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4B. The Agape Meal of the Body of Christ 
In the Early Church, Holy Communion with bread and wine has its beginning as part of an "agape" or love meal in a household church. The family, friends and relatives gathered to eat a meal together, then at the end to celebrate the Lord's Supper. In the very early Christian document called "The Didache" the words, "And after you have had your fill, give thanks thus:"(9) are thought to have been the introduction to the Eucharistic part of the fellowship meeting.
Holy Communion as Part of the "Agape Meal"
Another urges, "On the Lord's day, come together, break bread, and give thanks..."(10). In the second century account of Justin there is no survival of the meal as the sacrament had been separated from eating and drinking because of abuses that had arisen.
Bread of Life
In Paul's writings, we find that there is already a problem in combining a love meal with Holy Communion. He writes, "When you come together, it is not really the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk"(11). To restore order to the sacrament, the meal portion was phased out. If Holy Communion had not broken away from the "agape" meal, the Christian community might still be a household rather than a church based one.
Three Basic Components
When the Christian community gathers to celebrate the Lord's Supper, there are three basic components always present. God himself is present in the person of the Holy Spirit "For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them"(12). God comes to the table when Christians gather to celebrate Jesus' death and resurrection.
The Body of Christ
The people of God, is the second element present at the Holy Communion. She is there in the group of individual Christians waiting around the table who are bound together by the Head, Jesus. The congregation must contain at least one Christian for the Body of Christ to be present. The elements of bread and wine are the third ingredient at Holy Communion. These are symbolic of work lives offered to God. The bread is produced from wheat, water and the labour of many hands. Dough is carefully kneaded at the kitchen table and baked to perfection. Lovingly tended and patiently fermented grapes are offered back to God as fine wine, the fruit of good soil and hard labour.
Question for Discussion
1. What elements do you find at the Holy Communion?
Notes
(9) C. J. D. Jasper and G.J. Cuming, "Prayers of the Eucharist", Pueblo Publishing, New York, 1987, page 24. (10) The Didache Chapter 14. (11) 1 Corinthians 11.20,21. (12)Matthew 18.20.
"We are living members of his mystical body"
