Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59

Stephen, filled with grace and power,

was working great wonders and signs among the people.

Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,

Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,

and people from Cilicia and Asia,

came forward and debated with Stephen,

but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

When they heard this, they were infuriated,

and they ground their teeth at him.

But he, filled with the Holy Spirit,

looked up intently to heaven

and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,

and he said,

“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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, grant me the courage of your Spirit to bear witness to you and your Son. Help me to know what to say and do in the right moments. With your Spirit as my consolation, I will persevere in your love.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Stephen’s Relics: Yesterday, we celebrated Jesus’ birth on earth. Today, we celebrate Stephen’s birth into heaven. This teaches us that Christ’s coming into the world leads to the passion and death of his followers, who share in Christ’s sacrifice. But the real reason why we celebrate Stephen on this day is that his relics were discovered on December 26, 415, by a priest named Lucian. The priest had a vision of Gamaliel, the teacher of St. Paul, who told him the location of Stephen’s tomb, his own tomb, and that of Nicodemus. Lucian doubted the vision, thinking it was only a dream. But three weeks later, Gamaliel appeared again to Lucian and rebuked him for his lack of faith. When the relics of Stephen were recovered on December 26 and placed in a chest in the Church of Our Lady , more than 70 people were healed from various ailments. St. Augustine welcomed the relics of St. Stephen to his cathedral in Hippo and told stories of countless miraculous healings through the intercession of Stephen in his book, City of God.

2. Stephen’s Debate: The Acts of the Apostles records the main points of Stephen’s preaching and debate. Opposition to Stephen’s preaching was fierce. Just as Jesus preached about the coming destruction of the Temple, the fulfillment of the Law of Moses, and the rejection of the Messiah, Stephen does the same. And when Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin and falsely accused (Acts 6:13), we hear a misrepresentation of his preaching. This recalls the trial of Jesus and how the religious authorities misrepresented Jesus’ teaching. In his defense, Stephen moves through the Scriptures and points out all the places and times God appeared away from the Temple. He also points out how Israel rejected the prophets, leaders, and saviors sent by God. What Stephen is driving home is that God can be worshipped anywhere and not just in the Jerusalem Temple, and that Jesus was a true prophet rejected by the religious authorities (see Bergsma, New Testament Basics for Catholics, 145).

3. Stephen’s Mantle: The laying of cloaks at the feet of Saul has deep symbolism. Just as Elisha picked up the mantle of Elijah and was granted a double portion of Elijah’s prophetic spirit, so also Saul will pick up the mantle of Stephen. Saul, who became Paul, preached a message that was inspired by Stephen’s message. Both spent their lives contemplating how the New Covenant brought the Old Covenant to fulfillment. In his preaching, Stephen tried to show how the Old Temple and the Law were brought to fulfillment in the New Temple of the Church and the New Law of charity. In his letters, Paul expounds how the works of the Old Law, like that of circumcision, do not justify us. What justifies us, both Jews and Gentiles, is faith working through love (Galatians 5:1-6). Paul truly displays a double portion of Stephen’s spirit and, like Stephen, will be martyred for his faith in Christ.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you have given us the ultimate example of what it means to be a faithful martyr. You sacrificed yourself every day on our behalf, spoke the truth to all people, and gave your life so that we might live eternally with you.

Living the Word of God: How am I called to imitate Stephen today? Do I need to grow in my understanding of God’s revealed Word? Do I need to intensify my service to those in need? Do I need to serve in and through my local parish? Do I need to fix my eyes heavenward and contemplate the goal of my striving?