'Praise Be to the Saints'
St. Polycarp
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, "...do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice."
Matthew 23:1, 3
One of the beauties of the Catholic Church is the body of saints who give us an example of how to live the Christian life. Today, the memorial of St. Polycarp is no exception.
A second-century bishop of Smyrna (modern-day Turkey), Polycarp wrote in his letter to the Philippians, "Stand fast, therefore, in this conduct and follow the example of the Lord...helping each other with the mildness of the Lord, despising no man."
Unlike the scribes and Pharisees, not only were his words bold, his actions were cause for him to be sentenced to burn at the stake. When the fire didn't consume him, he was pierced with a sword.
Father Ed Bakker,
Anglican Catholic Church / Original Province
Launceston, Tasmania
Australia
No comments:
Post a Comment