Our Father: Breaking Bread with The Communion of Saints

In the grand scope of God’s divine providence, our daily bread is assured and readily available in accordance with the promise given to us in The Lord’s Prayer. It is important to note that the word “bread” refers to all our needs (not necessarily wants), and that “daily” refers to the present day and no more. Lastly, “our” denotes the inclusivity of all the baptized.

 We are called to trust God to provide for us one day at a time, and not get bogged down in what may or may not happen tomorrow. The basic wants and needs of humans have remained relatively constant over the centuries, and are addressed by Jesus in the following (now famous) passage:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, “What are we to eat?” or “What are we to drink?” or “What are we to wear?” All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil. (Matthew 6:25-34)

The worries and concerns that present themselves in modern times are not that dissimilar to those that existed in the ancient world. The bottom-line questions about what to eat, drink and wear can be coupled with housing, transportation, and gainful employment to round out the basic concerns common to all generations. Thankfully, we are not left to negotiate life in this world on our own. Family, friends, and community (both secular and religious) are available and exist under the umbrella of God’s providence. The expression “we are all in the same boat” can certainly be applied to all who live in this world.

The Lord’s Prayer, also known as the “Our Father” indicates the importance of both communal worship and the needs we have as God’s children. In the Sunday Liturgy, we pray this prayer in communion with one another, as well as those members who are present yet unseen. The full Communion of Saints forms one Church and consists of those “who have gone before us marked with the sign of Faith,” those currently “pilgrims on earth,” the blessed in Heaven, and those yet to be born into this world.

In the early Church, the catechumens were given the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed as a means of preparation for their initiation into full communion with the community. The creed ends with “We believe in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains how in this vast, varied communion, “all sing the one hymn of glory to our God”:

“But at the present time some of his disciples are pilgrims on earth. Others have died and are being purified, while still others are in glory, contemplating ‘in full light, God himself triune and one, exactly as he is.’” All of us, however, in varying degrees and in different ways share in the same charity towards God and our neighbours, and we all sing the one hymn of glory to our God. All, indeed, who are of Christ and who have his Spirit form one Church and in Christ cleave together. (CCC 954, cit. Lumen Gentium 49)

Let us pray for the grace to receive our daily bread, be thankful for God’s forgiveness, and forgive our brothers and sisters as we acknowledge our communion with God and one another.