12.1.7.2.5 "Give us this day our daily bread"

In the broadest sense, this plea is directed at the preservation of the creation. These words also express the petition that the Lord may provide food, clothing, lodging, and everything else human beings need for earthly life.

The figurative meaning of the plea is for the word of God as "food" for our immortal souls (Jeremiah 15: 16).

A further meaning behind this plea refers to the bread of life–that is Holy Communion–in accordance with the words of Jesus: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world" (John 6: 48-51). God ensures that this bread is always prepared anew for us.