Paraphrase used as a hymn:
Father, we thank Thee who hast planted
Thy holy name within our hearts.
Knowledge and faith and life immortal
Jesus, Thy Son, to us imparts.
Thou, Lord, didst make all for Thy pleasure,
Didst give us food for all our days,
Giving in Christ the Bread eternal;
Thine is the pow’r, be Thine the praise.
Watch o’er Thy Church, O Lord, in mercy,
Save it from evil, guard it still,
Perfect it in Thy love, unite it,
Cleansed and conformed unto Thy will.
As grain, once scattered on the hillsides,
Was in this broken bread made one,
So from all lands Thy Church be gather’d
Into Thy kingdom by Thy Son.
Sent to me in a FReepmail:
**good post. i’ve read the didache several times, its part of the library i carry on my little flash drive in my pocket...
i think more people need to read the early church fathers. it isn’t going to settle all our theological differences but it gives a much richer context for the whole thing. people being people, we’re never going to agree on everything this side of heaven (and i’m looking forward to some really great debates when we get there, too...) :)**