Saint Cyprian’s Treatise on the Lord’s Prayer offers a deep reflection on Christian identity, divine grace, and moral duty, emphasizing the profound impact of recognizing God as “Father.” This work explores how this relationship shapes believers’ lives, urging them to live out their faith authentically in both spiritual devotion and daily actions. It highlights the prayer’s role in guiding Christians to align closely with God’s will, merging grace with moral responsibility. 

This week, Saint Cyprian reflects on the petition  “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread.”

In the petition, “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread,” Saint Cyprian elucidates that this request carries spiritual and literal significance, essential for our salvation.  On a spiritual level, Christ is the “Bread of Life,” as declared in John 6:48.  This bread is described not as a universal offering but as specifically ours, emphasizing the personal connection believers have with Christ.  Cyprian argues that just as we say “Our Father,” reflecting our relationship with God, we similarly call Christ our Bread because he sustains those who partake of His Body through the Eucharist.  To support this, Cyprian quotes from John: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world (Jn. 6:51).”  He further cites the need to partake of this bread: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you (Jn. 6:53),” illustrating the necessity of the Eucharist in maintaining our spiritual life.

On the literal level, this prayer acknowledges our daily need for physical sustenance, which aligns with Jesus’ teachings. He instructed his followers, “Everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple (Lk. 14:33).”  This call for faith and dedication to Christ is echoed in Matthew, where Jesus advises, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Mt. 6:34).”  Cyprian connects these teachings to the Apostle Paul’s exhortation where he outlines the spiritual dangers of wealth: “We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Tim. 6:7-10).”

Cyprian also references the parable of the rich fool where God admonishes, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself (Lk. 12:20)?” This parable serves as a caution against the transient nature of earthly possessions.  Christ’s teachings on true riches are encapsulated in the following verse from Matthew, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me (Mt. 19:21).”

He further illustrates God’s provision for the just with biblical assurances such as, “The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry (Prov. 10:3),” and, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread (Ps. 37:25).”  These promises are reiterated by Jesus in Matthew; “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Mt. 6:31-33).”

Lastly, Cyprian cites Old Testament examples of divine providence such as Daniel, nourished in the lions’ den, and Elijah, sustained by ravens, referenced in 1 Kings 17:4-6, showing that God’s care extends to those in dire circumstances, further reinforcing trust in God’s enduring provision.

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Click HERE for an English translation of the original document