Superficial treatment

The possibility that the Deacon Stephen was misunderstood by his attackers because of his Greek origin is noted by Friar Jude Winkler in his commentary on the texts today of the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The mob response which accused Stephen of blasphemous teaching ended in his death, and as Friar Jude notes, a violation of Roman law which prohibited the Jews from imposing death sentences. We read of blasphemy laws and demands by people in other parts of the world to impose right thinking and right speaking on others. Our social situation sometimes seems to cry out for popular action against legal practices which have gone wrong and have denied justice. The tension between justice, mercy, misunderstanding and legal practices needs to be explored as we seek the truthful and Christ-like response to the treacherous turmoil which threatens our life in peace with the Suffering Servant Jesus. As we look to heaven, in the manner of Stephen, our passions and desires for an outcome suitable to our understanding and sensibilities may be transformed into the peace of seeking that the Will of God be done. The clarity with which the Will of God is made known to us certainly is unpredictable. The tradition suggests that we must at least wrestle with the situation and stay in the tension waiting for the response of God. The impulsive rush to very human solutions of rage, retribution and revenge are not in the example from the text of the Acts of the Apostles today. The Gospel of John continues to present the response of the people to Jesus multiplication of the loaves and fishes. The gracious generosity of the Divine Son is seemingly received at a very superficial level. The people are glad to see Him because He feeds them. The Evangelist, according to Friar Jude, emphasizes that the sin for people is not to accept Jesus as Son of God. When Jesus is rejected, God is rejected. The superficial approach which we bring to many areas of life may be causing us to misunderstand how much Grace is already Present around us inviting us to struggle, to give, to focus, to surrender and to live in Him.