Saint Stephen, feast
Commentary of the day
Saint Caesarius of Arles : Saint Stephen, first to follow Christ’s footsteps
Reading
Acts 6,8-10.7,54-59.
Now 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."
Ps 31(30),3-4.6.7.8.17.21.
incline your ear to me; make haste to rescue me! Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to save me.
You are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead and guide me.
Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, faithful God.
You hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD.
I will rejoice and be glad in your love, once you have seen my misery, observed my distress.
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your kindness.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from scheming enemies.
You keep them in your abode, safe from plotting tongues.
Mt 10,17-22.
But beware of people, 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. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
Commentary of the day
Saint Caesarius of Arles (470-453), monk and Bishop
Sermons to the people, no. 37 (SC 243, p.233)
Saint Stephen, first to follow Christ’s footsteps
“Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps,” (1Pt 2,21). Which of the Lord’s examples will we have to follow? Is it his raising of the dead? Is it to walk on the sea? Not in the least. But it is that of being meek and humble of heart (Mt 11,29) and of loving not only our friends but even our enemies (Mt 5,44). “So that you might follow in his footsteps,” writes St Peter. The blessed evangelist John also says the same thing: “Whoever claims to abide in Christ ought to walk as he has walked,” (1Jn 2,6). And how has Christ walked? He prayed for his enemies on the cross, saying: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do,” (Lk 23,34). They have actually lost their senses and are possessed by an evil spirit, and while they are persecuting us, they themselves are undergoing a far greater persecution from the devil. Hence we should be praying more for their deliverance than for their condemnation. That is indeed what Blessed Stephen did, he who was the first so gloriously to follow in the footsteps of Christ. For, when he was struck by a hail of stones, he prayed standing for himself; but, falling to his knees, he cried out with all his strength for his enemies: “Lord Jesus Christ, do not hold this sin against them,” (Ac 7,60). So even if we think we cannot imitate our Lord, let us at least imitate him who was his servant as we are.
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