Daily Bread

One day as a friend and I were leaving work, he commented, ‘I really got my daily bread today.’ He explained that he had arrived at work feeling worried and insecure about personal issues. He had prayed for something to happen to help him just get through the day. During the morning, three different people told him what good work he was doing and how pleased they were to have him on their team. These affirmations lifted his spirits and gave him the strength to face his problems outside work too. His final comment was, ‘Those three people may not realise it, but they reminded me that God loves me and is guiding me through my troubles.’

The miracle in today’s reading appears in all four Gospels and is usually called the feeding of the 5000. But the miracle is even greater than that. Before Jesus fed the crowds physically, he nourished them in other ways. He taught them, encouraged them and healed them. Jesus cared for their complete well-being. When we pray to receive our daily bread, we are asking for more than just physical nourishment. Daily bread also means spiritual, mental and emotional strengthening. God cares about our total well-being and will nourish us daily in many ways.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for satisfying all our hungers as we pray, ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. Amen.’