Posted on 12/26/2014 11:54:44 AM PST by Biggirl
On the day after Christmas, I wish those I meet a “Good St. Stephen’s Day.” Personal quirk? Surely. But it’s also been my small homage to my faith’s first martyr. And this year his all-but-forgotten feast day has a special relevance.
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I love the story of St. Stephen in the Book of Acts.
The office of deacon was originally created to take care of the widows, and Stephen was one of the first deacons.
However, even as a servant, he spoke eruditely before the court, and did not falter in his faith.
As he was being stoned to death (for speaking the truth), he forgave his tormenters.
....And for this, he is the patron saint of deacons.
I saw on the video an interview of a theologin in the video for the FoxNews news article about Middle Eastern Christian persecution who said that those who died for Christ go back to the days of when it was the little babies who were killed by Herod.
The early Church took care of their widows. Some of them still do.
My Pastor and one of the Deacons gave me a whole new set of engine gaskets for my Harley Davidson, which they installed for me. It took SEVEN HOURS!
Since I don’t have a garage, it is possible that the Florida climate and exposure dried out the entire set, causing a massive oil leak.
As a widow and a senior citizen, I had no means to do this job, but the Pastor and Deacons came to the rescue!
It is without a doubt the most amazing and expensive Christmas Present I have ever received.
(Except for Jesus, of course!)
This was the original meaning of the Diaconate...to care for the widows. But I was overwhelmed just the same!
I agree about the little babies.
Stephens address in Acts Chapter 7 was one of the greatest examples of where (a very new) believer in Christ can allow the Holy Spirit to speak directly through them, that action, where satan meant it only for evil, ultimately brought in Paul,
God meant it for good.
“And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” Luke 12:-11-12
In the old rite the Feast of Stephen mass was said immediately after the Christmas day midnight mass or the day after Christmas and still is.
Yes. That response is an incredible model of “Apologetics”.
Stephen was not a scholar or even a student of Scripture, as far as we can tell.
Yet, his Spirit-Filled Message and defense of the Gospel “cut them to the quick”.
The church that I attend in Cape Town, South Africa is called St Stephens. As the organist, I sometimes help out with the choice of hymns. The man who is leading the Prayer Book part of the service was thinking that we should have a hymn which relates to St Stephen but all he could think of was Good King Wenceslas. I suggested the following hymn which we will be singing. The second verse refers.
1 The Son of God goes forth to war
A kingly crown to gain.
His blood-red banner streams afar;
Who follows in His train?
Who best can drink His cup of woe,
Triumphant over pain,
Who patient bears his cross below—
He follows in His train.
2 The martyr first, whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave,
Who saw his Master in the sky
And called on Him to save.
Like Him, with pardon on His tongue,
In midst of mortal pain,
He prayed for them that did the wrong—
Who follows in his train?
3 A glorious band, the chosen few,
On whom the Spirit came,
Twelve valiant saints—their hope they knew
And mocked the cross and flame.
They met the tyrant’s brandished steel,
The lion’s gory mane;
They bowed their necks their death to feel—
Who follows in their train?
4 A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
Around the Savior’s throne rejoice,
In robes of light arrayed.
They climbed the steep ascent of heav’n
Through peril, toil, and pain.
O God, to us may grace be giv’n
To follow in their train!
This refers to Sunday 28 December, the closest Sunday to St Stephens day.
That’s Wonderful!
(I KNEW you were an organist when I read your screen name!)
I am going to talk to my Pastor and see if he can preach from the Book of Acts Sunday. In our culture, we might all end up being a “Stephen”.
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