FORMATION
FORMATION 1999
THEME NO. 4
‘Give us this day our
daily bread’
1. Opening Prayer
(To be introduced by the leader then
prayed by all present.)
Leader: My brothers in Christ, as the great
Jubilee draws near, let us prepare our minds and hearts and pray to the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ for the renewal of the Church and the salvation of the world.
All: Father in heaven, through your Son
Jesus Christ, you have given us a new vision of your merciful love in his call for
repentance and faith in the good news. Grant that, in our common journey to your house, we
may always reflect your love in choosing the values of the gospel and in serving others,
until we come to our fulfilment in Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
2. Scripture Reading – Matthew
6: 25–34
(Read by the discussion leader or
member nominated by him.)
Your heavenly Father knows what you need.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or what you will
drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body
more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather
into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you
worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil
nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown
into the oven, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith? Therefore do
not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or
‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and
indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the
kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
(The reading of scripture is followed
by several minutes silent reflection before the reading of the Message.)
3. The Message
(Read by the discussion leader or the
member nominated by him.)
In asking God the Father for ‘daily
bread’ we include all we need to live a human life: physically, spiritually,
socially. Together with the gift of the Bread of Heaven, the Sacrament of the Eucharist,
we ask for divine help that we might always place our faith in the providence of God and
not be deluded by the stresses of human existence, particularly in the more difficult
times and situations. We need to ensure that all are able to receive their ‘daily
bread’. We ask then, as we pray this prayer, for a place for everyone at the table of
life; a decent wage to match the needs of individuals and families; the dignity and
security of employment; just and due processes which ensure all receive the rights and
freedoms which are theirs as children of God, and a balance between technological progress
and the safeguarding of humanity and the environment. May our presence enable the
‘daily bread’ to reach those in our families, communities and world.
4. The Exercise
(Five minutes of reflection by all
members.)
What are some of the forces –
physical, spiritual, social – in the world today which are depriving many of
God’s people of their ‘daily bread’?
What in my life is depriving others of
their ‘daily bread’?
How can we, the Knights of the Southern
Cross, ensure that all receive their ‘daily bread’?
5. The Sharing
(Members share aspects of their
personal faith and its place in their lives that have come to them through the Exercise.)
6. The Word
(The basis of meditation and reflection
for the ensuing month given by the discussion leader.)
1. ‘And God is able to provide you
with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may
share abundantly in every good work. You will be enriched in every way for your great
generosity which will produce thanksgiving to God.’ (2 Corinthians 9: 8,11)
2. From the Catechism of the Catholic
Church # 2828 – 2837
7. Closing Prayer
(Prayed by all members.)
God of infinite generosity you sent your
Son into this world to share our burdens and our hopes; we bless you for the goodness of
your love that sustains us in daily life. May every person have nourishing food, justly
paid employment and a safe and peaceful home. May your Spirit enlighten the path of human
progress in a constant search for justice and truth as we wait for the new heavens and the
new earth. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
