In the mid-2nd century, Polycarp, the elderly bishop of Smyrna, was arrested by the Romans for, essentially, being a Christian. He was given a choice: either deny Christ and go free, or else be burned alive. And Polycarp said, Bring it on:
"For eighty-six years I have been his servant, and he has done me no wrong," he said. "[I]f you pretend not to know who I am, listen and I will tell you plainly: I am a Christian."
At least in modern-day America, there is little chance that we will face the possibility of literal martyrdom, as Polycarp did. But every day we are presented with opportunities to either bear witness to or deny our faith in Christ. We may boldly proclaim the truths of the Christian faith and face the "little martyrdoms" that result: the strange looks, the awkward silences, the cold shoulders, the misunderstandings, the discrimination. Or we can keep quiet and avoid a lot of trouble.
But, as Jesus says: "No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light" (8:16).
If we've been illumined with the light of Christ's grace and truth, we ought to let that light shine through us for all to see, difficult as that may be. But how can we best do it?
(Image: Jan Luyken, "Burning of Polycarp," 1685)
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Polycarp is one of my favorite Christians... He's running away through Asia Minor, fleeing from the Romans, and then he learns that the people who are sheltering him are starting to get in trouble. So he does an about-face and heads straight for the people he knows are going to kill him.
ReplyDeleteI think, Kevin, a large part of the answer lies in the virtue of integrity. We have to preserve the "lightness" and "saltness" that Christ calls us to have. You cannot desire to be a martyr, but the early martyrs had such a radical love for Christ that they "merely" followed Him despite being in a place of opposition. Integrity and loyalty.
This is really good: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0102.htm
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