Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna and Martyr, 156

                                                 Absolution    

                                                 at the Daily Office

For-give us, 

stren-gthen us & 

by the power of the Holy spirit keep us in eternal life. 

Polycarp was at the first Bishop of ancient Syrna (modern day Izmir) Turkey. Born around the year 70, a disciple of  St John the Apos-tle, he was a principle connecting link between the apostolic age and Christian life of the second century.  When the proconsul demanded that he denounce Christ or die, he replied “86 years have I served him and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” He was burned at the stake. Suddenly, such pictures of martyrdom are not alien to our eyes.

Pray 

for a life of devotion, the courage to follow Christ even to death, and for faith-fulness to the apostolic tradition. 

(all from The Lutheran New Book…)