Embodying Jesus' Spirit

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, December 26, 2024

The week of the fourth Sunday of Advent

The Feast of Stephen, Deacon and Martyr

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s Acts reading:

59While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ 60Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.* 81And Saul approved of their killing him.

You will find the full text of today’s Acts reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 938)

AM: Psalm 28, 30; 2 Chronicles 24:17-22; Acts 6:1-7

PM: Psalm 118; Wisdom 4:7-15; Acts 7:59-8:8

David's Reflections

Today, we celebrate the feast day of Stephen, Deacon and Martyr.  The early church chose seven to minister to the needs of widows to be certain that non-Palestinian (Hellenistic) Jewish women were not neglected in the benevolence ministries.  The complaint was that Palestinian Jewish widows (Hebrew) were being favored.  The seven chosen all had Greek names, one way to guarantee that no one could question the fairness of the decision.  Hellenistic Jews were chosen to ensure a ministry to Hellenistic Jews.

One of the seven was Stephen, whose ministry of preaching and evangelism occupies the rest of Acts 6 and 7.  Luke tells the story of the seven primarily to get Stephen on the stage.  We cannot be certain that these seven were the first deacons.  The verb lying behind the phrase "serve, wait on tables" (verse 2) is the verb form from which the noun deacon comes.  That has led to the speculation that these indeed were the first deacons.

Stephen immediately began a ministry of preaching and evangelism and did so in a way that alienated the Jerusalem religious leaders.  Stephen, following the vision of Jesus and of the Hellenistic Jewish wing of the early church (those not native to Palestine), resisted the exclusivism of the conservatives.  He believed that God's saving intent extended to all persons, Jewish and non-Jewish, with equal and simultaneous intensity.  The conservatives evidently believed that Israel must first repent, then God's saving love would be extended beyond Israel.

He was arrested and brought before the supreme council, the Sanhedrin, because, like Jesus, he was accused of speaking against the Temple.  Acts 7 summarizes Stephen's message.  He reviewed some of the most holy moments in Israel's history, all of which happened outside Judea.  For example, the burning bush of Moses and Abraham's burial place--both outside Judea.  That undermined the view that Temple was THE center of God's presence in the world.  Stephen saw clearly that Jesus' teaching would radically change Judaism and do away with many cherished practices and customs.

The more conservative view included the idea that the central chamber of the Temple in Jerusalem was the throne room of God.  The farther one got from that spot, the less holy the ground.  That meant that Gentiles, those outside Palestine and not part of the Jewish community were, in the poignant words of the writer of Ephesians in chapter 2, "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."

Stephen's hearers understood that his kind of radical inclusion of nonJews and his weakening of the traditional boundaries between Jew and non-Jew would ultimately transform Judaism into a very different faith.  He confronted them at the end of his address, saying that God did not dwell in buildings of human construction.  They responded in angry intolerance, dragging him outside the city and stoning him as he prayed for their forgiveness in the same manner Jesus had prayed for those crucifying him.

Stephen's martyrdom came about because of his witness.  Most of us are not at such great risk.  Sharing our faith and our experience of Jesus with those without faith and those who have lapsed usually will not get us arrested or martyred, though it would put us at risk in some parts of our globe.  We will more likely be risking someone's rejection or someone's thinking we're a bit extreme and strange.  What we cannot escape stands before us here.  These earliest believers saw those without faith in Christ as at risk, and they were willing to risk their very lives to share the message of forgiveness and salvation.

Stephen’s example provides us a rather stark example of someone committed to witness and evangelism and to Jesus' spirit of including those despised by other. His death witnesses to us of our need to witness with his fervor, compassion, and courage.  His death also reminds us to pray for those whose lives are at risk and who face death for their unflinching witness to their faith. Would that we could embody his bold spirit of loving embrace of those despised and undervallued.

Collect of the Day, The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.  (BCP, 212)

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen, deacon and first martyr.  For a biographical sketch, readings, and prayers, see this web link:

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Stephen.htm

Collect of the Feast of Stephen

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand: where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.

A Collect for Peace

Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen. (BCP, 123)

For our Enemies

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (BCP, 816)

A Prayer for Light

Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified:  Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.  (BCP, 100)

Daily Office Epistle, Acts 7:59-8:8

59While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ 60Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.* 81And Saul approved of their killing him.

That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. 2Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. 3But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.

4 Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. 5Philip went down to the city* of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah* to them. 6The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, 7for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. 8So there was great joy in that city.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer