Editorial Reflections

Lord's prayer is about daily bread for all

 

The lines from the Lord's prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors," draw on the concept of God as a provider for the basic needs of human beings and emphasize the reciprocal nature of forgiveness.

This expression acknowledges that divine providence is the provider of both spiritual and physical needs for humanity. Those needs go hand in hand.

As in the time of the New Testament, people in our times are struggling to have food to meet their daily needs. Some have food on their table, but not healthy food.

In addition to the concept of providing food, we can also talk about the basic things that humans need to survive—air, water and food. In our world today, we can include other essentials like housing, health care and electricity.

In addition, when we talk about air, water and food, we are talking about clean air, clean water and healthy food. Everyone is entitled to have these basics to live a good life.

Our calling as Christians is to help each other and provide food, resources and assistance for our fellow human beings. To provide healthy resources we have to protect our environment so everyone, including our children can access them now and in the future.

Daily bread is not only about daily food. It's also about survival, continuity and endurance for us as individuals, communities and the world.

The Christianity that Jesus brings is described in Matt. 25 as caring for the poor, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, welcoming foreigners and refugees, healing the sick and visiting prisoners.

It is about showing our love for God and living in harmony with our neighbors. It is never about controlling people or about one supreme race dominating another.

Christ's body symbolizes the bread of life. The bread of life goes hand in hand with forgiveness—as the body and blood of Christ are used to offer forgiveness. Asking for God's forgiveness starts with our ability to forgive each other, because we all fall short. That is the reciprocal nature of forgiveness.

God's forgiveness is linked to our willingness to forgive one another. Paul shares in Eph. 4:32, "Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

There is a saving/healing power in forgiveness. Forgiveness has a double effect. When we forgive someone, our healing can begin, and it also gives the opportunity for those we forgive to heal.

Everyone needs forgiveness at some point, because we all make mistakes. It takes courage to forgive. It is an act of true love. Our courage shows when we put forgiveness and love into action.

When we fail to forgive, it hurts us first. When we fail to forgive, we continue to fill our hearts with anger, hatred and bitterness. It can destroy our lives, relationships, families, communities and country, too.

In opening our lives and hearts for forgiveness, we are giving ourselves an opportunity to let go of the hard feelings and the burdens that we carry around with us.

Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves and others is to forgive. As we are able to forgive, God will forgive us, too.

Ikani Fakasiieiki
Pastor, Liberty Park and St. Paul's United Methodist