The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Feast of St. Stephen, remind us that to endure in our trust in our relationship with God requires our surrender to the prompting of the Spirit.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the Arrest and stoning of Stephen.
* [6:13] False witnesses: here, and in his account of Stephen’s execution (Acts 7:54–60), Luke parallels the martyrdom of Stephen with the death of Jesus.
* [7:55] He…saw…Jesus standing at the right hand of God: Stephen affirms to the Sanhedrin that the prophecy Jesus made before them has been fulfilled (Mk 14:62).
* [7:57] Covered their ears: Stephen’s declaration, like that of Jesus, is a scandal to the court, which regards it as blasphemy. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 7, n.d.)
Psalm 31 is a prayer and praise for Deliverance from Enemies.
* [Psalm 31] A lament (Ps 31:2–19) with a strong emphasis on trust (Ps 31:4, 6, 15–16), ending with an anticipatory thanksgiving (Ps 31:20–24). As is usual in laments, the affliction is couched in general terms. The psalmist feels overwhelmed by evil people but trusts in the “God of truth” (Ps 31:6).
* [31:6] Into your hands I commend my spirit: in Lk 23:46 Jesus breathes his last with this Psalm verse. Stephen in Acts 7:59 alludes to these words as he is attacked by enemies. The verse is used as an antiphon in the Divine Office at Compline, the last prayer of the day. (Psalms, PSALM 31, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us to trust the Spirit in times of persecution.
* [10:17] The persecutions attendant upon the post-resurrection mission now begin to be spoken of. Here Matthew brings into the discourse sayings found in Mk 13 which deals with events preceding the parousia. (Matthew, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)
Carol Zuegner comments that in the gospel, Jesus reminds us that preaching the gospel and spreading the word of God can and likely will be difficult. The world then and now often is not receptive to a message of loving your neighbor, standing up for those who are oppressed and seeking justice, treating all with dignity and respect.
Today’s gospel is also a reminder that our faith requires that relationship with God, and a relationship with our community – family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, the world. How am I advancing the good news today? The bad news is that this work of advancing the gospel message in my own corner of the world can be difficult. How do I speak up for those who have less, those who struggle? My actions, even small ones, can make a difference. If I am afraid to speak up, I can remember the words of today’s gospel: “Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Zuegner, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Your Father speaks through you in every age,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"To be sure, we heard in that reading, 'But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious how or what you are to speak... for it is not you who are speaking but the Spirit of your Father who speaks through you.' And he says in another place: 'Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the world' (Matthew 28:20). Does this mean that the people who heard those words of the Lord would be here until the end of the world? The Lord was referring, rather, not only to those about to depart from this life but also to the others, including us and those who would come after us in this life. He saw everyone in his single body, and the words he spoke, 'I am with you even to the end of the world,' were heard by them and by us too. And if we did not hear them then in our knowledge, we heard them in his foreknowledge. Therefore, safe as sheep among the wolves, let us keep the commandments of him who directs us. And let us be 'innocent as doves but cautious as snakes' (Matthew 10:16). Innocent as doves that we may not harm anyone; cautious as snakes that we may be careful of letting anyone harm us." (excerpt from SERMON 64A.2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 comments about what we need to see today when we look at St. Stephen. He was filled with God’s life and grace by the coming of Christ. And filled with that grace, he found the courage to face martyrdom with joy.
You might still be basking in the glow of yesterday’s celebration of Christmas. But don’t stop at the manger. Today, as you read about St. Stephen and see God’s remarkable grace at work in his life, contemplate the awesome ways your own life can be transformed. That’s what can happen when you follow Jesus!
“Jesus, you came to bring the fullness of life. Help me to walk in that life today.” (Meditation on Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Stephen was one of seven deacons named in the Acts of the Apostles. The Greek heritage of Stephen gave him a different understanding of the ritual purity and Temple customs of the Palestinian Jews that may have contributed to the conflict with them. Friar Jude suggests that the placement of the Feast of St. Stephen after Christmas Day is a reminder that our Christian life is a call to conversion and fidelity.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, understands relationship as the very nature of God and reality, expressed through the doctrine of the Trinity.
The wonderful thing about living in our time is that scientists like astronomers and physicists say that this is true. Many looking through microscopes or telescopes see this same pattern of utter relationship. They are discovering that if reality is anything, it’s absolutely relational. It’s something we used to know, something our ancestors knew. But pretty much since the Enlightenment, at least in the West, we’ve dismissed the possibility. We’ve been producing individualists who try to save themselves by believing things intellectually. In this view of religion, it’s not a mystery of participation. It’s not a mystery of surrendering; no surrender is even necessary. Instead, it’s a quest to get the right information, which only makes us prouder and more self-centered. It makes community less possible, which is clearly evident from our politics and our international relations. Everyone is put back upon themselves, where the only question we’re able to ask is “How can I get to heaven?” That’s not even a gospel question! It’s a question of the ego. It’s not the question of the Trinity within us. (Rohr, 2022)
We may become objects of frustration and persecution when our witness to living with Christ is misunderstood and interpreted by others as a threat.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 7. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/7
Matthew, CHAPTER 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10
Meditation on Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/12/26/567702/
Psalms, PSALM 31. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/31?3
Rohr, R. (2022, December 26). Converted to the Trinity — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/converted-to-the-trinity-2022-12-26/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The One Who Endures to the End Will Be Saved. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=dec26
Zuegner, C. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved December 26, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/122622.html
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