Article March 17, 1917 Issue

Our Daily Bread

FLORENCE E. B. DONALDSON

Daily reiteration of the familiar phrases of the Lord's Prayer would seem to have led to mere verbatim repetition of great fundamental truths which were intended as practical guides and waymarks in our journey through the desert of human hopes and fears. Christian Science not only throws new light upon this perfect epitome of the needs of humanity, but teaches that when a true understanding of its meaning has been gained it will instantaneously heal the sick. We are, however, dealing here with the single clause, "Give us this day our daily bread;" and Mrs. Eddy's interpretation, or the spiritual sense of it, as given on page 17 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," the text-book of Christian Science, which reads, "Give us grace for today; feed the famished affections."

The great stress laid by Christ Jesus on the importance of seeking supply for the need of the day only, reveals a point of deep metaphysical significance. Since he spoke to the Jews, his words might well have fallen on understanding ears, had not the following of the law of Moses become mere letter and routine instead of spiritual obedience to divine commands. In the journey through the wilderness the Israelites had learned that the manna fell to meet the need of the day only. There was enough for them all to gather as they chose, but if they tried to store it, except as divinely commanded, the food became bad and useless. The great Teacher's insistence on the taking of no thought for the morrow showed how necessary this was, not only as a proof of trust and confidence in the unfailing love and care of the heavenly Father, but as signifying spiritual understanding of the fulness of man's inheritance of good. That at least one of his immediate disciples grasped the true meaning of this prayer is evident from St. John's words: "Now are we the sons of God." There could be no sense of want or lack in the Father's house. For every returning prodigal, even, there is "enough and to spare."

Even a superficial study of the gospel narratives shows that the simple words of this clause of the Lord's Prayer cover both the material and the spiritual needs of mortals. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you," was the definite promise given to the listening multitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. The spiritual nature of the true bread from heaven is brought out continually in the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, as well as in the epistles of St. Paul and the other writers of the New Testament. Mrs. Eddy's paraphrase, already referred to, emphasizes the fact that spiritual grace is, or should be, the real object of this petition. What we need is grace to assimilate the fruits of Spirit; strength to turn from the material to the spiritual; wisdom and understanding to let go of the false and to grasp the true. To crave food for the "famished affections" is the desire to—

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