A Faith that took Jesus at His Word

by David Lins  |  06/23/2019  |  (Being) Catholic Matters

Some things are up for debate. Other things are not up for debate.

A few things that are no longer up for debate: the earth is round, humans need water to survive, and molten lava is unhealthy when consumed.

A few things you can debate: the best fans in the NFL, the best flavor in the world, and why we live where it is over 100 degrees for such a high percentage of the year. (I’d argue Green Bay Packer fans, gooey chocolate chip cookies, and we are all crazy.)

There is something else that isn’t up for debate on this Corpus Christi Sunday: the Catholic Church didn’t make up the whole thing about the Eucharist actually being the Body and Blood more than three centuries after Christ’s death.

There are those who think—and teach—everything we know as Catholic was somehow created after the Edict of Milan in 313AD. They tell anyone who will listen, the Catholic Church was created and somehow the authentic church vanished or was forced underground until (historically speaking) recent times. There is a major problem with this line of thinking. Early Church fathers predate the Edict of Milan by a long shot and the church they describe resembles the beliefs of the Catholic Church much more than the protestant and so-called nondenominational churches of our brothers and sisters.

I wrote full quotes with sources on page four, but hear are some highlights:

“...the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ.” (written between 80-110AD)

"This food we call the Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake except one who believes that the things we teach are true…” (written between 148-155AD)

"For just as the bread which comes from the earth, having received the invocation of God, is no longer ordinary bread, but the Eucharist...” (written in approx. 180AD)

What faith does that sound like to you?

A Faith that took Jesus at His Word in John 6.

Questions? Comments? Email David at dlins@oloj.org.

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