Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 10-26-03, Feast of St. Stephen, first martyr

For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments and discussion.

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I am flying out tomorrow morning so am posting this tonight. Will catch up the thread when I get home.

Salvation

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

Stephen's Arrest

[8] And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs
among the people. [9] Then some of those who belonged to the
synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians,
and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and
disputed with Stephen. [10] But they could not withstand the wisdom
and the Spirit with which he spoke.

The Martyrdom of Stephen

[54] Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they
ground their teeth against him. [55] But he, full of the Holy Spirit,
gazed into Heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the
right hand of God; [56] and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens
opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." [57]
But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed
together upon him. [58] Then they cast him out of the city and stoned
him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young
man named Saul. [59] And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed,
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

*
Commentary:

8-14. From the text it would appear that Stephen preached mainly among
Hellenist Jews; this was his own background. Reference is made to
synagogues of Jews of the Dispersion (Diaspora). These synagogues
were used for worship and as meeting places. The very fact that these
Hellenist Jews were living in the Holy City shows what devotion they
had to the Law of their forebears.

No longer is it only the Sanhedrin who are opposed to the Gospel;
other Jews have been affected by misunderstanding and by
misrepresentation of the Christian message.

The charge of blasphemy--also made against our Lord--was the most
serious that could be made against a Jew. As happened in Jesus' case,
the accusers here resort to producing false witnesses, who twist
Stephen's words and accuse him of a crime the penalty for which is
death.

15. St. John Chrysostom, commenting on this verse, recalls that the
face of Moses, when he comes down from Sinai (cf. Exodus 34:29-35),
reflected the glory of God and likewise made the people afraid: "It
was grace, it was the glory of Moses. I think that God clothed him in
this splendor because perhaps he had something to say, and in order
that his very appearance would strike terror into them. For it is
possible, very possible, for figures full of Heavenly grace to be
attractive to friendly eyes and terrifying to the eyes of enemies"
("Hom. on Acts", 15).

55-56. "It is clear", St. Ephraem comments, "that those who suffer for
Christ enjoy the glory of the whole Trinity. Stephen saw the Father
and Jesus at His side, because Jesus appears only to his own, as was
the case with the Apostles after the Resurrection. While the champion
of the faith stood there helpless in the midst of those who had killed
the Lord, just at the point when the first martyr was to be crowned,
he saw the Lord, holding a crown in His right hand, as if to encourage
him to conquer death and to show that he inwardly helps those who are
about to die on his account. He therefore reveals what he sees, that
is, the heavens opened, which were closed to Adam and only opened to
Christ at the Jordan, but open now after the Cross to all who share
Christ's sufferings, and in the first instance open to this man. See
how Stephen reveals why his face was lit up: it was because he was on
the point of contemplating this wondrous mission. That is why he took
on the appearance of an angel--so that his testimony might be more
reliable" ("Armenian Commentary, ad loc.").

57-59. The cursory trial of Stephen ends without any formal sentence
of
death: this Jewish tribunal was unable to pass such sentences because
the Romans restricted its competence. In any event no sentence proves
necessary: the crowd becomes a lynching party: it takes over and
proceeds to stone Stephen, with the tacit approval of the Sanhedrin.

Tradition regards Stephen as the first Christian martyr, an example of
fortitude and suffering for love of Christ. "Could you keep all God's
commandments," St. Cyprian asks, "were it not for the strength of
patience? That was what enabled Stephen to hold out: in spite of
being stoned he did not call down vengeance on his executioners, but
rather forgiveness.... How fitting it was for him to be Christ's
first martyr, so that by being, through his glorious death, the model
of all the martyrs that would come after him, he should not only be a
preacher of the Lord's Passion, but should also imitate it in his
meekness and immense patience" ("De Bono Patientiae", 16).

Martyrdom is a supreme act of bravery and of true prudence, but to the
world it makes no sense. It is also an expression of humility,
because a martyr does not act out of bravado or overweening
self-confidence; he is a weak man like anyone else, but God's grace
gives him the strength he needs. Although martyrdom is something
which happens rarely, it does show Christians what human nature can
rise to if God gives it strength, and it establishes a standard, both
real and symbolic, for the behavior of every disciple of Christ.

"Since all the virtues and the perfection of all righteousness are
born of love of God and one's neighbor," St. Leo says, "in no one is
this love more worthily found than in the blessed martyrs, who are
nearest to our Lord in terms of imitation of both His charity and His
Passion.

"The martyrs have been of great help to others, because the Lord has
availed of the very strength as He granted them to ensure that the
pain of death and the cruelty of the Cross do not frighten any of His
own, but are seen as things in which man can imitate Him....

"No example is more useful for the instruction of the people of God
than that of the martyrs. Eloquence is effective for entreating,
argument for convincing; but examples are worth more than words, and
it is better to teach by deeds than by speech" ("Hom. on the Feast of
St. Laurence").

The Second Vatican Council has reminded us of the excellence of the
martyrdom as a form of witness to the faith. Although there are
heroic ways of imitating and following our Lord which do not involve
the drama of bloodshed and death, all Christians should realize that
confession of the faith in this way is not a thing of the past and is
sometimes necessary.

"Since Jesus, the Son of God, showed His love by laying down His life
for us, no one has greater love than he who lays down his life for Him
and for his brothers (cf. 1 John 3:16; John 15:13). Some Christians
have been called from the beginning, and will always be called, to
give this greatest testimony of love to all, especially to
persecutors. Martyrdom makes the disciple like his Master. [...]
Therefore, the Church considers it the highest gift and supreme test
of love. And although it is given to few, all must be prepared to
confess Christ before men and to follow him along the way of the Cross
amidst the persecutions which the Church never lacks.

"Likewise the Church's holiness is fostered [...] by the manifold
counsels which the Lord proposes to His disciples in the Gospel"
(Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium", 42).

The Liturgy of the Church sums up the asceticism and theology of
martyrdom in the preface for Christian martyrs: "Your holy martyr
followed the example of Christ, and gave his life for the glory of
Your name. His death reveals Your power shining through our human
weakness. You choose the weak and make them strong in bearing witness
to You."

Like Jesus, Stephen dies commending his soul to God and praying for
his persecutors. At this point St. Luke brings in Saul who cooperates
in the proceedings by watching the executioners' clothes; Saul will
soon experience the benefits of Stephen's intercession. "If Stephen
had not prayed to God, the Church would not have had Paul" (St.
Augustine, "Sermons", 315, 7).

Stephen has died, but his example and teaching continue to speak
across the world.

*
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

From: Matthew 10:17-22

Jesus' Instructions to the Apostles

(Jesus said to His disciples) [17] "Beware of men; for they will
deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, [18] and
you will be dragged before governors and kings for My sake, to bear
testimony before them and the Gentiles. [19] When they deliver you
up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for
what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; [20] for it is
not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
[21] Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his
child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to
death; [22] and you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he
who endures to the end will be saved."

Commentary:

16-23. The instructions and warnings Jesus gives here apply right
through the history of the Church. It is difficult for the world to
understand the way of God. Sometimes there will be persecutions,
sometimes indifference to the Gospel or failure to understand.
Genuine commitment to Jesus always involves effort--which is not
surprising, because Jesus Himself was a sign of contradiction; indeed,
if that were not the experience of a Christian, he would have to ask
himself whether he was not in fact a worldly person. There are
certain worldly things a Christian cannot compromise about, no matter
how much they are in fashion. Therefore, Christian life inevitably
involves nonconformity with anything that goes against faith and
morals (cf. Romans 12:2). It is not surprising that a Christian's
life often involves choosing between heroism and treachery.
Difficulties of this sort should not make us afraid: we are not alone,
we can count on the powerful help of our Father God to give us
strength and daring.

20. Here Jesus teaches the completely supernatural character of the
witness He asks His disciples to bear. The documented accounts of a
host of Christian martyrs prove that He has kept His this promise:
they bear eloquent witness to the serenity and wisdom of often
uneducated people, some of them scarcely more than children.

The teaching contained in this verse provides the basis for the
fortitude and confidence a Christian should have whenever he has to
profess his faith in difficult situations. He will not be alone, for
the Holy Spirit will give him words of divine wisdom.

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Advent and Christmas Reflections for All -- 2003 -- #68 and 69

Thought for the Day

Remember, you will be faulted not because you are ignorant against your will but because you neglect to seek out what it is that makes you ignorant.

-- St. Augustine

Trust you have a safe and happy journey.

(You can add me to your list of folks who'd sub for you on occasion, if you need help.)

Augustine's words are a critical companion to Thomas Aquinas's assertion that it's better to leave the Church (upon having some real conflict of conscience) than to remain a hypocrite.

Thanks for all your good work. Have a Joyous Christmas Season and a Blessed New Year.

**(You can add me to your list of folks who'd sub for you on occasion, if you need help.) **

Believe me, I will remember this! LOL!

Friday, December 26, 2003

Meditation
Matthew 10:17-22

Which comes first, the acorn or the oak? The tiny acorn, the seed, produces the mighty oak—and yet it was an oak that produced the acorn in the first place. One grows out of the other. Just so, perseverance and hope are the fruit and product of one another in our lives: We persevere, even in the face of difficulties and trials because we have hope. At the same time, this hope is nurtured and strengthened by our perseverance.

St. Stephen, whose feast we celebrate today, stands as an example of what it means to persevere in following Christ. He faced opposition and persecution (Acts 7:54-59), just as Jesus had predicted his followers would: “They will deliver you up to councils, and flog you. . . . Brother will deliver up brother to death . . . and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake” (Matthew 10:17,21,22). Yet Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian era, held fast to the end, because his perseverance—his ability to “stay the course”—was founded not on his own willpower but on his hope in God’s promises.

Being with Jesus, becoming like him, carrying on his mission, suffering with him in order to rise with him: That is what Jesus calls each of us to persevere in. But that’s possible only if we put our hope in the life of the Spirit in us. And that’s possible only if we fix our eyes on the glory to come. Although we may experience suffering or opposition as we follow Jesus, we will ultimately share his eternal life if we persevere and remain united to him. When he was on earth, Jesus urged his disciples not to be afraid but to trust in God’s care for them: “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). This promise is just as sure and true for us, his twenty-first century disciples and followers.

Let’s enter the new year confident that, filled with the Spirit, we’ll persevere through all the hopes and hurts, triumphs and trials, that await us.

“Jesus, give me the courage and strength to persevere in following you. I want to be faithful even when the way is rough and I feel afraid. Plant new hope in me by your Holy Spirit. I place my life in your hands.”

One Bread, One Body

<< Friday, December 26, 2003 >>

St. Stephen

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

Psalm 31

Matthew 10:17-22

View Readings

THE WAY LOVE IS

“As Stephen was being stoned, he could be heard praying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ He fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And with that he died.” —Acts 7:59-60

Love by its very nature wants to express itself, and love by its very nature feels its expressions are inadequate. Therefore, love seeks to express itself in greater ways. That is why Christians throughout history have often sought martyrdom, the ultimate expression of love.

At the conception of a child, the Lord gives the mother love for her child. This love will grow during pregnancy, unless love and the child are aborted. Then at the birth of the child, love takes a quantum leap. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus on this second day of Christmas, the feast of the first martyr, St. Stephen, let us ask the Holy Spirit to inflame us with divine love. May the love of Christ impel us (see 2 Cor 5:14) to enter ever more deeply into the mystery of the Father’s love. Then we will be compelled to seek to express our love through sacrifices, service, evangelization, and finally martyrdom.

As we grow deeper in love this Christmas, we willingly and even joyously take up our crosses each day (Lk 9:23). Have a more than merry Christmas. Abide in crucified love and abide in God (see 1 Jn 4:8, 16).

Prayer: Father, give me a burning, zealous, driving love for You.

Promise: “When they hand you over, do not worry about what you will say or how you will say it. When the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say. You yourselves will not be the speakers; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.” —Mt 10:19-20

Praise: St. Stephen so loved his Savior that he loved and forgave his enemies. The gates of heaven opened to him and he was crowned first of martyrs.

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	Have You Seen the Opening in the Sky?!
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:	Friday, December 26, 2003

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

Graduations, no matter what the level, seem to follow a prescribed course, and there seems no escaping the ponderous speeches from both young and old, and the endless role call of those who tromp onto the stage. But invariably there are compensations for enduring the tedium: The graduates themselves are so filled with hopes and aspirations to do so much better what their forebears have only done well.

We can only imagine what St. Stephen must have been like at that earlier stage in his life, but the book of Acts gives us a clue in describing him as a man "filled with grace and power, who worked great wonders and signs among the people." What a fine young man he must have been to give birth to such an adult!

Yet, despite all his goodness and all his good works across many days, Stephen found himself confronted with jealous and angry men who hated him and all he stood for, men who indeed intended to kill him. And he knew it. This was the defining moment for him. Would he flee, or defect, or deny his Lord?

He would not. Instead, his faith enabled him to see beyond the pain and death that were about to be his lot. "I see an opening in the sky, and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand...." And confident in that vision, he met his death.

Few of us will ever face challenges like those that Stephen faced, but we have our own troubles in abundance, troubles that can easily overwhelm us if we give in to them. Only one thing stands between hope and the despairing surrender to oblivion and that is faith: The ability to see that opening in the sky.

The opening is there. It remains for us to see it and trust it!

Catholic Online Saints

St. Stephen
Feastday: December 26

Patron of Stonemasons

Stephen's name means "crown," and he was the first disciple of Jesus to receive the martyr's crown. Stephen was a deacon in the early Christian Church. The apostles had found that they needed helpers to look after the care of the widows and the poor. So they ordained seven deacons, and Stephen is the most famous of these.

God worked many miracles through St. Stephen and he spoke with such wisdom and grace that many of his hearers became followers of Jesus. The enemies of the Church of Jesus were furious to see how successful Stephen's preaching was. At last, they laid a plot for him. They could not answer his wise argument, so they got men to lie about him, saying that he had spoken sinfully against God. St. Stephen faced that great assembly of enemies without fear. In fact, the Holy Bible says that his face looked like the face of an angel.

The saint spoke about Jesus, showing that He is the Savior, God had promised to send. He scolded his enemies for not having believed in Jesus. At that, they rose up in great anger and shouted at him. But Stephen looked up to Heaven and said that he saw the heavens opening and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

His hearers plugged their ears and refused to listen to another word. They dragged St. Stephen outside the city of Jerusalem and stoned him to death. The saint prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then he fell to his knees and begged God not to punish his enemies for killing him.

After such an expression of love, the holy martyr went to his heavenly reward. His feast day is December 26th.

FEAST OF THE DAY

The whole of our knowledge about the life of St. Stephen comes
from a passage in the Acts of the Apostles. The passage is found in
the sixth and seventh chapters of this book. Stephen was one of the
Disciples of Christ and was chosen by the Spirit and affirmed by the
community to serve the community and assist the apostles as a
deacon. (Acts 6:1-5)

Stephen worked wonders among the people and proved as an
excellent example of a Disciple of Jesus. After one of his debates
with the Jews who did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, he
was arrested and taken before the Sanhedrin. In his speech to the
Sanhedrin he outlined the salvific history of Israel which came to
fulfillment in Jesus. His speech drew the wrath of the crowd upon
him. They chased him out of the city and stoned him to death.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Into your hands Lord I commend my Spirit -St. Stephen (Acts 7)

TODAY IN HISTORY

268 Pope St Dionysius dies
418 Pope St Zosimus dies
795 Pope St Leo III begins his reign

TODAY'S TIDBIT

It is believed by many that the Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of
Christmas" was written in England as a song to spread the Catholic
faith during a time of persecution. This theory has been discredited
by some scholars, but the reinterpretation of the song can serve to
help teach the Faith.
Each day symbolizes a piece of the Catholic Faith that could be
taught symbolically. The twelve days of Christmas are the days
between Christmas and the Epiphany. The tidbits for the next twelve
days will give the verse of the song and explain how it can be
interpreted to pertain to the Catholic Faith.

"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me: a partridge in
a pear tree."
The true love is God who loved his people enough to send his only
Son to be the redemption of the world.
Jesus is the partridge because this bird is known to sacrifice itself for
the sake of its children or loved ones.
The pear tree is a symbol of the cross.
A partridge in a pear tree is a symbol of the crucifix.

INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for all missionaries and all who are working away from
their homes and loved ones for the sake of others this holiday
season.