daily grind or daily bread?
"By the sweat of your face shall you get bread to eat." —Genesis 3:19
When God created the human race, He gave us dominion over all creation (Gn 1:28). Created things did not resist us but were in perfect harmony with us. Working the land was a pleasure, not a burden. We didn't have to struggle to provide food for ourselves.
After we sinned, we changed and the world changed. We and the rest of creation were no longer in harmony. For the first time there was such a thing as bad weather, sick people, and dangerous wild animals. Work became a drag, yet a necessity, not a pleasing re-creation. We had to sweat to get food (Gn 3:19) and had to struggle to survive. The ground was cursed because of us (Gn 3:17). Sometimes it brought forth only thorns and thistles (Gn 3:18), no matter how hard we had worked. Human beings were hungry and starving for the first time.
Then Jesus came and told us that the Father would provide our daily bread (Mt 6:11), and we could now work for Jesus (Col 3:23) rather than for perishable food (Jn 6:27). Jesus is "the Bread of life" (Jn 6:35). He can multiply a few loaves and fish to feed thousands of people (Mk 8:9). He can change bread and wine into His Body and Blood. He has removed the curse of sin. Jesus is Lord of all creation.
Prayer: Jesus, I accept You as my Bread, Creator, Recreator, Savior, Redeemer, Lord, Life, and God.
Promise: "Those who had eaten numbered about four thousand." —Mk 8:9
Praise: Sts. Cyril and Methodius, who were brothers, created the Slavonic alphabet and translated the Bible and the liturgy into Slavonic, bringing the light of the gospel to the Slavic nations.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet Accepting Jesus as Lord, Savior, and God or on audio AV 43-1 or video V-43.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 25, 2014
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