February 23

ST. POLYCARP

Polycarp was born between the years 75 and 80. He became a Christian

when the followers of Jesus were still few. In fact, Polycarp was a

disciple of one of the original apostles, St. John. All that Polycarp

learned from St. John he taught to others. Polycarp became a priest and

then bishop of Smyrna in present-day Turkey. He was Smyrna's bishop for

many years. The Christians recognized him as a holy, brave shepherd.

Christians in Polycarp's time faced persecution and death under Emperor

Marcus Aurelius. Someone betrayed Polycarp to the authorities. When his

captors came to arrest him, he invited them first to share a meal with

him. Then he asked them to let him pray a while. The judge tried to

force Bishop Polycarp to save himself from death by cursing Jesus. "I

have served Jesus all my life," answered the saint, "and he has never

done me any wrong. How can I curse my King who died for me?"

The soldiers tied St. Polycarp's hands behind his back. The old bishop

was then placed on a burning pile. But the fire did not harm him. One of

the soldiers then stabbed a lance into his heart. And so, in the year

155, Polycarp died a martyr. He went to be forever with the Divine Master

he had served so bravely.

Polycarp was called upon to stand with Jesus even at the cost of his

life. We might not have to give up our lives as martyrs for Jesus. We

do know, though, that we will have to make the right daily choices if we

want to be the kind of Christian Polycarp was. Our choices will involve

the television and videos we watch, the music we listen to, the magazines

and books we read. Our choices will also determine the kind of language

we use, the way we treat our family, relatives, neighbors and friends.

What kind of Christians will we be?