Today is the Feast of Stephen, the first martyr for the faith.
Jesus warns us in today’s Gospel that those who follow him will be handed over to courts for prosecution, taken before government officials to be a witness to them and the pagans, and hated because of his name.
It seems to be all gloom and doom, but there is hope and a cause for joy at the end the Gospel when Jesus said “You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
At the beginning of this chapter of Acts, the Apostles were getting overwhelmed taking care of the widows, orphans and distributing food to the poor. Their solution was to find upright and reputable men to take care of these tasks so they could proclaim the Word to the people.
The community presented seven reputable men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them to serve the people. Stephen was first in the list of reputable men who were presented to be the first Deacons. Shortly after that, Stephen was martyred for his faith, becoming the first Deacon and the first martyr for the faith.
There are several characteristics about St Stephen for us to consider.
First, St Stephen was selected because he was upright and reputable. He was a living example of a Christian to the community around him.
In the Gospel, Jesus said that those who live and witness to his name will be put to death. “Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.” Those who are evil and filled with hatred for the church will cause the followers of Christ to be put to death.
Second, St Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. He accomplished this not on his own but by spending time in prayer and seeking God’s will in his life. St Stephen placed God above everything else in this world. It was evident by the way the Holy Spirit worked in him.
St Stephen trusted in God completely. Jesus said that we should not worry about what to say when we are persecuted. Jesus continued, “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.” St Stephen let the Holy Spirit give him what to say when he was falsely accused. I would encourage you to read Chapter 6 & 7 of Acts for the details.
Third, St Stephen was a person who was filled with forgiveness. Our natural tendency is to hold a grudge against those who mistreat us, to hate them and even seek revenge against them. As St Stephen was being stoned he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
How do we measure up to the standard that St Stephen lived? Do people know that we are Christian by the way we live our lives? Do others sense that we are different, that we are filled with the Holy Spirit by our kindness toward all people?
Is it evident that we don’t harbor ill feelings and seek revenge? Do we forgive others even before they ask?
Do we trust in God to the point that we too can say ““Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”? Will we endure to the end and be saved?
