Stephen said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But the people covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him;
Acts 7: 56-58
Maxim Sheshukov MAXIM SHESHUKOV, The Martyrdom of St. Stephen the Archdeacon. Egg tempera on gessoed panel
The stoning of Deacon Stephen is one of the tragedies of he early church. He spoke truth – truth as he had seen and experienced it – and the people turned on him and stoned him. His own people!
This lesson from Acts is important for us, because it speaks so directly to us. As a community of Christians, to whom have we closed our ears? Who have we stoned? Who do we exclude because of their politics or their race or their experiences?
Civility is breaking down in American culture: punch-fests on airplanes, pushing and shoving in departments stores, and gun violence because somebody looked at somebody the wrong way. Add to that the “You disagree with me so I’m going to take my toys and go home” mentality. All of this speaks to the dis-ease which is infecting American culture.
Look at the included art today: Stephen being stoned. Then look to the top left. That’s the hand of God. The hand of God reaching down and beckoning to us. Always there, ever-present. That is the hand we must extend to those we may have stoned, fought with, dismissed, or avoided.
Christ has no hands or feet on earth but ours.
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