Today was the Feast of St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr. I was really struck by the first reading from the Office of Readings today, which was a longer version of the first reading at today’s Mass. In this reading, we hear how St. Stephen is debating some men in the synagogue, and he’s saying some things that people don’t like and can’t rebut. So the men who St. Stephen is debating make up some lies about him. St. Stephen then speaks up in his own defense, but he further infuriates the crowd, who then take him out of the city and stone him to death. While he’s being pummeled with stones, St. Stephen prays to God to receive his spirit, and asks Him to forgive those who are killing him.
Several things struck me about this reading. One was how St. Stephen, like Jesus, asked the Father to forgive those who were hurting him. I was also struck by the response of the men St. Stephen was debating. They can’t counter what he’s saying, so they make up a lie that he is blaspheming against God and Moses. This is similar to something we are seeing today in the debate over gay marriage. Some of those who favor gay marriage can’t rebut the arguments of those who oppose it, so they resort to calling them “homophobes” and saying they’re full of hate. Things haven’t changed much in 2,000 years, have they?
I was also struck by how St. Stephen stood his ground even while he was being stoned to death. This got me thinking about how I would respond in a situation in which I was called to defend the faith, or speak the truth when doing would cause me some problems or make me unpopular. Would I be like St. Stephen and stick to my guns, or would I be a coward and not speak the truth? I have feeling that I may have to answer this question at some point in the future. I’m sure that what I write on this blog about homosexuality isn’t going to win me many friends. It’s not exactly politically correct in our society to say that homosexual behavior is immoral or that it is not something that is inherent in people. Right now it’s pretty easy for me to say these things because I’m doing it online, on an anonymous blog. But will God someday ask of me to stand up for the truth in love, come what may? I hope and pray that I might be as courageous as St. Stephen and accept whatever suffering comes from speaking the truth and defending the faith.
St. Stephen, pray for us.
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