Acts 6:8-7:2a,51c-60 (NRSV)
Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us." And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Then the high priest asked him, "Are these things so?"
And Stephen replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me. You are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it."
When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.
Matthew 23:34-39 (NRSV)
Jesus said, "Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
Blog Reflection
The commemoration of St. Stephen the day after the Christmas Season begins seems like we turned from one chapter of the story to another. In a sense we have. In a sense we have not.
Yesterday we celebrated God coming to us in Jesus Christ. As one so fragile and helpless. Jesus came to help heal our wounded relationships.
Today, we commemorate the first Martyr of the Christian Church; St. Stephen. One of those relationships God came to heal us from is religious exceptionalism and intolerance. What we need to understand to heal those broken relationships from this Holy Day in our Church calender is that religious exceptionalism and intolerance kills a lot more than a body. It kills community.
Christians were the new group in town. Jesus had ascended. The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. The newly forming Church was gaining popularity. Those who wanted to protect the exceptionalism of their own religion were challenged to be more inclusive of new ideas and the ways in which people understood their relationship with their God. As Stephen makes the case for this new religion full of this zeal he has for being Christian, the existing religious establishment just would not tolerate it.
Sadly, what has happened to the Christian religion over these many centuries is that we have forgotten the lessons of how much religious exceptionalism and intolerance kills. The Christ Child came to heal broken relationships, by helping us understand what is so broken and wounded about them. The Church in the 21st Century is still learning how broken our relationships are.
What we have seen over the 20th Century with the rise of fundamentalism that makes use of the modern invention of Biblical literalism, is one form of religious exceptionalism and intolerance taken over by another sad example. The American Family Association. The Family Research Council(s) all over the country. Focus on the Family. The Trinity Broadcasting Network. These are a few examples of fundamentalist organizations that promote religious exceptionalism and intolerance.
At the same time, in the Catholic Church, we have seen religious exceptionalism and intolerance rise through the use of a authoritarian model in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It's pages are full of very great insights. However, the intent appears to be to create a faithful following that does nothing more than recite the teachings only for the purpose of ending all conversations that would contradict them. The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and Relevant Radio have done a good job of supporting and creating more individuals to promote this form of religious exceptionalism and intolerance. Here in Minneapolis and St. Paul we have a follower of the great "cold-hearted orthodox Catholic" networks. The person I speak of writes comments in any newspaper piece where Catholicism is written or spoken about. His comments are written for one purpose. To make sure that the teachings of the church are explained in their entirety. Anyone who does not agree with what he writes, whether Catholic or not is immediately and violently torn apart by the commenter.
In our Anglican/Episcopal tradition we have seen many incredible strides. Women are allowed to be ordained in all forms of Church ministry. In most recent years and not without difficulties LGBT people can be ordained to all forms of Church ministries too. Reconciliation has been sought with Native Americans, with a commitment to honor the cultural traditions they come from. Opposing the religious intolerance that continues to vilify Jewish people and Muslims is something we are talking openly about. Yet, within our own progressive bodies, there remain those who would prefer to encourage religious exceptionalism and intolerance.
St. Stephens' example of being forgiving and praying for the mercy on his persecutors is outstanding. In the midst of his terrible death by stoning, he is more concerned with keeping his own salvation and praying for those who are killing him. Among the people in attendance of his stoning is Saul who would later become Paul. Stephens' witness to the transforming power of God's saving love becomes a vehicle through which Saul would one day be where Stephen is. One day, Saul when he is known as Paul will be the victim of religious exceptionalism and intolerance.
The coming of Christ at Bethlehem is a reminder that as Christians we are not always going to get it right. As a human being from birth until death we never stop learning and growing in our understanding. So the Church needs to continue to learn and grow because of those who lead it until Christ comes again. That learning and growing happens as we are open to the transforming power of God's unconditional and all inclusive love and grace.
The Church has it's history of burning heretics at the stake. Whipping those who do not share their views. Burning individuals who are thought to be witches. Many who supported discrimination towards Native Americans, African Americans, Irish people, Jewish people, Muslims, Atheists, Wiccans, Pagans and so forth. Christians at one point supported the idea that women should live in subordination. There are Christians who even today support such thinking. While there have been many strides towards greater acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, there are many who still prefer to reject us because of religious exceptionalism and intolerance.
A compelling case can also be made about religious exceptionalism and intolerance on the part of LGBT people and others. As painful as being rejected because of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression is, returning that rejection by suggesting that all Christians are gay haters is not helpful. I know of way too many openly LGBT ministers and priests who receive uncalled for violence from the oppressed who become oppressors. The wounds to our communities will not be healed if we continue to take part in further wounding broken relationships.
As we celebrate this Second Day of Christmas with the Holy Day of St. Stephen let us speak the truth in love, but always with a respect for diversity and a tolerance for perspectives that are not the same as ours. This is something I need to pray about and work for too.
The Christ Child has come to heal our broken relationships. He does that by helping us to understand where and how they are broken. Are we paying attention?
Prayers
We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the
first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed
for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at
your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (St. Stephen, Book of Common Prayer, page 237).
Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of
your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our
hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (First Sunday after Christmas, Book of Common Prayer, page 213).
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen. (Prayer Attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).
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