THE FEAST OF ST POLYCARP, APOSTOLIC FATHER AND MARTYR.
THE FEAST OF ST POLYCARP, BISHOP, APOSTOLIC FATHER AND MARTYR.
THE GOSPEL:
"When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.
Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'
And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'
Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;
for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'
Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'
Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.'
And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25: 31 - 46).
Monday February 23rd of the 1st Week of Lent
is the feast of an Apostolic Father, St Polycarp. (circa 69 - 155).
Bishop of Smyrna in Turkey.
St Polycarp (c. 69–155) was bishop of Smyrna in Asia Minor and one of the great Apostolic Fathers, formed in the living memory of the Twelve.
He was a disciple of St John the Evangelist and a friend of St Ignatius of Antioch, serving as a crucial link between the apostles and the 2nd‑century Church through his preaching and his Letter to the Philippians.
As bishop he was known for his zeal in preserving apostolic doctrine, for refuting early Gnostic heresies, and for his pastoral care, especially for the poor, widows, and slaves.
Under the persecution of Antoninus Pius, St Polycarp was arrested at an advanced age, and when pressed to renounce Christ, he gave his famous confession and accepted martyrdom by fire and then the sword, offering his life as a Eucharistic sacrifice of praise.
Below are a few quotes from the Apostolic Father St Polycarp:
1. “Eighty and six years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”
2. “You threaten me with fire that burns for an hour and is soon extinguished; you are ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment reserved for the ungodly.”
3. “When you can do good, defer it not, because alms delivers from death."
St Polycarp was instructed in the faith by St John the Apostle. He, Polycarp instructed St Irenaeus who became a Bishop and an early Church Father in France.
Our Gospel for today is a preview of the Last Judgment.
St Augustine teaches us a simple formula to prepare for the Last Judgment:
"If you pray well, you live well. If you live well, you die well. If you die well, all is well."
Prayer, along with fasting and almsgiving are the three pillars of the Christian life.
It is during Lent that you see the power of prayer.
An ancient maxim of the Church says:
"Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi."
Which means: The law of prayer is the law of faith and the law of living.
You live as you pray. You will die and judged as you live.
St Teresa of Kolkata teaches that Prayer strengthens our Faith.
Prayer is the Activator of Power. Prayer pushes desire to action.
John Flavel, a great Teacher on Divine Providence in the 16th century wrote:
"Prayer honors Providence. Providence honors Prayer."
This is true!
Does God reward those who pray, fast and give alms during Lent?
Read the Promise for yourself:
"For he says:
“In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.”
"Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."
Brethren, Lent is the Acceptable Time for favors and graces.
BUT...
"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12: 2).
Apart from prayer, how do you go about acquiring graces during Lent?
Daily PRAYER AND Daily WORD OF GOD HAVE POWER TO TRANSFORM THE MIND DURING LENT.
"Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."
The Holy Catholic Church honors the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in February.
"The Holy Family is the beginning of the salvation of the world. In their humble home, the purpose of God for all humanity was quietly fulfilled."
( St. Bernard of Clairvaux
For Devotional prayer and prayer intentions to the Holy Family, click the link below:
for prayer intentions, etc
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