Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr
By JENNIFER BURGIN
(Click Here for Readings)
“Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Yesterday, we celebrated the Birth of Jesus. Today, we celebrate the heavenly birthday of Saint Stephen, a deacon and the first martyr of the Church. Why does the Church place the story of Stephen's stoning right after Christ's birth? Why do we read about such cruelty? It doesn't seem right. How morbid! How sick! What a paradoxical twist to the peaceful aspects of Christmas. The Church is no fool. She knows precisely what she's doing by linking the scripture readings so closely together.
Saint Stephen's martyrdom reminds us of Jesus' own death on the cross. This is very important to keep in mind as we celebrate the Christmas Season. Jesus' birth is only the beginning of something wonderful; something that will change our lives forever. His birth, life, and resurrection will begin Christianity as we know of today. We cannot simply celebrate the birth of the Christ child without celebrating all aspects of Jesus' life: his baptism, his ministry, his passion, death and resurrection. Saint Stephen's own martyrdom helps us reflect on Jesus' purpose in the eternal salvation of souls. Without Christ's birth, no apostles would have been appointed to spread the good news throughout the world. Without Christ's death, our eternal salvation would be undetermined. Imagine a United States of America without any Christian ancestry!
Saint Stephen embodied the Holy Spirit in his entire heart and soul; He lived in the Spirit. Because of this, he allowed the Holy Spirit to speak through his words. Enemies were not so keen on his wisdom; hence, he was stoned to death. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he forgave his persecutors. He allowed God's grace to accept his martyrdom. Everything he did was for the glory of God.
How can we live in the Spirit instead of the flesh? It takes prayer. It takes regular communion and confession. It takes letting go of the ego with a willingness to see Christ in others, helping them along the path to eternal rest. Paying close attention to the Holy Spirit allows us to see through our interior stony walls . We can break through these walls of insecurity, ignorance, and indifference, experiencing a new outlook on life.
The saints lived in the Spirit throughout their lives. We can, too! A new year is fast approaching. Why not make a New Year's resolution to form a more intimate relationship with Christ? Allow his heart to beat alongside yours. Allow his teachings to penetrate your mind. Allow the Eucharist to pierce your soul in such a way that you're willing to become a martyr just like St. Stephen. Living in the Spirit is counter-cultural to living in the human flesh. Waiting for a new challenge? Take the leap of flight, push away the worldly and go for the godly!
-J.
Saint Stephen embodied the Holy Spirit in his entire heart and soul; He lived in the Spirit. Because of this, he allowed the Holy Spirit to speak through his words. Enemies were not so keen on his wisdom; hence, he was stoned to death. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he forgave his persecutors. He allowed God's grace to accept his martyrdom. Everything he did was for the glory of God.
How can we live in the Spirit instead of the flesh? It takes prayer. It takes regular communion and confession. It takes letting go of the ego with a willingness to see Christ in others, helping them along the path to eternal rest. Paying close attention to the Holy Spirit allows us to see through our interior stony walls . We can break through these walls of insecurity, ignorance, and indifference, experiencing a new outlook on life.
The saints lived in the Spirit throughout their lives. We can, too! A new year is fast approaching. Why not make a New Year's resolution to form a more intimate relationship with Christ? Allow his heart to beat alongside yours. Allow his teachings to penetrate your mind. Allow the Eucharist to pierce your soul in such a way that you're willing to become a martyr just like St. Stephen. Living in the Spirit is counter-cultural to living in the human flesh. Waiting for a new challenge? Take the leap of flight, push away the worldly and go for the godly!
-J.
No comments:
Post a Comment