Being a deacon blogger, I can’t help but post on St. Stephen, whose feast we celebrate today. As you know, he is the Protomartyr that is, the first martyr of the Church. He was also among the first deacons of the Church, being chosen by the Apostles along with six others, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.
Stephen was stoned to death by the Sanhedrin after testifying before them about Jesus. Saul, later to be St. Paul, was there and silently held the cloaks of those who threw the stones.
Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe writes that the love of St. Stephen is what conquered the hardness of Saul’s heart. That is an interesting thought. Scriptures tell us that Saul was converted on the way to Damascus when he encountered Jesus and was thrown from his horse and blinded. But maybe the love of St. Stephen planted the seed of faith. One has to wonder why Saul didn’t cast any stones at Stephen, but stood silently by. Perhaps even then the grace of God was knocking at the door, thanks to the love of Stephen.
Here is an excerpt from one of St. Fulgentius’ discourses (my translation of the Italian)
“The love therefore that brought Christ from heaven to the earth raised up Stephen from the earth to heaven. The love that was first in the King now shines forth in the soldier.
“Stephen, then, to win the crown that his name signifies, had love for his weapon and he conquered all. By means of love he did not give in to the Jews that were infuriated against him; by means of love for his neighbors he prayed for those who stoned him. With love he confronted the erring so they would change their ways; with love he prayed that those who stoned him would not be punished.
“Sustained by the power of love that conquered Saul, who was cruelly inflamed against him, he merited to have as a companion in heaven he who had been on earth his persecutor. The same holy and indefatigable love desired to conquer with prayer those he couldn’t convert with words……
“Love therefore is the source and origin of all good, the best defense, the way that leads to heaven. He that walks in love cannot err, nor fear. It guides, it protects, it brings us to our proper end.” — Fulgentius of Rupe, Disc. 3
I think a good source for our meditation today is the thought that love is what conquers, not human words really. We are called to speak the truth with our words, but especially by our lives which hopefully demonstrate radical love for all.
If we really loved each other from the heart, we Christians really loved from the heart all whom we meet, we would have to build new churches. We would have to build new seminaries. We would have to expand our diaconate formation programs. We would have a very hard time keeping up with our marriage preparation programs. People would be flocking to the Church in droves, uncountable numbers of people, saying, “Look how they love one another!”
It is how the Church grew so rapidly in the early years.
It could happen again.
Deacons, for the love of Stephen, let us give genuine witness to our faith!
