Give us this day our daily bread...

Gospel Matthew 6:7-15[7]"When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. [8]Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. [9]"Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. [10]     Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. [11]      Give us this day our daily bread.

[12]      And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. [13]     And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. [14]For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; [15]but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Holy One,

Feed us.

Sustain us.

You have already given us water in baptism.

Give us the bread of life today.

For this is not a one-time commitment, this is a daily commitment to be your disciples.  We turn to you each day to receive this bread from you, this gift of new life.

On this particular day when I have already eaten breakfast, I am drawn to those who awoke to an empty cupboard.  Where will they receive their bread?  Who is baking for them?  In 10 days on March 9, the Dallas area will celebrate Community Hunger Day sponsored by CitySquare (formerly Central Dallas Ministries).

Should you choose to meet the challenge, we are asked to go hungry (as your health allows) for the day on March 9 in honor of the men, women, and children in our community who do not have adequate food.  Donate the amount you would have spent on your food  to a local food pantry.

Poverty has exploded in the past seven years in the United States.  We cannot afford to wait on a program to fix the problem.  We can volunteer one-by-one to help feed another.  This will make a difference.

Thanks be to God for daily bread.