26 December, Tuesday – Who are you reflecting?

Dec 26 – Feast of St. Stephen, protomartyr

St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. A deacon and a preacher, all we know of him is related in the Acts of the Apostles. While preaching the gospel in the streets, angry Jews who believed his message to be blasphemy dragged him outside the city, and stoned him to death. In the crowd, on the side of the mob, was a man who would later be known as St. Paul.

• Patron Saint Index

Stephen is the first martyr. He was one of the deacons appointed by the Apostles to organize the distribution of food to the poor. He performed many miracles and confounded the Jews in disputation. They fabricated false charges against him. At his trial he preached the risen Christ to them, so they stoned him to death. He prayed for his persecutors as he was dying. One of them, Saul of Tarsus, who was looking after the cloaks of the stone-throwers, was later converted and became the great missionary St Paul.

– Universalis

Acts 6:8-10,7:54-59
Mt 10:17-22

Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit

Yesterday, we feasted as we celebrated the birth of the Savior of the world. And today, we celebrate the Feast of the First Martyr.  

A death BECAUSE of a birth.

This is honestly a colossal situation to wrap one’s brain around.  Joy and anticipation of the Word made flesh compared to the confused sadness of persecution because of the truth.  On Christmas Day, most of us had a day filled with food, family, friends, fun in a festive atmosphere of love and joy, giving and receiving. Compare that to the reality of today (and even yesterday for many in our war-filled world), the stoning of the first victim after the resurrection, merely because he shared the hope of the truth, of the goodness of God. 

When we read the spoken words of Jesus in scripture, we read over and over again that in following him, we will have hardship and heartache, we will have others turn against us, we will be persecuted. A quick google search shares more than 60 times that ‘persecution’ is mentioned in the Bible, mainly in the New Testament. The secular world, and even many Christians, focus on toleration, acceptance, and love of all things anyone ‘feels’ and claims as ‘their truth’; that being nice and accepting is the ultimate love – the call of Christ.  Yet they simply ignore (or are simply ignorant of) the truth of God’s message through Christ.  Christianity – Catholicism – isn’t about being nice, it’s about repenting and following Christ step for step.  Love the sinner, not the sin.  Jesus invited everyone to share a meal with him and follow him, he didn’t follow them. The truth wasn’t up for personal interpretation at the table with Jesus. So he invited (didn’t demand) all to walk with Him. Even if those steps lead to death. 

St. Stephen wasn’t swayed by the crowd; he didn’t change Christ’s message; he didn’t change the truth to accommodate feelings to make sure everyone FELT good/loved/accepted. St. Stephen walked the walk of – and for – Jesus. He was concerned with THE TRUTH, the salvation of souls, spreading the gospel as Jesus did, not saving his life.   

I’m sure you’ve heard the question, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would they have enough evidence to convict you?” Scary, isn’t it?

My church is embracing a new theme, FULLY ALIVE, ROOTED IN CHRIST, REFLECTING HIS LOVE AND MERCY, and last night at a mini Advent Retreat, the question was asked, ‘When you look into a mirror, what is reflected? What do family and friends and even strangers see when they look at you? What are you reflecting?’

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

St. Stephen reflected Jesus.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Gina Ulicny)

Prayer: Father God, how we praise your Holy Name as we reflect on the goodness that is You. We humbly beg you to show us how to be fully alive, rooted in Christ, reflecting His love and mercy so that we, too, will be a saint in Heaven next to St. Stephen.

Thanksgiving: Lord God, we thank you for St. Stephen who has shown us how to live, and how to die. Lord, may we reflect the truth of Christ in our every step.