Daily Retreat 04/23/07
2007 Apr 23 Mon: Easter Weekday/ George, mt/ Adalbert, bp, mt
Acts 6: 8-15/ Ps 118(119): 23-24. 26-27. 29-30/ Jn 6: 22-29
From today's readings: "Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people.... Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!... Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you...."
Witness and Testimony
The word "martyr" is used for St. Stephen and all those who die in loyally testifying to their faith, but originally, the word simply meant "witness." Because those who die in persecutions are the supreme witnesses of the Faith, the term "martyr" gradually came to refer primarily to these who lay down their lives as the ultimate testimony of their true love for God and His Church.
However, there was a reason that the early martyrs suffered death: generally, they were the most outspoken and zealous in proclaiming the Faith with their lives, before they were called to proclaim it with their deaths! This is certainly true in Stephen's case, as Scripture records, he "was working great wonders and signs among the people.... [And his opponents] could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke."
In other words, all of us need to be martyrs, loyal "witnesses" to the Faith! While few, if any, of us will be called to the glorious vocation of literally dying for our faith, all of us are called to stand tall in living and giving testimony to the Faith for which the martyrs died!
Acts 6: 8-15/ Ps 118(119): 23-24. 26-27. 29-30/ Jn 6: 22-29
From today's readings: "Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people.... Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!... Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you...."
Witness and Testimony
The word "martyr" is used for St. Stephen and all those who die in loyally testifying to their faith, but originally, the word simply meant "witness." Because those who die in persecutions are the supreme witnesses of the Faith, the term "martyr" gradually came to refer primarily to these who lay down their lives as the ultimate testimony of their true love for God and His Church.
However, there was a reason that the early martyrs suffered death: generally, they were the most outspoken and zealous in proclaiming the Faith with their lives, before they were called to proclaim it with their deaths! This is certainly true in Stephen's case, as Scripture records, he "was working great wonders and signs among the people.... [And his opponents] could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke."
In other words, all of us need to be martyrs, loyal "witnesses" to the Faith! While few, if any, of us will be called to the glorious vocation of literally dying for our faith, all of us are called to stand tall in living and giving testimony to the Faith for which the martyrs died!
posted by FrPitstick | 4/22/2007
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