Today's readings are about Jesus' continual presence among his followers and the reward he promises to those who are not ashamed to express their faith in him boldly.
ACTS 7:55-60
PS 97:1-2, 6-7, 9
REV 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
John: 17:20-26
Jesus is our friend and constant companion. We can easily apply the words of Paul Simon's song, "Bridge Over Troubled Water," to the friend we have in Jesus:
"When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down."
Jesus was certainly a "bridge over troubled water" for St. Stephen when he was stoned to death.
But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with one accord. They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep. ACTS 7:55-60
The first reading describes the death of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, in 36 CE . He obviously did not die alone. He saw Jesus, the Son of Man, now glorified in heaven, standing at the right hand of the Father ready to receive him. Jesus promised on Ascension Thursday that he would be with us until the end of the ages. And God's promises are etched in stone. Stephen knew it and Luke recorded it in the Acts of the Apostles so we would all know it.
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[The Lord] reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad! Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. The heavens declare his righteousness. All the peoples have seen his glory. Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images, who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods! For you, [Lord], are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods. PS 97:1-2, 6-7, 9
But how does God feel about those who deny him? Psalm 97 answers that question: Shame on the man who denies the Word of God! Stephen gladly gave his life as a witness to his faith in Jesus. Like Jesus, he even asked God to forgive those who were stoning him. Out of love, God revealed himself to Stephen at his moment of death. Yet, his murder would cry our for vengeance and his murderers would eventually face God's judgment for such a shameful act. Yes, we know God is merciful, but only to those who are worthy of his mercy. The first judgment after death has come and gone for those who killed Stephen. We can only hope that some of them, like St. Paul, repented before it was too late!
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“Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely. He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus. REV 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
Jesus is not only always with us spiritually, but here in Revelation we see a warning from Jesus that his return is imminent. You might be tempted to say that we have been hearing this warning for over 2,000 years. But let us not forget that God does not perceive time as we do. He lives outside of time. Psalm 90 says that a day in our time is like a thousand years in God's time. I did the math. The average person will be here on earth about 2 1/2 hours in God's time! Our time is running out. Let us prepare ourselves now for the return of the King! Those who follow God's commandments will have nothing to worry about. They will drink of the waters of eternal life. While those who break God's laws will be judged accordingly.
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Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me. The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me. I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John: 17:20-26
Jesus prays for those who are witnesses to his message, like St. Stephen. He prays that they will be with him in heaven. It looks like God is definitely on the side of those who are seeking to spread the gospel. Does that mean we all have to be preachers? Not really. But we can be a living example of what a good Christian is by striving to live as children of God and not of the world. And that will not always be easy. Just ask St. Stephen!
So let us keep our eyes on the prize. As Paul Simon says in his song:
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine!
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine!
I hope to see you all in heaven where our dreams of eternal life will come true and our glorified bodies will shine as bright as the Son!
John
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