobbies that help us feel more creative and relax. At the end of the day we might feel happy, satisfied and content, disappointed, expecting things to get better the next day or even  regretful about certain incidents or actions or omissions.

That is normal, since we apply different standards for different activities and our day is a constant flow of happenings. There is, however, a little secret that may place our day in a perspective of a secure ground and optimism at all times.

Jesus taught us to pray “the Lord;s Prayer” and in it are the following words: Give us this day our daily bread. What is this daily bread?

In Greek the word that is rendered as “daily” in the English translation, is επιούσιος (epiousios) meaning adequate for the present. So, Jesus is asking us to pray for that which is enough for the present day. He asks us to focus on the things that are necessary for our day; it is not a utilitarian manner of looking at our needs; the Lord has told us not to be anxious for the future for our Heavenly Father knows what we are in need of. He also said “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Mt.6,34)

Jesus did not say the day will be free of trouble, but that we ask for every day to have our daily bread. Apart for the things necessary for our physical sustenance, what else can this daily bread be? 

An unexpected act of kindness from the part of a stranger, a smile and a good word that warm our heart, a spectacular sunset, long-awaited news from a person dear to us, a melody wafted in the air that brings cherished memories, a photograph, a book… all these contribute to giving us a sense that all is well. 

All the above nourish us; the bread is our staple diet, but Christ gives us a bread infinitely superior to that: he said: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6, 35).

Therefore, to be in constant contact with Christ throughout our day will satisfy our spiritual hunger and spiritual thirst for renewal, forgiveness, goodness, joy, light and unending life with God who is love.We are made aware of Christ’s presence in all acts of kindness, all works of beauty, all sincere reconciliation.

There is, however, a way simple as it is deep and mysterious, to receive our daily bread; it is no other than being able to partake of the Lord’s Body and Blood in the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist!            No words can express the peace and joy, the transformative sanctifying power and strength that become embedded in the daily efforts and toil of those who receive Him♥

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (John 6, 51)

press here for Greek