“’Give us this day our daily bread’; Give us grace for to-day; feed the famished affections;” (Science and Health, page 17)
The Lord’s prayer guides us to turn to God for our sustenance. This “daily bread” refers to that right provision for each day, as was the manna supplied each morning in the wilderness for Moses and his followers to feed them. But Jesus knew this bread to be so much more.
The bread of Life to him was the Word of God. It was the inspiration that his Father gave him each day—those pure and right thoughts, the Christ-message of salvation—that truly sustained him, and what this line of the prayer surely signifies.
The illumination of Jesus’s words in this quote helps us to recognize the fullness and intimacy of this prayer and the Truth it affirms. We look eagerly and expectantly to God for grace—for sweet tenderness and love and guidance in ways that are healing and beautiful. God’s law of abundance meets our needs not only for physical well-being, but also assures that our hearts are fed as well. This daily bread, this daily grace, provides comfort for our grief, understanding for our yearning, peace in our struggles, inspiration for our apathy.
Our human affections that can often seem less than satisfied, are fed by this divine providence. This manna for the soul is always just right for each day and ready to be received in our receptive hearts and willing minds. Amen!
These messages are based on passages from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy. These books are our “pastor” in Christian Science. Come back every Tuesday and Thursday for fresh inspiration. Or get a free subscription to receive an inspirational message like this one every weekday morning directly to your inbox by contacting me at lauramoliter@gmail.com. Put “subscribe” in the subject line. A downloadable compilation of categorized messages is also available by request.
