What does it mean when Jesus blesses the Bread?

[rcwitness]

When Jesus took bread for His supper (the New Covenant in His Body and Blood) and He blessed it, what does it mean? What happens to the bread after He blesses it?

I hope to know only what Non-Catholics (specifically those who take a metaphoric view of His body and blood in Communion) believe.

I have no desire to argue. I see many churches believing in a communion that is meant only to remember Jesus’ sacrifice. For those who believe this, i want to know what you believe a blessing of the bread does.

Peace
Michael

 

[sojo]

The elder (male head of the household) Jew in every Jewish household blesses the bread on the Sabbath eve, and on every holiday. It is a Jewish tradition to bless the bread and wine. This is what Jesus did, as well, but then he took it an extra step. It is naturally part of the Passover meal, as well.

In addition to the blessing of the bread and wine, done by the male head of the household, the female head of the household says a prayer over the Sabbath candle.

So St. Joseph blessed the bread and wine in the holy Family household. Jesus learned to say the prayers for this blessing from St. Joseph, and then as the leader of his group of disciples, Jesus did so when he left the Holy Family household.

A blessing doesn’t really change the bread or wine, but it sort of consecrates it in a fashion - it reminds the household that everything comes from God and thus is in a sense, holy. It is a way of thanking God for the meal.

 

[sojo]

Here are the blessings that Jesus did:

Bread

Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha’olam hamotzi lehem min ha’aretz.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Wine

Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha’olam borei p’ri hagafen.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

There are blessings for other foods as well, but these are the standard ones that proceed every sabbath meal. You can hear them sung and spoken on You Tube.

 

[rcwitness]

The elder (male head of the household) Jew in every Jewish household blesses the bread on the Sabbath eve, and on every holiday. It is a Jewish tradition to bless the bread and wine. This is what Jesus did, as well, but then he took it an extra step. It is naturally part of the Passover meal, as well.

In addition to the blessing of the bread and wine, done by the male head of the household, the female head of the household says a prayer over the Sabbath candle.

So St. Joseph blessed the bread and wine in the holy Family household. Jesus learned to say the prayers for this blessing from St. Joseph, and then as the leader of his group of disciples, Jesus did so when he left the Holy Family household.

**A blessing doesn’t really change the bread or wine, but it sort of consecrates it in a fashion **- it reminds the household that everything comes from God and thus is in a sense, holy. It is a way of thanking God for the meal.

Thanks.

So, are you saying the Jewish tradition doesnt bless the bread, it blesses God?

And then Jesus took it an extra step, which did bless the bread?

Just to clarify, my question was regarding the New Covenant meal. But that was nice to hear. Especially imagining St Joseph and family having a meal with prayer

Michael

 

[sojo]

Yes, that is a bit confusing. As a child, it seemed the bread was blessed itself, but in retrospect of how the prayer is worded, it is really more of a thanksgiving to God for the bread.

If you play with the words, “blessing of the bread,” you begin to hear the two possible meanings – is it the blessing of the bread material itself or the blessing that takes place with the bread. The actual meaning is the latter, but in our short hand, we begin to think of it as the first.

Clear as mud?

And yes, it is a very beautiful prayer and tradition and it is touching to think how the Jewish faith is/was an intimate lifestyle that the smallest family unit expresses, not just a big formal religion though it has those aspects, as well. Catholicism is still like that, I believe.

 

[Wa_Michael]

In the other words, Jesus used: the normal words, in a normal occassion but with a Strange, extended and mysterious significance!

After the blessing, it was no longer a mere piece of bread and cup of wine, but His own Body and Blood, and the words to the Apostles “Do this in my memory” has made this practice carry the same mysterious significance instituted by His act on the Last Supper up to date as we celebrate it in the Holy Mass!

 

[FabiusMaximus]

When Jesus took bread for His supper (the New Covenant in His Body and Blood) and He blessed it, what does it mean? What happens to the bread after He blesses it?

I hope to know only what Non-Catholics (specifically those who take a metaphoric view of His body and blood in Communion) believe.

I have no desire to argue. I see many churches believing in a communion that is meant only to remember Jesus’ sacrifice. For those who believe this, i want to know what you believe a blessing of the bread does.

Peace
Michael

The tradition I’m from believes the meal is done in memory of Jesus’ sacrifice. That is, we do it because Jesus did it, to proclaim the Lord’s death until his glorious return.

Now, when the pastor says the words “take, eat” and “take, drink” he’s not transforming the bread or the wine. I suppose you can say he does nothing to the bread, for they remain what they are.

 

[sojo]

In the other words, Jesus used: the normal words, in a normal occassion but with a Strange, extended and mysterious significance!

After the blessing, it was no longer a mere piece of bread and cup of wine, but His own Body and Blood, and the words to the Apostles “Do this in my memory” has made this practice carry the same mysterious significance instituted by His act on the Last Supper up to date as we celebrate it in the Holy Mass!

Exactly! I have a personal fascination with how really sacred Christian things were prefigured in the Old Testament for the Jews. I guess its because I’m Jewish by ethnicity and culture, but Catholic by adult conversion. Studying our Catholic beliefs in light of the Jewish history seems really drives home the completion of the New Testament. It also displays a dramatic sweep of history, slowly building, and gives me a sense of how enormous God truly is in that He enjoys creating on a slow, massive scale just as much as He enjoys creating in a snap of the metaphorical fingers.

 

[Monergistic]

When Jesus took bread for His supper (the New Covenant in His Body and Blood) and He blessed it, what does it mean? What happens to the bread after He blesses it?

I hope to know only what Non-Catholics (specifically those who take a metaphoric view of His body and blood in Communion) believe.

I have no desire to argue. I see many churches believing in a communion that is meant only to remember Jesus’ sacrifice. For those who believe this, i want to know what you believe a blessing of the bread does.

Peace
Michael

To my knowledge, the blessing was a fairly common one that looked something like this. “Blessed are you, Adonai our God, ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.” The same sort of blessing is and was commonly done with fruit (of the tree) and produce (also of the earth). Most commentators, both Jew and Christian, understand the blessing to mean that despite human effort in producing bread (or whatever effort brings another type of food to the table), it is ultimately a gift from God.

During a highly symbolic Seder, there is the possibility that the idea attached to the symbol is somewhat in view. But according to my speculation, blessing of bread during a highly symbolic rite is still an example of prayerfully giving credit to God for what is before you or for what is in your hands.

This is entirely based on my understanding of what is probably said and meant by a Jew when he blesses bread. If I am mistaken, and if it seems more likely that Jesus said something quite other than “Blessed are you, Adonai our God” and so on, I am all ears. To my knowledge, however, that is probably what was said and meant.

Assuming that’s accurate, however, in light of it. What happens to the bread? Um, nothing really, if you look at the wording of the blessing Jesus would have been saying Blessed is Adonai on account of His association with the bread, which is fairly standard when one is blessing any food in almost any monotheistic tradition.

I believe this was intuitive to all Jews present with Jesus on that night, and the blessing itself was really not a big thing. New Covenant, yes, that certainly doesn’t happen every day. But the standard blessing of food? Not quite as rare.

 

[Indifferently]

At the Last Supper, we must remember that Christ had yet to give up his life. If you like, the first Eucharist was not really “consecrated” until he hung on the Cross.

 

[mskejj]

Thanks.

So, are you saying the Jewish tradition doesnt bless the bread, it blesses God?

And then Jesus took it an extra step, which did bless the bread?

Just to clarify, my question was regarding the New Covenant meal. But that was nice to hear. Especially imagining St Joseph and family having a meal with prayer

Michael

At the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist we see the priest bless God in saying similar words:

“Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.” …and we say “Blessed be God forever.”

and “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.”…and we say “Blessed be God forever.”

 

[Monergistic]

May I ask what it is that piques your curiosity? I’m not sure what your (the OP) thoughts were with the blessing to start with, but it seems pretty straightforward to me and right now I don’t see much reason for anyone to reach a great variety of conclusions. At least not about the blessing of the bread.

 

[rcwitness]

May I ask what it is that piques your curiosity? I’m not sure what your (the OP) thoughts were with the blessing to start with, but it seems pretty straightforward to me and right now I don’t see much reason for anyone to reach a great variety of conclusions. At least not about the blessing of the bread.

Sure, thanks.
I had a couple reasons. To learn, and to encourage other to ask themselves how Jesus blessed the bread and what that means.

I have learned there are different settings for a bread blessing, from common meal to a Passover rememberance. The “blessing of the bread” prayer during these seems to be a thanksgiving for nourishment and life sustainment. This is the tradition Jesus has fashioned His New Covenant.

Most of the responses seem to draw conclusion that the blessing of the New Covenant bread and wine is this same prayer. Im not so sure. The language is: “Jesus bessed, and broke it.” Using two actions towards the bread. Then saying,“This is my body.”

Further example is Luke 24:30
Here, he blesses and brakes it, gives to them and their eyes are opened. Which i dont think they put it in their pockets after He gave it to them.

Or Paul’s words in 1st Cor. 10:16
This implies a blessed cup that we bless. So, even if our blessing is only a thanksgiving it is still blessed anyway.

And, in what manner is it blessed? Well, its obvious to me it is the Lord’s body.

I think the Lord uses matter to deliver His graces through in other instances.
Mixing spit and mud to cure the blind man
Breathing on the disciples to give them the Spirit for authority to forgive sins

Thanks for all the good and helpfull posts
Michael