The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today alert us to understand that opposition to our work to proclaim the Kingdom of God may become an opportunity for the Spirit to make God present through our actions.
The Spirit in our Works
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes how the accusation against Stephen leads to his arrest.
* [6:8–8:1] The summary (Acts 6:7) on the progress of the Jerusalem community, illustrated by the conversion of the priests, is followed by a lengthy narrative regarding Stephen. Stephen’s defense is not a response to the charges made against him but takes the form of a discourse that reviews the fortunes of God’s word to Israel and leads to a prophetic declaration: a plea for the hearing of that word as announced by Christ and now possessed by the Christian community.1
Psalm 119 praises the Glories of God’s Law.
* [Psalm 119] This Psalm, the longest by far in the Psalter, praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by. The author glorifies and thanks God for the Torah, prays for protection from sinners enraged by others’ fidelity to the law, laments the cost of obedience, delights in the law’s consolations, begs for wisdom to understand the precepts, and asks for the rewards of keeping them.2
In the Gospel of John, Jesus begins the discourse on the Bread from Heaven.
* [6:22–71] Discourse on the bread of life; replacement of the manna. Jn 6:22–34 serve as an introduction, Jn 6:35–59 constitute the discourse proper, Jn 6:60–71 portray the reaction of the disciples and Peter’s confession.3
Angela Maynard comments that Jesus challenges people to have faith and to believe. This seems to be a common lesson during and just after the Easter season. She recommends that we spend some time around little children—they are wonderful teachers, particularly around matters of trust and faith.
I imagine there was nervousness and embarrassment. The people inquired about how to accomplish the works of God. Very simply Jesus provides guidance: “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”4
Don Schwager quotes “God is our landlord,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Our wish, you see, is to attain to eternal life. We wish to reach the place where nobody dies, but if possible we do not want to get there via death. We would like to be whisked away there while we are still alive and see our bodies changed, while we are alive, into that spiritual form into which they are to be changed when we rise again. Who wouldn't like that? Isn't it what everybody wants? But while that is what you want, you are told, Quit. Remember what you have sung in the psalm: 'A lodger am I on earth'" If you are a lodger, you are staying in someone else's house; if you are staying in someone else's house, you quit when the landlord bids you. And the landlord is bound to tell you to quit sooner or later, and he has not guaranteed you a long stay. After all, he did not sign a contract with you. Seeing that you are lodging with him for nothing, you quit when he tells you to. And this, too, has to be put up with, and for this, too, patience is very necessary." (excerpt from Sermon 359A,8)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 6:8-15 comments that Stephen stands at the head of a long line of martyrs who faced death with courage, grace, and even good humor. There’s St. Lawrence (225–258). As he was being burned alive, he said, “Turn me over; I’m done on this side.” There’s also St. Thomas More (1478–1535), who, about to be beheaded, adjusted his beard and told his executioner, “It would be a pity if that were cut; it hasn’t committed treason.” And there’s the Korean martyr, St. Andrew Kim Taegon (1821–1846), who said, “My immortal life is about to begin!”
Stephen and his successors show us that Jesus truly has destroyed death—for everyone who believes! As St. Paul said, nothing, not even death, “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). Of course, it’s only natural to fear something as mysterious as death. But that fear doesn’t have to control us. It doesn’t have to dictate our choices or cloud our hearts. It can actually send us back to the Lord, where we can hear him say to us, “Do not be afraid . . . , for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). “Praise to you, Jesus, victor over sin and death!”6
Friar Jude Winkler notes that very soon after the establishment of deacons in the Church, they became teachers of the Way. Stephen was a Hellenist and they were more loosely tied to the Law and the Temple. Friar Jude reminds us that “signs” in the Gospel of John point to a greater reality.
Franciscan Media comments that Saint Athanasius was exiled five times for his defense of the doctrine of Christ’s divinity. During one period of his life, he enjoyed 10 years of relative peace—reading, writing, and promoting the Christian life along the lines of the monastic ideal to which he was greatly devoted. His dogmatic and historical writings are almost all polemic, directed against every aspect of Arianism. Among his ascetical writings, his Life of St. Anthony achieved astonishing popularity and contributed greatly to the establishment of monastic life throughout the Western Christian world.
Athanasius suffered many trials while he was bishop of Alexandria. He was given the grace to remain strong against what probably seemed at times to be insurmountable opposition. Athanasius lived his office as bishop completely. He defended the true faith for his flock, regardless of the cost to himself. In today’s world we are experiencing this same call to remain true to our faith, no matter what.7
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Brazilian archbishop Hélder Câmara (1909–1999), who was a brilliant nonviolent activist who offered a model for understanding how structural injustice leads to greater violence.
By “world” we don’t mean creation or nature, but “the system”: how groups, cultures, institutions, and nations organize to protect themselves and maintain their power. This is the most hidden and denied level of evil and violence. We cannot see it because we’re all inside of it, and it is in our ego’s self-interest to protect this corporate deception….If we do not recognize the roots of violence at the first structural level (“the world”), we will waste time focusing exclusively on the second and individual level (“the flesh”), and we will seldom see those real evils which disguise themselves as angels of light (“the devil”). Remember, Lucifer means “Light Bearer.” As Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) taught, Evil only succeeds by disguising itself as good. [2]8
Violent reaction to the teaching of the Way continues to require our connection to the Spirit for peace and guidance on our journey.
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