For Sunday, May 3, 2026, Readings: Acts
7:55-60, Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14
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. [Acts 7:59-60]
In you, O Lord, have I
taken refuge…Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe….lead me and guide
me...for you are my tower of strength...Into your hands I commend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth. [Psalm 31:1a, 3a-b, 5b]
Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so
that by it you may grow into salvation...Come to him, a living stone...and like
living stones, let yourself be built into a spiritual house...you are a chosen
race...God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him
who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. [1Peter 2:2 4a, 5a, 9a,b]
Jesus said, "Do
not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe in me also...Jesus
said to [Thomas], "I am the way, and the truth, and the life...If you know
me, you will know my father also...Very truly I tell you, the one who believes
in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than
these..." [John 14:1, 6a,b; 12a]
We hear very little about Stephen in
the lectionary even though he has the distinction of being Christianity's “First
Martyr.” His story ~ there isn't a whole lot ~ is in the prior chapter and
verses, with a few more words beyond his death. The Book of the Acts of the
Apostles is Luke's summary account of the activities of the original 11, and
the newer Apostles, from the Ascension of Jesus through Paul's final
imprisonment in Rome. Stephen's story begins briefly in chapter 6:5 and carries
through from 6:8 until 8:3 where we find Saul, who becomes Paul, ravaging
the church because people lamented Stephen's death. The
more success the Apostles became at attracting disciples to join them, even
some of the priests, the angrier the High Priest and Council grew. These
Jesus-followers were a threat to their established order and especially their
political power. They thought they had ended their woes when they fomented the
political crucifixion of Jesus. And then those pesky followers kept growing in
number. Another political murder was essential. It has never really ended; we
just don't want to recognize it in our own time, and they never accomplish what
the perpetrators expect.
Stephen's
commitment to Jesus mirrored Jesus' commitment on the cross when Stephen asked
for those who stoned him to be absolved, as Jesus did. The recurring theme in
all these readings for this Sunday, for me, is commitment. What
is the state of my commitment to Christ? Should I be, need I be willing
to be a martyr for Christ? Yes, no, maybe, sort of? Is death the only form of
martyrdom? It’s not something we western Christians generally want to ponder. Isn’t
going to church (even if usually online) and/or praying regularly (mostly), and
sending some money to church or some good cause, enough of a commitment? We’re
not 1st century Israel after all and I liked the Good Shepherd
story better.
Jesus tells us not to
let our hearts be troubled yet, especially in an unsettled local and global political
and economic environment, it is troubling to wonder how I am supposed to be as
a Christian. The messages from various denominations, not to mention some
political factions, seem entirely contradictory to the message of Christ as I
believe it. But it was the same in Jesus' time, and in many more times since,
and this is where we hit and become the living stones on The Way. We
cannot be certain that we believe as fully and completely and as well as we
want to, or know as much as we think we’re supposed to. Yet knowing and living
into the strong and true teachings of Jesus becomes that strong rock,
that precious cornerstone that holds our spiritual house in
place. When we truly turn our hearts and commit our spirits to him, when we
speak our belief in his teaching through our words and actions, it will
definitely be a very rocky road on more than a few occasions. It is by walking
together in and as a community of faith, by continually exploring our own
understanding of what we believe and why we believe
it that our foundation is strengthened, and our hearts are un-troubled a
little more each day. We will trip and fall, be ignored or outright rejected,
we'll get a lot wrong, but if we have gotten this far on faith, it is because
in our hearts we are becoming the living stones. Together
we find the courage and the strength to proclaim the mighty
acts of him who called each of us out of darkness into his
marvelous light. Let us drink deeply of the
soul-nourishing pure, spiritual milk as as we follow the perfect itinerary
for which we were created, the path of Jesus, our Christ, and the Way to His
Truth, for the fullness of this Life into the Next.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Jesus, our Stronghold, You are the Cornerstone of our
spiritual house, the purest Milk for our spirits; our Way, our Truth, and our
Life. Lead us into the fullness of God’s marvelous light, away from the deep
darkness of sin.
O Lord, O God of
Truth
RESPONSE: O Christ, our Rock and our Refuge
~ Jesus, our Stronghold, embolden us, and arouse the courage of
Stephen within us to urge the political powers across this Nation, this
Community, and this Planet, to employ compassion to quell violence, cruelty,
and injustice. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O Lord, O God of Truth
O
Christ, our Rock and our Refuge
~ Jesus, our Stronghold, un-trouble the hearts of all who
are fearfully ill and, reinvigorate all who give them care. We now join
our voices to pray for those in need. We pray especially for: add your own
petitions
O Lord, O God of Truth
O Christ, our Rock and our Refuge
~ Jesus, our Stronghold, we give You praise and
thanksgiving for receiving the spirits of those we love, who now dwell with You
in the everlasting peace of God. We pray especially for… add your
own petitions
O Lord, O God of Truth
O
Christ, our Rock and our Refuge
~ Jesus, our Stronghold, we pause in this
moment to offer You our personal heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials… add your own
petitions
O Lord, O God of Truth
O Christ, our Rock and our Refuge
~ Jesus, our Stronghold, grant our anointed spiritual leaders
ever-increasing fortitude, patience, and desire, to help us flourish as Living
Stones, obedient to Your Word, with a firm foundation in faith. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
O Lord, O God of Truth
O
Christ, our Rock and our Refuge
The Celebrant adds: Creator God, our Tower of Strength, shine Your
face upon us that through our spiritual sacrifices, we may fully commit
ourselves into the hands of Christ. As did Your servant Stephen, may we
proclaim His mighty acts unashamed, hold no sins against others, and be
acceptable in Your sight. We ask through Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior; and
the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier of our souls; who live and reign with You, as
One God, forever and ever. Amen.
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