The Heart Beat of God, a Story of John

Chapter 2

Some 70 years since the Last Supper, John's teachings from the Lord himself were still fresh in the mind of Ignatius. He continued to spread the apostolic traditions of this rapidly growing church. In Peter’s first mission church in a city named Antioch, Ignatius was appointed bishop by the laying on of hands. As Peter and Paul laid hands on Ignatius, he imagined what it must have been like for Peter when Jesus did the same to him so many years before. Ignatius silently prayed for the strength and grace to receive this anointing.

Under his watch as bishop, there were rumors circulating about a teaching that Jesus was not truly God in human flesh. People claimed that Jesus only seemed to have a physical body and to physically die, but in reality he was incorporeal, a pure spirit, and did not physically die in the crucifixion. Being discipled directly from the one who wrote that “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us”, Bishop Ignatius bristled at the thought that people calling themselves Christians could be saying such things. It was his solemn responsibility to Christ and his Church to set the record straight regarding the apostles teachings. The writings of Ignatius proclaim that not only was Jesus, God in human flesh, but that he continues to remain with the Church through the Eucharistic sacrifice.

“From Eucharist and prayer they hold aloof, because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the Flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father in His loving-kindness raised from the dead.

Take care, then, to partake of one Eucharist; for, one is the Flesh of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and one the cup to unite us with His Blood, and one altar, just as there is one bishop assisted by the presbytery and the deacons, my fellow servants. Thus you will conform in all your actions to the will of God.”

“I have no taste for corruptible food or for the delights of this life. Bread of God is what I desire; that is, the Flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David; and for my drink I desire His Blood, that is, incorruptible love....”.

Bishop Ignatius bravely finished his earthly sojourn in the Roman Coliseum where he was thrown to the wild beasts for love of his Savior. Some of his remains were brought back to the city of Antioch to be venerated (honored). In 637 AD, they were returned to Rome and reside in the Church of St. Clement where they can be seen today.

2000 years later we can still partake of His incorruptible love in the Eucharist.

More on the Early Church and the Eucharist here.