26 December 2018 - born and born again

Today's Readings

(Audio)

Jesus is born into the world. He wants to be born in our hearts as well. His coming into the world matters only to the degree that people allow him entrance into their hearts. Saint Stephen shows us the full depth of what it means for Jesus to be born in us.

Stephen, filled with grace and power,
was working great wonders and signs among the people.

Stephen takes Jesus at his word when Jesus says that his followers would do greater works than his own. He goes out, not relying on his own wisdom, but trusting in the Holy Spirit to speak through him.

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.

Stephen did what we are all called to do when we have to give witness.

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.

Interestingly, we can't always count on it being efficacious for our hearers. They are free to plug their ears.

But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears,
and rushed upon him together.

And yet the Spirit wants us to speak anyway. God wants to be sure the invitation is clearly heard, that his offer of lovely is explicitly stated, even if he refuses to force their response.

Because we must proclaim the gospel in season and out of season we will often meet opposition. Stephen shows us how to face this opposition precisely by trusting in Jesus who lives in him. He begs forgiveness for his persecutors, just as Jesus does. He hands everything ultimately to God, just as Jesus does. He is able to surrender his life because Jesus lives within him and he is able to manifest the life and victory that Jesus has already lived.

We may or may not be called to martyrdom. But we will certainly be called to give testimony. We will certainly find the need to pray for our persecutors and to surrender ourselves into God's hands. Christmas makes this possible. If Jesus his born in our hearts his victorious life will be manifested in us. Let us celebrate the birthday of Jesus, and the heavenly birthday of Stephen, so that we make room for the birth of Jesus in us, and so that we may one day be born to the life of the resurrection.

Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.