Tuesday 7th March – Tuesday of the 1^st week of Lent

Reflection: Matthew 6:7-15

OUR DAILY BREAD

The Pater Noster (Our Father) remains the blue print of prayer, through which Christ teaches us what prayer should truly be: an interaction between a loving Father and His children who with gratitude make their requests known to Him. Let us take a moment to reflect on one of the requests of this age-old prayer: Give us today our daily bread.

First, we ask specifically for our “daily” bread. Just like the Lord taught the Israelites to rely on Him for manna each new day so also He teaches you and I. Do you find yourself worrying about your material needs or get overwhelmed about tomorrow? Place all your worries at Jesus’ feet in the Lord’s prayer and allow Him to take care of your needs day by day. In addition, as we ask for our daily bread we must remember that our needs are not merely physical. We need spiritual strength to live out our Christian call. The strength for yesterday is not sufficient for today. To be truly victorious Christians, we must come to the Lord in prayer each new day. We must study His words and ask for his direction each new day.

Finally, the request for our daily bread reaches its fulfilment in the Eucharist: the Bread of Life in which Christ offers us His very self as food for the journey. Do you avail yourself of the opportunity Christ offers you in the Eucharist? Let us take away anything that stands in our way of receiving Christ this season of grace and let us make out time to meet Him more often at the table of His word and in the Eucharist at Mass.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the reassurance that you are a loving Father. Please help me to trust you with my needs each new day. Amen.

Faith Pearls: YOUCAT 522 – What does it mean to say, “Give us this day our daily bread”?

The petition about our daily bread makes us people who await everything from the goodness of our heavenly Father, including the material and spiritual goods that are vitally necessary. No Christian can pronounce this petition without thinking about his real responsibility for those in the world who lack the basic necessities of life.

Hide a Treasure: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” Matthew 6:33 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 34:4-7, 16-19; Mt 6:7-15