Each Day, Daily Bread

Sunday, at Seneca Presbyterian Church, we move into the second half of the Lord's Prayer, beginning with "our daily bread." The image of bread is profound for humans. We need it to sustain life. And God wants to provide it - for everyone.
     We will be focusing on the story of the loaves and fishes as we seek to understand what "daily bread" means. That story is found at least once - sometimes more often - in every Gospel. (I confess a preference for the version found in John. It's the only one where a child offers up his loaves and fishes.) The story reminds us of Moses and manna and the wilderness wanderings of the Hebrew people.
      Can you imagine how powerful the image of Jesus feeding the multitude with five loaves and two fish must have been to those who first knew him and followed him? It spoke of justice - bread for everyone. It spoke of providence - God's unending care. It spoke of trust - what is here today will also be here tomorrow. Remember: the ancient Hebrews were only to take enough manna for one day at a time. If they let their anxiety rule and tried to save today's manna for tomorrow - the worms took over! (Don't believe me? Check out Exodus 16:20.) And it spoke of wonder - just five loaves and two fish could feed the multitude.
     We will be looking at Mark's first version of the story - the one found in chapter 6. In many ways, it is a teaching lesson in ministry for the disciples as much as it is a miracle story. When they realize the crowd is hungry and needs to eat, Jesus says, "You give them something to eat." When they protest that is impossible, he shows them how.
     Check out the story and ponder these questions:

• Would you have enjoyed being in the crowd that chased Jesus and the disciples around the Sea of Galilee?
• When have you been totally spent and tried to get away from obligations, but it didn't work? 
• How do you think Jesus expected the disciples to feed the crowd
• Verse 42 says: "And all ate and were filled." When have you been filled with the bread Jesus offers?