Bread

Matthew 6:9-13  (NIV)

"This, then, is how you should pray:

" 'Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

So, I've been spending a lot of time thinking about what I'm eating so far this year.  

And...day #16...things have been going pretty well.  I've definitely eaten more fruits and vegetables already than from about Halloween through the end of the year.

We have so many choices.  

Often, even the people of lowest income in our country really do have some choices about what they will eat,  relative  to people in other places, and certainly to the people of other times.  

When Jesus spoke the words about bread in the Lord's Prayer, his hearers needed to be reminded to be thankful for different reasons than we do today.  

Just obtaining that day's bread took a lot more effort for most people then than it does now. There were no programs to help feed the poor and daily wages were just enough, perhaps 
to keep a family alive and intact.  

Maybe in the hustle and worry of making those ends meet in the most basic of ways, Jesus' audience forgot to be thankful for the day's bread that they had received.  

Certainly, we can fall prey to that same problem.  

But more likely for us is that we're not thankful for whatever kind of "bread" we receive because we are so able to look around and see everything else that is or could be available.  

Sure, my car got me where I needed to go today...but did I get there in style?  

Look at "those people" over there...they've got what I want...and why shouldn't I have it?

Are we thankful for our daily bread?  Sure, but does that mean white, wheat, whole wheat, multi-grain, low cal, sugar free, high fiber, split top, buttercrust, sandwich, honey oat or potato?  

And folks, that's the tip of the bread aisle iceberg.  

Have you even looked at the toothpaste selection?  

Did we make the right choice?  Could another loaf have been tastier?  Was there a better deal?  

How can we be thankful...for what we have today?

Jesus knew that there was great power, and peace, in living in the "right now."  He knew that we need the connection with God that comes from taking a break, taking stock and just being content.  

We are all so blessed.  Every one of us.  

Go make yourself a split-top, buttercrust PB&J, and be happy.  

Prayer:  We pray this prayer that Jesus taught to his disciples and we truly consider what these words mean to our lives.  We ask for contentment with this day's bread, and release from the worry that comes when we try to do it all ourselves.  

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.  World without end, Amen.  

John 20:1-10