HOMILY FOR THE MEMORIAL OF ST. POLYCARP/ THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY. (3)

HOMILY FOR THE MEMORIAL OF ST. POLYCARP/ THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY.

THEME: MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

BY: Fr Francis Onwunali

We celebrate today as a Church, the Memorial of St. Polycarp of Smyrna, bishop and martyr. He was converted to Christianity by St. John the Evangelist. He was a disciple of the Apostles and friend of St. Ignatius of Antioch. He was ordained bishop of Smyrna (now, Izmir, Turkey) and was about eighty-six (86) years when the Roman pro-consul urged him to renounce Christ and save his life. St. Polycarp said, “For eighty-six years I have served Him and He has never wronged me. How can I renounce the King who saved me?” He suffered martyrdom in 155 AD by burning at the stake in amphitheater of Smyrna.

The first day into the Season of Lent, the Lord God through the Church is calling on us to make a choice so as to be guided by the choice we make. In the first reading (Deut 30: 15-20), as Moses approached the Promised Land, which he was fully aware he wasn’t entering, he asked the Isrealites to make a choice between Life and death. “See, today I set before you life and prosperity, death and disaster.” Three-fold step to aid in this decision: to love God; to obey His commands by heeding His words; and to stay with God by holding fast to Him in all circumstances. The right choice will lead to blessings while the wrong leads to disaster. Lent is an opportune moment to make this choice.

In the gospel (Luke 9: 22-25), Jesus informs His disciples that His mission includes suffering and death in the hands of the religious leaders. He calls on anyone who wishes to be a disciple of His to be ready to join Him on this road of suffering and death in order to have real Life. A choice between the pleasures of this passing world and sacrifices for the sake of Christ, giver of Eternal Life.

Dear friends, we are confronted with a paradox in God’s economy: we lose what we gain, and we gain what we lose. When we try to run our life our own way, we end up losing it to futility. Am I ready to part with anything that might keep me from Jesus and His perfect plan for my life?

I pray as we journey in life today, we will embrace the cross of Jesus Christ that leads to freedom and victory over sin and death. When my will is in conflict with God’s will, I pray may God’s will prevail. We ask God for the Grace to let go of all for Christ in order to gain all with Christ. “For happy indeed is the man who follow not the counsel of the wicked, nor lingers in the way of sinners… but whose delight is the law of the Lord, and who ponders His law day and night (Ps. 1: 1-2). May the choices we make today glorify God and bring us salvation. Have a true-life-full day!

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