Give us this day our daily bread!. A true story… A few years before her death, Mother Teresa was interviewed for American TV. She took the film crew on

Give us this day our daily

bread!


bread!

A true story…A true story… A few years before her death, Mother Teresa was interviewed for American TV.

A few years before her death, Mother Teresa was interviewed for American TV. She took the film crew on a

tour of the work that she had been doing for so many years in Calcutta, India.

She took the film crew on a tour of the work that she had been doing for so many years in Calcutta, India.

Eventually the show aired on American TVEventually the show aired on American TV

But when it did, something rather telling… perhaps even prophetic took place.

But when it did, something rather telling… perhaps even prophetic took place.

After each segment, as you might expect, commercials were aired. For example, after the segment on…

After each segment, as you might expect, commercials were aired. For example, after the segment on…

LeprosyLeprosySwimwearSwimwear

After the segment on…After the segment on…

StarvationStarvation Designer Jeans

Designer Jeans


PovertyPoverty Fur CoatsFur Coats


Abandoned Babies

Abandoned Babies

Ice Cream Sundae

s

Ice Cream Sundae

s

And after the segment on…And after the segment on…

The DyingThe DyingDiamond WatchesDiamond Watches

A bit contradictory,

don’t you think?

A bit contradictory,

don’t you think?(It kind of makes you wonder what in the world the show’s producers were thinking!!)

(It kind of makes you wonder what in the world the show’s producers were thinking!!)

Well, here’s a question for you:Well, here’s a question for you:

What are YOU thinking when you pray these

words…

What are YOU thinking when you pray these

words…

“Give us this day our daily

bread.”

“Give us this day our daily

bread.”

Are you thinking about others?Are you thinking about others?

…or just yourself?…or just

yourself?Are you thinking about what you need?Are you thinking about what you need?

…or about what you want?

…or about what you want?

Are you thinking about OUR daily BREAD?Are you thinking about OUR daily BREAD?

or YOUR daily…or YOUR daily…

Cake!Cake!Steak!Steak!

Banana Split!Banana Split!Beer!Beer!

The problem is that we can so easily forget the “us” of “give us,” the “our” of “our daily,” and the “bread” of “daily bread.”

The problem is that we can so easily forget the “us” of “give us,” the “our” of “our daily,” and the “bread” of “daily bread.”In other words, we can blur the distinction

between needs and wants and we can ignore the

fact that we are praying that all people have their needs met.

In other words, we can blur the distinction

between needs and wants and we can ignore the

fact that we are praying that all people have their needs met.

Have you confused the distinction between need

and want?

Have you confused the distinction between need

and want?

For example, when you think of all the food that is available…

For example, when you think of all the food that is available…

Do you think you need this much?


For example, when you think of all the clothing that is available…

For example, when you think of all the clothing that is available…



For example, when you think of all the gadgets & sources of entertainment that are available…

For example, when you think of all the gadgets & sources of entertainment that are available…



And when you think of all the other stuff that is available…

And when you think of all the other stuff that is available…

Do you really need any of this?

Do you really need any of this?

A lot of these things are nice and all that…A lot of these things are nice and all that…

But none of them are necessities! They may be things we want, but they are hardly things

we need.

But none of them are necessities! They may be things we want, but they are hardly things

we need.

And because that’s true, when we pray “Give us this day our daily

bread” these are NOT the things we ask for.

And because that’s true, when we pray “Give us this day our daily

bread” these are NOT the things we ask for.

Instead, we are asking God to supply only that

which we need to sustain the life He has blessed us with on this

earth.

Instead, we are asking God to supply only that

which we need to sustain the life He has blessed us with on this

earth.

Even if that ends up only being…Even if that ends up only being…

A slice of bread in America

A slice of bread in America

A bowl of rice in ChinaA bowl of

rice in China

or a lump of ugali in Kenya

or a lump of ugali in Kenya

And as we ask God to supply our needs (and not our

wants), we also beseech God to give us the blessing of

contentment.

And as we ask God to supply our needs (and not our

wants), we also beseech God to give us the blessing of

contentment.As St. Paul writes: “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

1 Timothy 6:6-8

As St. Paul writes: “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

1 Timothy 6:6-8

And then there is this…And then there is this…

As we pray “Give us this day our daily bread” we do so mindful of who is included when we say

“us” and “our”

As we pray “Give us this day our daily bread” we do so mindful of who is included when we say

“us” and “our”Our familiesOur families

Our neighbors

Our neighborsOur co-workers,

classmates & friends

Our co-workers, classmates & friends

People from all over the

country


countryPeople from all over the

world


worldAnd especially

the poor!And especially

the poor!

And not only do we pray for their bread to be provided…And not only do we pray for their bread to be provided…

We make sure that we are part of the

answer to that petition, using the blessings God has given us to make

sure other people’s needs are met!

We make sure that we are part of the

answer to that petition, using the blessings God has given us to make

sure other people’s needs are met!

Remember what James said…Remember what James said…

“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking daily food and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead!”

James 2:15-17

“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking daily food and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead!”

James 2:15-17

And remember what Jesus says…And remember what Jesus says…

“Truly I say to you, whatever you did to one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did unto me.”

Matthew 25:40

“Truly I say to you, whatever you did to one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did unto me.”

Matthew 25:40

When we reach out to the poor and help them in their needs…

When we share with those who are less fortunate…

When we make sure that the basic necessities are being received by those who cannot gain them for themselves…

When we reach out to the poor and help them in their needs…

When we share with those who are less fortunate…

When we make sure that the basic necessities are being received by those who cannot gain them for themselves…

We then (and only then) understand the “us” and the “our” of the 4th

Petition!

We then (and only then) understand the “us” and the “our” of the 4th

Petition!

Indeed, we become part of God’s answer to that

Petition!

Indeed, we become part of God’s answer to that

Petition!

Another Mother Teresa story…Another Mother Teresa story… Mother Teresa visited

Australia. A new recruit to the Franciscan order in Australia was assigned to be her guide and “gofer” during her stay. Thrilled and excited at the prospect of being so close to this woman, he dreamed of how much he would learn from her and what they would talk about.

Mother Teresa visited Australia. A new recruit to the Franciscan order in Australia was assigned to be her guide and “gofer” during her stay. Thrilled and excited at the prospect of being so close to this woman, he dreamed of how much he would learn from her and what they would talk about.

Another Mother Teresa story…Another Mother Teresa story…

But during her visit, he became frustrated. Although he was constantly near her, the friar never had the opportunity to say one word to Mother Teresa. There were always other people for her to meet. Finally, her tour was over, and she was due to fly to New Guinea.

But during her visit, he became frustrated. Although he was constantly near her, the friar never had the opportunity to say one word to Mother Teresa. There were always other people for her to meet. Finally, her tour was over, and she was due to fly to New Guinea.

Another Mother Teresa story…Another Mother Teresa story… In desperation, the

friar spoke to Mother Teresa. “If I pay my own fare to New Guinea, can I sit next to you on the plane so I can talk to you and learn from you?” Mother Teresa looked at him. “You have enough money to pay airfare to New Guinea?” she asked. “Oh, yes,” he replied eagerly.

In desperation, the friar spoke to Mother Teresa. “If I pay my own fare to New Guinea, can I sit next to you on the plane so I can talk to you and learn from you?” Mother Teresa looked at him. “You have enough money to pay airfare to New Guinea?” she asked. “Oh, yes,” he replied eagerly.

Another Mother Teresa story…Another Mother Teresa story…

“Then give that money to the poor,” she said. “You’ll learn more from that than anything I can tell you.”

“Then give that money to the poor,” she said. “You’ll learn more from that than anything I can tell you.”


bread!


bread!When it comes right down to it, this is more than just a petition…

When it comes right down to it, this is more than just a petition… …it’s a whole new

way of thinking and a whole new way of living!

…it’s a whole new way of thinking and a whole new way of living!


bread!


bread!May God start answering this

petition in your life… right now!

May God start answering this

petition in your life… right now!


bread!


bread!

Documents

Give us this day our daily bread!. A true story… A few years before her death, Mother Teresa was interviewed for American TV. She took the film crew on