Tag: Saint Stephen

“Do not worry about how you are to speak.” | Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr

From the responsorial psalm: “Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God. I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 10:17-22)

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. 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.”

Jesus describes to the disciples the truth about discipleship, which Saint Stephen experiences as the first martyr in the reading from the Acts of the Apostles. In saying “Beware of men,” Jesus contrasts human sin with supernatural grace. People would hand you over to death; the Holy Spirit would raise you to new life. When certain people confront Stephen but cannot withstand his divine wisdom, they become infuriated and kill him. “But he,” we hear in Acts, “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.” Jesus tells the disciples how to behave when they are attacked because of his name, and he tells them not to worry about finding words but placing trust in the Spirit of his Father who would speak through them.

God, help me see the profound connection between Saint Stephen and the warning of Jesus. Through the Holy Spirit and in proclaiming the Gospel, Stephen saw beyond present suffering, instead beholding your glory and Jesus at your right hand. At the hands of his persecurtors, Jesus accomplished your will perfectly in his life, death, and resurrection as the the Word Incarnate. Each trusted in you, their heavenly Father. As Saint Augustine said of Saint Stephen’s martyrdom: “Watching from above his soldier battling down below, Jesus was supplying him with invincible strength so that he should not fall.” Give me the grace, Lord, to trust that when persecution comes, I will have all the divine assistance needed in proclaiming the Gospel. Saint Stephen, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr

Jesus said to his disciples: “When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. 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.”

In today’s reading from Matthew, Jesus speaks about the persecution that results from sharing the Gospel. “Brother will hand over brother to death,” he says, “and the child his father.” The kind of persecution that Jesus speaks of has taken place throughout all of Church history but today focuses on the most extreme form of persecution: martyrdom. Saint Stephen debated with members of a synagogue who could not withstand his wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. When Saint Stephen said he could see the heavens opened and the Son of Man, Jesus, standing at the right hand of God the Father, they became enraged and stoned him to death. As they stoned him, Stephen cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Although real martyrdom and persecution continues throughout the world, I myself will not likely face that. So the question becomes, how will I face the little persecutions of the day and allow the Spirit of the Father to speak through me?

Help me understand, God, that great things are at stake even in seemingly trivial matters. Give me the wisdom to see the events of the day as they are and to be able to witness to the Gospel by speaking your truth. As Jesus said it would be to his disciples, so it was with Saint Stephen. The Spirit of the Father spoke through him. Sometimes it is so hard to find time to hear your word even as I struggle intently to take it in. Because of this, I ask you for the gift of awareness of your presence and knowledge of your will.

Thank you, Lord, for sending Jesus your Son, for every good you give me. The day after Christmas, it feels strange to celebrate the feast of Saint Stephen, the first martyr. As in the Our Father’s “kingdom come,” Jesus’ words are comforting: “Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say.” Holy Spirit, let me be at peace with the day and receive the Father’s guidance. It is not mine to worry about the rest.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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