April 21 - Homily for Today

Stephen, who was among the first deacons of the Church, did his duty well and proclaimed the risen Jesus with great persuasiveness, and he was inspired as well to tell the elders and the scribes just where they had gone wrong – telling them they were stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in their heart and ears, and always opposed to the Holy Spirit – just like their ancestors were. So many of their ancestors persecuted prophets and teachers – they murdered them – not wanting to be acquainted with the real truth. And you, Stephen shouts out, are just like them. And they of course are infuriated and immediately come at Stephen to do what their fathers and forefathers had done: they tried to extinguish the light that was Jesus  that shone through Stephen, the light and life of Jesus, who was indeed the very bread of life come down from heaven.

And just as their ancestors – and ours in faith - were fed heavenly bread by the Father in heaven, so too any who want to eat can eat this same bread today at this and every Mass, after it is broken and distributed. And when we eat we can glimpse, if we look carefully enough, at what Stephen saw throughout his trials: we can see Jesus at God’s right hand, smiling at us, blessing us and encouraging us to always “go the extra mile” – so that he may gift us eternally with peace and light and joy!

And so, into your hands, O Lord, we commend our spirits – as did St. Stephen the First Martyr: use us as you will for good in the world!