St. Polycarp
(155)
He was a disciple of the Apostles. He bears witness to the beliefs of the early Christians and the early stages of the development of doctrine. He was martyred in about 155.
Entrance Antiphon
This holy man fought to the death for the law of his God and did not fear the words of the godless, for he was built on solid rock.
Collect
God of all creation, who were pleased to give the Bishop Saint Polycarp a place in the company of the Martyrs, grant, through his intercession, that, sharing with him in the chalice of Christ, we may rise through the Holy Spirit to eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : James 4:13-17
Here is the answer for those of you who talk like this: ‘Today or tomorrow, we are off to this or that town; we are going to spend a year there, trading, and make some money.’You never know what will happen tomorrow: you are no more than a mist that is here for a little while and then disappears. The most you should ever say is: ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we shall still be alive to do this or that.’ But how proud and sure of yourselves you are now! Pride of this kind is always wicked. Everyone who knows what is the right thing to do and doesn’t do it commits a sin.
Psalm 48(49): 2-3, 6-11
R/ How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
1. Hear this, all you peoples, give heed, all who dwell in the world, men both low and high, rich and poor alike!
2. Why should I fear in evil days the malice of the foes who surround me, men who trust in their wealth, and boast of the vastness of their riches?
3. For no man can buy his own ransom, or pay a price to God for his life. The ransom of his soul is beyond him. He cannot buy life without end, nor avoid coming to the grave.
4. He knows that wise men and fools must both perish and leave their wealth to others.
Gospel Acclamation : Jn14:6
Alleluia, alleluia! I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord; No one can come to the Father except through me. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 9:38-40
John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Sanctify our offerings by your blessing, O Lord, we pray, and by your grace may we be set afire with that flame of your love through which Saint Polycarp. overcame every bodily torment. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Mt 16: 24
Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
May the sacred mysteries of which we have partaken, O Lord, we pray, give us that determination which made your Saint Polycarp. faithful in your service and victorious in suffering. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Procrastination is a danger to man’s progress. It steals blessings that are naturally ours. For this reason, the letter of James exaults us to do what we can to make humanity progress. Now this is confirmed in Jesus’ response to the apostles: “Anyone who is not against me is for me” Whoever works miracles in his name is for him. For through his actions humanity is emancipated. St. Polycarp gives us a striking example in his self-giving for the growth of the Gospel.