Conforming our lives to Jesus
Today the Church celebrates St. Stephen, one of the Church’s first deacons, and the first martyr. December 26 was chosen as his feast as his relics were discovered on this day in 415.
I believe, though, that it’s more than just a coincidence that his feast falls on the day after Christmas. In the joy of celebrating Jesus’ birth, and in preparation for His second coming, the feast of Stephen brings us to the reality of what it means to be Christian.
As a deacon, Stephen was called to help widows and serve tables. Today, he’s a reminder of what a deacon is to be. Like Stephen, deacons are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and to be of service. It was once explained to me that the diaconate is a “more public” expression of what all of us are called to do in light of our baptism.
We are all called and challenged to take care of and help each other on our journey together to eternal life. The question I reflect and pray on each day is: “What am I doing to help my brother or sister to get to heaven?” That is what service is all about. And, as Christians, we are called to serve out of love.
Stephen is the perfect role model for this as well. While Jesus is the primary teacher of unconditional love, so too Stephen gives us an example. He stood up for his faith in his preaching and teaching to the point that members of the “Synagogue of Freedmen” were infuriated with him, and sentenced him to death. As he was being stoned, Stephen prayed for forgiveness of his persecutors, just as Jesus did. In doing so, he conformed his life to Jesus.
We, too, are called to conform our lives to Jesus in loving unconditionally and serving our brothers and sisters. May that be our prayer today and always, and may we then put that prayer into loving action.
Deacon Paul Kipfstuhl is the director of the Diocesan Social Action Office – Wayne, Ashland and Medina for Catholic Charities in Cleveland. He is also a Permanent Deacon at St. Francis Xavier in Medina. He is married with two children and a granddaughter.