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May 19, 2022
In today’s first reading we hear how Stephen did not survive his captors but was stoned to death and became the first Christian martyr. We first learn about Stephen when we hear about the conflict in the Jerusalem church between the Hellenists and the Hebrews. The Hellenists were Greek - speaking Jews who came from communities settled outside Palestine and who went to their own synagogues in Jerusalem where the scripture was Greek. The Hebrews were the Palestinian Jews and in their synagogue the scripture was read in Hebrew. The Hellenists complained that their widows were being overlooked when it came to welfare support, whereas the widows of the Palestinian Jews were looked after well. To answer the problem the apostles called a full meeting of the disciples to elect seven men of good reputation who would care for the needy while the apostles concentrated on preaching. The men elected were the first deacons, whose ministry was to assist the apostles by serving at table where gifts for the needy were distributed. And the first worthy to be chosen was Stephen.
Stephen is described as a man full of faith who preaches in the name of Jesus and works wonders among the people. However, it is not long before he comes into serious conflict with his fellow Greek-speaking Jews. Stephen is brought before the Council where he is charged with claiming that Jesus will destroy the Temple and change the Law. In his own defense he makes a long speech accusing his accusers of resisting the Holy Spirit; finally, he tells them his vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God. When they hear this the Council go into uproar, rush Stephen out of the city and stone him. The final scene is witnessed by Saul: Stephen forgives his executioners before he is killed.
Like Jesus his master, Stephen’s final act is not a scream of hate but a word of forgiveness. His last act is a refusal to mirror the hatred he sees in his executioners. His martyrdom is an appointment not with hate but with forgiveness. And forgiveness turns up to keep the appointment - deal on time.
There is no doubt that the way of Stephen’s dying prepared for the conversion of Saul, because the voice of the forgiving Christ echoes in the voice of the dying disciple. But perhaps there is more. We do not know if a shadow came over Saul when he witnessed the killing of Stephen. We do know that he could not deny being closely linked to this anguish. Did Stephen’s violent death say anything to the silent watcher? Every killing of another human being is an accusation: in the death of Stephen, was Saul accused of persecuting Christ? In the death of the first martyr, was there the birth of the last apostle?