Saint Stephen “As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Greek- speaking Christians complained about the Hebrew- speaking Christians, saying that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 6:1-5). Acts of the Apostles says that Stephen was a man filled with grace and power, who worked great wonders among the people. Certain Jews, members of the Synagogue of Roman Freedmen, debated with Stephen, but proved no match for the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke. They persuaded others to make the charge of blasphemy against him. He was seized and carried before the Sanhedrin. In his speech, Stephen recalled God’s guidance through Israel’s history, as well as Israel’s idolatry and disobedience. He then claimed that his persecutors were showing this same spirit. “…you always oppose the holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors” (Acts 7:51b). Stephen’s speech brought anger from the crowd. “But he, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ …They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. …As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ …’Lord, do not hold this sin against them’” (Acts 7:55-56, 58a, 59, 60b). Liturgical Calendar 23 SUN FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Mi 5:1-4a/Heb 10:5-10/Lk 1:39-45 (12) Pss IV 24 Mon Advent Weekday Morning: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/Lk 1:67-79 (200) 25 Tue THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (Christmas) Vigil: Is 62:1-5/Acts 13:16-17, 22-25/Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25 (13) Night: Is 9:1-6/Ti 2:11-14/Lk 2:1-14 (14) Dawn: Is 62:11-12/Ti 3:4-7/Lk 2:15-20 (15) Day: Is 52:7-10/Heb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14 (16) Pss Prop 26 Wed Saint Stephen, The First Martyr Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Mt 10:17-22 (696) Pss Prop 27 Thu Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist 1 Jn 1:1-4/Jn 20:1a, 2-8 (697) Pss Prop 28 Fri The Holy Innocents, Martyrs red 1 Jn 1:5—2:2/Mt 2:13-18 (698) Pss Prop 29 Sat Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord 1 Jn 2:3-11/Lk 2:22-35 (202) Pss Prop 30 SUN THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH Święty Szczepan Urodził się w Jerozolimie. Był jednym z 7 diakonów, których Apostołowie wybrali do pomocy w głoszeniu Ewangelii oraz do posługi ubogim, o czym wspominają Dzieje Apostolskie. Jego pragnieniem było między innymi zreformowanie judaizmu. Prawowierni Żydzi za głoszenie chrześcijaństwa uwięzili go i oskarżyli o bluźnierstwo i występowanie przeciw Prawu i Świątyni. Postawiony przed Sanhedrynem wykazywał, że posłannictwo Jezusa było Bożym planem, a Żydzi, podobnie jak ich przodkowie, ustawicznie się im sprzeciwiają. A gdy w uniesieniu stwierdził, że widzi, jak otwierają się niebiosa, w których Jezus zasiada po prawicy Boga, rozwścieczyło to jego sędziów do tego stopnia, że bezzwłocznie wyprowadzono go za mury miasta i ukamienowano. Podczas kamienowania Szczepan modlił się by grzechy jego prześladowców zostały im wybaczone. Zginął w 36 roku. Przy jego śmierci miał być obecny (jako młodzieniec) Szaweł, późniejszy Apostoł Narodów. Jest pierwszym chrześcijańskim męczennikiem – z tego względu określany jest mianem Protomartyr, co tłumaczy się właśnie jako „pierwszy męczennik”. Jego grób odkryto w roku 415. Ze staropolskich zwyczajów związanych z dniem świętego Szczepana warto wymienić te, podczas których rzucano w kościele w czasie Mszy świętej zboże na pamiątkę kamienowania lub, gdy w domach smarowano miodem deski przybite do belek stropowych i kiedy rzucone na nie ziarno przylegało, oznaczać miało to zapowiedź dobrych zbiorów.
Transcript
Saint Stephen
“As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Greek-
speaking Christians complained about the Hebrew-
speaking Christians, saying that their widows were being
neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called
together the community of the disciples and said, ‘It is not
right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint
to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word.’ The proposal was
acceptable to the whole community, so they chose
Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy
Spirit…” (Acts 6:1-5).
Acts of the Apostles says that Stephen was a man filled
with grace and power, who worked great wonders among
the people. Certain Jews, members of the Synagogue of
Roman Freedmen, debated with Stephen, but proved no
match for the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke.
They persuaded others to make the charge of blasphemy
against him. He was seized and carried before the
Sanhedrin.
In his speech, Stephen recalled God’s guidance through
Israel’s history, as well as Israel’s idolatry and
disobedience. He then claimed that his persecutors were
showing this same spirit. “…you always oppose the holy
Spirit; you are just like your ancestors” (Acts 7:51b).
Stephen’s speech brought anger from the crowd. “But he,
filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven
and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right
hand of God, and he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens
opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of
God.’ …They threw him out of the city, and began to
stone him. …As they were stoning Stephen, he called out,
‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ …’Lord, do not hold this
sin against them’” (Acts 7:55-56, 58a, 59, 60b).
Liturgical Calendar
23 SUN FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Mi 5:1-4a/Heb 10:5-10/Lk 1:39-45 (12) Pss IV
