Our regular cycle of readings throughout the Easter season
is, of course, from the Acts of the Apostles.
How fitting that on the feast of the martyr Saint Stanislaus, martyred
bishop of Krakow, Poland, our reading takes us back to the trials of the first
martyr of the Church, Saint Stephen.
At Sunday Mass yesterday, we read how the apostles rejoiced
because they were able to suffer “for the sake of the name” of Jesus. As the number
of disciples continued to grow through the preaching of the Apostles, so did
the number of those who would be called to suffer for Christ.
Not long after he was ordained one of the first deacons of
the Church, Stephen was arrested and brought to trial before the Sanhedrin much
like Christ.
St. Luke, in fact, reports many similarities between Stephen
and Jesus. Like Jesus, Stephen faced his
trials with a calm peace and trust in the heavenly Father’s divine plan. As Stephen was interrogated by the Sanhedrin,
like Jesus, Stephen’s arguments could not be refuted, he spoke with God’s
wisdom, which the Sanhedrin refused to understand. As it was in the trial of Jesus, when the Sanhedrin
become frustrated in arguing with Stephen, they resorted to false witnesses, in
order to put him to death.
The powerful witness of the martyr Stephen reminds us that
successes in Christian ministry, especially in defending the faith against
outsider’s attacks, can lead to persecution. Yet, when we are faithful, the
Spirit fills us, like Stephen, with grace and power and wisdom and courage and
peace.
Today’s saint, Saint Stanislaus was bishop of Krakow. Stanislaus was outspoken against the evils of
the day, from the immorality among of the peasants to the need for reform among
the poorly educated clergy. He also vigorously opposed the corruption in the
king’s court and the unjust wars conducted by the king. At first, the king repented, but soon he relapsed
into his old ways. Stanislaus continued his open opposition in spite of charges
of treason and threats of death, finally excommunicating the king. The king,
enraged by this, ordered soldiers to kill the bishop. When they refused, the
king killed Stanislaus with his own hands.
John the Baptist, the martyred Apostles, Felicity, Perpetua,
Thomas Becket, John Fisher, Thomas More, Stanislaus and many others are
courageous examples for us. Earthly
kings and high rulers can bring tremendous suffering through their greed and
wickedness. And Christians have a duty to speak truth to power. How many lives
have been lost in our own day because our political leaders continue to conduct
unjust military campaigns and refuse to work to protect the innocent unborn? How
many young people are lead into confusion and error because morally corrupt
political leaders and teachers push the secular agenda?
All of us, priest, bishop, peasant, and king, are called to
put our lives under the government of God’s commandments and the Lordship of Christ;
to seek radical holiness no matter our state in life.
Saint Stephen, Saint Stanislaus and the Christian martyrs
remind us to seek courage to stand up for and spread the truth of Christ, to
seek wisdom to govern the whole of our lives, to put the whole of our lives
under the dominion of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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