The Didache 25 – Eucharist or Thanksgiving

This series is reflecting on the Didache if you want to read it separately.

Now concerning the Eucharist, give thanks this way. First, concerning the cup:

We thank thee, our Father, for the holy vine of David Thy servant, which You madest known to us through Jesus Thy Servant; to Thee be the glory for ever..

And concerning the broken bread:

We thank Thee, our Father, for the life and knowledge which You madest known to us through Jesus Thy Servant; to Thee be the glory for ever. Even as this broken bread was scattered over the hills, and was gathered together and became one, so let Thy Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Thy kingdom; for Thine is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever.

We see here another very Jewish form of blessing or berakhah before the bread and the wine are consumed. However, there are some important differences as well. Berakhot are addressed to the Lord, our God, King of the Universe. These Christian forms address God as Father, the way Jesus taught his followers to pray and they incorporate the idea of God being made known through Jesus who, as the Messiah, is the fulfillment of the vine of David. We also see the idea that the ecclesia or church is being drawn from the nations, that the people of God are now being drawn from all peoples.

One church united in the bread that was broken.