Monday, April 11, 2016

Homily: April 11 2016 - St. Stanislaus, Martyred Bishop of Krakow

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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