Acts 7:54-60: Martyrdom
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
When the crowd heard Stephen name them as stiff-necked and in opposition to the holy Spirit, they were infuriated and they ground their teeth at him.
How often do we gnash our own teeth and plot our arguments when we hear others make statements we do not believe?
But Stephen, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
How often are we able to put aside our rising anger and look for God and Jesus in the ugliness we see before us?
The crowd covered their ears, cried out against Stephen and rushed toward him.
How often do we rush against witnessing when we hear words that call us to something greater than we are willing to be?
They threw him out of the city and, and began to stone him.
How often are we more intent on silencing someone than listening to their inspiring and heart-felt words?
The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the foot of a young man named Saul.
How often do we gloat in silence while others suffer?
As Stephen fell beneath the stones he cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit”.
How often do we stand by and watch as injustice takes place?
Stephen said with his last breath, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”.
How often are we able to forgive those who transgress against us? How often do we intercede for our enemies before our forgiving and loving God?
When we are in turmoil and pain and we look for the Good Shepherd to lead us to safety, where do we look? We find good shepherds amidst the mayhem of life, in the fury of human battles, and in the chaos of darkness that seeks to overtake the light. We find good shepherds tending to the shunned and the belittled, living with the marginalized and forgotten, healing the lonely and broken-hearted. And once we find our Good Shepherd, this best of all shepherds, we must follow where he leads. This following may take us along dangerous paths and through storm-tossed seas. We may want to cover our ears and gnash our teeth as do the witnesses we hear about today. We may, like Stephen, feel ourselves falling beneath the weight of too many stones thrown in rage against us; and we may see too late the martyrdom that overtakes us.
When we find ourselves backed up against a howling, angry pack . . . we, like Stephen, must also look to God and to Jesus. And we must give ourselves over to the Spirit. We will likely be surprised by the miracle in store for us.
This week we will read more stories about the man Saul at whose feet Stephen’s attacked tossed their cloaks. We will see the miracle of this man’s conversion as he witnessed the martyring of Stephen. And we will remember that God always pulls goodness out of evil acts; God always calls forth miracles from martyrdom. For this reason alone . . . we must not be afraid.
A re-post from April 29, 2012.
Image from: http://all-art.org/DICTIONARY_of_Art/a/Andrea_Giusto1.htm
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