Devotional Thought of the Day:

“Give us this day, the food We need…”

39      I see myself like a poor little bird, accustomed only to making short flights from tree to tree, or, at most, up to a third floor balcony… One day in its life it succeeded in reaching the roof of a modest building, that you could hardly call a skyscraper. But suddenly our little bird is snatched up by an eagle, who mistakes the bird for one of its own brood. In its powerful talons the bird is borne higher and higher, above the mountains of the earth and the snow capped peaks, above the white, blue and rose pink clouds, and higher and higher until it can look right into the sun. And then the eagle lets go of the little bird and says: Off you go. Fly! Lord, may I never flutter again close to the ground. May I always be enlightened by the rays of the divine sun—Christ—in the Eucharist. May my flight never be interrupted until I find repose in your Heart.

As I have been contemplating the idea of Jesus praying His prayer, and our being able to listen in to the Father hearing, and answering, I arrive at the prayer and promise for God to provide all we need.

Oddly enough, it arrives on the same day we celebrate the same Jesus, reclining at the table with his disciples, taking bread, giving thanks, and giving his disciples His body and blood, the bread and wine.

Luther would talk of this section of the Lord’s prayer being the faith which asks God to provide not only the bread, but all things necessary to life, and more.  While we don’t picture Jesus being weak, being dependent, that was what He became, for our sake.  He needed to eat, and He needed to pray to the Father.

Jesus needed to depend on Him, especially during Holy Week.  Imagine eating with friends, knowing that they would desert you.  Imagine that two would betray you, one to your death, one in your time of need.  Imagine knowing better than anyone the sacrifice the bread and wine foretold, even as we proclaim that same death now, as we commune.  Jesus trusted the Father, and knew His prayers would be answered.  We too can pray with Him, knowing this.  Even when, especially when we bear our own crosses.

All we need, God provides.

In praying with Jesus, we are the little sparrow of St. Josemaria, caught up with the eagle,   We learn to trust in our heavenly Father, we learn to lay all we need at His feet, we learn to trust in Him for the bread, not just of earth, but the Body and Blood of Christ, what the ancients called the bread of angels. How great how incredible, how uplifting.

At the cross, where His body is broken… His blood shed.

When Jesus trusts in the Father to provide all He needs, all we need…..

He took the bread, and gave thanks…

Amen!

(1)   Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). The Forge (Kindle Locations 366-374). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.