8/7/2022

The last four petitions of the Our Father focus not on God the Father, but on our needs/wants: give us…, forgive us…, lead us not…, deliver us… The fourth petition, “give us this day our daily bread,” refers firstly to our trust in the Father who gives us life – that He will give us the means (bread) to sustain our life. Implicitly assumed is the goodness and trustworthiness of God. But this trust extends to both physical AND spiritual sustenance. Physically, we are aware that some humans do not have the bread/food they need, and it behooves us to be prudent in how we consume food, leaving enough for others as well. The Father provides, we must distribute equitably, so that no one goes hungry. Justice requires it. The phrase “daily bread” hearkens to the Exodus, when manna was given to the people of God in the desert daily so that they could survive. The word translated “daily” in Greek is epiousios, which means literally, “super (epi) substantial (ousios). The word appears only once in the New Testament, in the Our Father, so it is hard to say from other texts what it means. Does it refer to the transubstantiated bread (super-substantial bread) of the Eucharist, the Bread of Life, the Body of Christ? It would make sense that it does, and our tradition affirms it so. Augustine calls the Eucharist our daily bread which unifies us, making us “become what we receive.” St. Peter Chrysologus states it this way: “The Father in heaven urges us, as children of heaven, to ask for the bread of heaven. [Christ] himself is the bread who, sown in the Virgin, raised up in the flesh, kneaded in the Passion, baked in the oven of the tomb, reserved in churches, brought to altars, furnishes the faithful each day with food from heaven.” (CCC, 2837) The God who gave manna in the desert continues to provide!
The fifth petition, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” is one that Jesus develops in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5 & 6) and elsewhere (“Love one another as I have loved you.” Jn 13:34). One key to forgiveness is seeing people for who they might become, not for who they are or what they have done. Little children are naturally self-centered, but we don’t write them off. We forgive their egocentrism and work to teach them to channel their energy towards developing their gifts so as to serve others. It is important to see not only ourselves, but others as “in process” of becoming saints, and our forgiveness, reconciliation, and encouragement may be key in moving them along the road to sainthood. If Christ can say from the cross, “Forgive them for they know not what they do,” can we abide in Christ and refuse to do the same? Abiding in Christ, and allowing him to abide in us, gives us the ability to forgive when we otherwise could not. It is one thing that sets Christians apart.
The last two petitions, “lead us not into temptation” and “deliver us from evil,” concern a distinction in English which does not exist in Greek. The same word in Greek means “temptation” AND “trial.” We pray that God does not lead us down the path towards sin (temptation), but at the same time recognize that unless we undergo trials or challenges, we don’t grow and come to know ourselves. So it is that Mt 4:1 says, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” But God cannot really be tempted, nor can He tempt someone. The devil does that. But God does allow trials, which can lead to temptation, which can lead one to sin, depending on one’s choices. What we are praying for in the last petition is deliverance from the distress, even the strife, of the battle between good and evil, between God and Satan. The war has been won through the cross and resurrection of Christ, but it remains for us to appropriate that victory to each of our lives, each of our ages, each of our communities until He comes in glory.
For a fuller exposition on the Our Father, look to CCC 2777-2865.
It is a joy to be your pastor.

Father Albert, O.S.B.