Bible
Study: Acts 6, 8 to 59 and Matthew 10, 17 to 22.
Just
yesterday we celebrated the birthday of Jesus Christ himself. Today, we are
celebrating another birthday, but this birthday is not a birth to human life
but a birth into Supernatural life. Our opening prayer at mass this morning
sums up today’s feast perfectly: “Grant Lord, we pray that we may imitate what
we worship, and so learn to love even our enemies, for we celebrate the
heavenly birthday of a man who knew how to pray for his persecutors.”
What is so
unique about St. Stephen is not just the fact that he was the first martyr but
that even while he was being stoned to death, he refused to allow bitterness
and hatred becloud his mind. St. Stephen showed us what it really means to love
by praying for the persons who were persecuting him. By the example of his
life, St. Stephen imitated Jesus Christ who while on the cross prayed for his
persecutors: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23,
34.
In our
Gospel passage today, Jesus says: “Beware of men…” In other words, be careful
of your fellow men. As much as it is good to trust people, do not expect from
fellow humans that which only God can provide. Do not assume everyone means
well for you, some persons actually become angrier with you when you are
progressing. The case of Stephen is one of internal betrayal. Stephen was
killed not by the Roman Emperors nor by strangers to the faith but by his
fellow synagogue officials. When they discovered he had superior wisdom and no
one could argue with him, they became jealous and instigated his death.
The question is: “if Stephen had decided to be quiet with his gifts of
preaching and working of signs and wonders, would he have died like this?” But
then, are we to hide our talents like the man who dug a hole to hide the talent
his master gave to him to trade? Are we not supposed to use what God has given
us to promote his kingdom? When Jesus says, “Beware of men” he doesn’t mean we
should be afraid of people or hide our talents, he meant we should be prepared
for shock and disappointment even from those we least expect. We would be
shocked because we would be surprised to know how many hate us just because of
we are doing what is right.
But the same Jesus also said in Matthew 5, 44: “Love your enemies and
pray for those who persecute you.” Meaning if in the course of being careful
about people, we then get to realize our enemies, we should not write them off
or cut them away from our lives. Rather, we should love them just the way God
himself loved us by sending us his son to die in our place even while we were
still sinners and enemies of God. (Confer Romans 5,8). Christmas is all about
God loving his enemies. Mankind was at enmity with God because of its sins. But
God loved still by sending us his Son Jesus Christ. Stephen made enemies for
himself by showing his talent but then, he loved his enemies by praying for
their forgiveness while they were stoning him to death.
When last did I pray for my enemies? And what kind of prayer am I
praying for them? How have I loved my enemies and what do I plan to give them
in imitation of what God did for me?
Let us
Pray: Lord Jesus, teach me to imitate you just like Stephen. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you and Merry Christmas
Fr. Abu.
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