I am God's wheat and shall be ground by their teeth so that I may become Christ's pure bread.
Interpretation
This quote expresses a deep commitment to faith and sacrifice for a greater purpose.
Ignatius of Antioch uses the metaphor of wheat being ground to signify the transformative power of suffering in achieving spiritual purity and closeness to Christ. The act of being 'ground by their teeth' suggests a willingness to endure persecution or hardship, likening this process to the way wheat is ground into flour to create bread, a fundamental sustenance that nourishes both body and soul.
In practice
This quote can be used in a sermon to illustrate the theme of sacrifice in faith.
Now do I begin to be a disciple of Christ, and care for nothing in this world, that so I may find Jesus. Let fire, or the cross, or wild beasts, or the breaking of my bones, or the cutting of me to pieces, or the shattering of my whole body, yea, all the tortures of the devil - let them all come upon me, only let me enjoy my God.
I greet you from Smyrna together with the Churches of God present here with me. They comfort me in every way, both in body and soul. My chains, which I carry about on me for Jesus Christ, begging that I may happily make my way to God, exhort you: persevere in your concord and in you community prayers.
I am writing to all the Churches and I enjoin all, that I am dying willingly for God's sake, if only you do not prevent it. I beg you, do not do me an untimely kindness. Allow me to be eaten by the beasts, which are my way of reaching to God. I am God's wheat, and I am to be ground by the teeth of wild beasts, so that I may become the pure bread of Christ.
Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church
I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of God.
I hunger for the bread of God, the flesh of Jesus Christ ...; I long to drink of his blood, the gift of unending love.
A right heart leans on Christ, hangs on Christ, builds on Christ and cleaves to Christ.
Be assured that there is no sin you have ever committed that the blood of Jesus Christ cannot cleanse.
I grew up in a very religious family and it is the motivating force to every thing I do. I am fortunate to have had adults all around me who really lived their faith, in helping other people and doing the best you can do.
God guides his church, maintains her always, and especially in difficult times. Let us never lose this vision of faith, which is the only true vision of the way of the church and the world.
When I was abandoned by everybody, in my greatest weakness, trembling and afraid of death, when I was persecuted by this wicked world, then I often felt most surely the divine power in this name, Jesus Christ... So, by God's grace, I will live and die for that name.
There is no more blessed way of living, than the life of faith based upon a covenant-keepin g God - to know that we have no care, for He cares for us; that we need have no fear, except to fear Him; that we need have no troubles, because we have cast our burdens upon the Lord, and are conscience that He will sustain us.
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