St. Polycarp was a very influential bishop and martyr of the early Church – the very early Church. He was the bishop of Smyrna, and a disciple of the apostles. He accompanied St. Ignatius of Antioch to Rome to confer with Pope Anicetus concerning the date of the celebration of Easter. It was decided then, way back, that for the Western Church Easter would be the first Sunday following the first full moon of Spring; the Eastern Church would follow the Julian calendar and celebrate Easter a few weeks after that.
The story of Polycarp's martyrdom is amazing. His is the first clear accounting of this graced and heroic act called martyrdom. Martyrdom is a gift from God – a highly sought after prize in the Church. Polycarp was chosen by God for this gift which would be carried out by burning at the stake in the amphitheater in Smyrna in the year 155.
From the Office of Readings for today from an accounting of eye witness of his own "diocese" relating Polycarp's martyrdom, it says: Looking up to heaven, (Bishop Polycarp) said: "Lord, almighty God, Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have come to the knowledge of yourself, God of angels, of power, of all creation, of all the race of saints who live in your sight, I bless you for judging me worthy of this day, this hour, so that in the company of the martyrs I may share the cup of Christ your anointed one, and so rise again to eternal life in soul and body, immortal through the power of the Holy Spirit. May I be received among the martyrs in your presence today as a rich and pleasing sacrifice. God of truth, stranger to falsehood, you have prepared this and revealed it to me and now you have fulfilled your promise…Amen."
When he has said "Amen" and finished the prayer, the officials lit the pyre. But when a great flame burst out, those of us privileged to see it witnessed a strange and wonderful thing. Indeed, we have been spared in order to tell the story to others. Like a ship's sail swelling in the wind, the flame became as it were a dome encircling the martyr's body. Surrounded by the fire, his body was like bread that is baked, or gold and silver white-hot in a furnace, not like flesh that has been burnt. So sweet a fragrance came to us that it was like that of burning incense or some other costly and sweet-smelling perfume.
In the first reading today from the Book of Revelation we hear what was written to the Church of Smyrna – Polycarp's own Smyrna: Don't be afraid of anything you are going to suffer. Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. As Polycarp remained faithful until the kind of death prepared for him by God, may we be remain faithful until the kind of death the same God has prepared for us! Then our death will be as a sweet fragrance of burning incense and costly perfume.
The gospel passage reminds us that Jesus experienced firsthand everything that he expects us to share in to some degree. As he was persecuted, so must we be so that we can share his life and glory with him in heaven forever!
Be true to your faith until death, and I will give you the crown of life!
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