Reading: Matthew 6,11
Give us this day our daily bread!
Reflection: Very often, when I explain why I like someone, I say “I like that they’re normal.” Maybe for someone, that argument might sound weak, but by my standards, it’s crucial.
Honestly, ever since I met God, I am constantly amazed by Him. His personality is incredibly and inexhaustibly rich. The combination of incompatible things in Him is fantastic. The supernaturality of His nature is fantastic. And yet, He is fantastically normal. I like that this “normality” makes Him close to us, humans. It’s normal for us to have needs, and Jesus declares them legitimate. He sees us as we are and completely accepts us. He says it’s okay to have needs, and then in Matthew 7:7 (Luke 11:9), He says, “Ask and it will be given to you.” He came for us, the physical beings with needs, humans in the full sense of the word. In John 10:10, Jesus says He came so that we may have life and have it abundantly.
Jesus is normal because He doesn’t expect us to be something we’re not, but He shows us how to act rightly from what we are. He doesn’t expect us to be fanatical ascetics, heavenly positioned, earthly useless. We have needs, and we come to Him burdened with our needs. He is our holy Father who wants the best for us. That’s what we learned from the previous verses. Therefore, it logically follows that the right place to seek fulfillment of our needs is with Him. Once again, we can see how the text of the Lord’s Prayer puts things in order, one by one, in their proper place.
Prayer: Father, thank You for understanding that we are only human. Humans with needs. Thank You for not looking at our needs with contempt, but being ready to step forward to fulfill them. Thank You for coming so that “the sheep may have life, and have it abundantly.” Thank You for every good and perfect gift that comes from You. Today, we pray, give us our daily bread, and give us joyfully from Your hand. Thank You that we are not orphans, that we have You as our providing Father. Amen.