Day 23, Monday, Book of Faith – Lenten Journey
Today’s insight certainly go beyond Luther’s explanation of this petition, as found on page 71, where daily bread is the basic material things of this life. It also goes beyond the fruit of the Spirit described on page 75. Today the author opens up this petition to include Jesus himself who is the Bread of Life.
I liked the Augustine quote: “God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.” For me, every time I open the refrigerator, not really hungry, just looking for who-knows-what, I’m reminded that I’ve got a hunger that food, or entertainment, or more stuff, or more connections with others, or more experiences, or more education, or more information, or more of anything will not satisfy. Our deepest hunger is for God.
We live in a culture where at least 50% of the people have no clue what it is that they are truly hungry for. We may not always be feeding ourselves with the Bread of Life, but at least we know where the bread is that truly satisfies. Our experience of hunger unites us with them, and forms the basis of our proclamation of the Good News. Our evangelism arises out of the restlessness we share with all of humanity.
This reading brought to mind the few times I’ve truly felt God’s peace and contentment in my life. It the most overwhelming sensation and I’m really hard pressed to describe it. Suffice to say that when it happens and it doesn’t happen all that often, it is surreal, and I have to say that I feel filled with such love. It’s just the most phenomenal feeling!! But then something happens. Life interrupts, I blink, I’m called away or I hear something and it’s gone. I wonder how I can get that “feeling” back – where did it go – why does it go? It is then that I realize how blessed I am to simply have that beautiful, all consuming feeling at all. I truly consider it a God thing!!