"Brothers and Fathers, Hear Me"
Stephen's Gospel in Acts 7 underlines the duality between the violence of the religious and the righteousness of God.
His passing on to glory displays the mystery of the Gospel in tangible power before the eyes of a man who would later turn from religious persecutor of the Church to the most influential and most persecuted apostle of Christ; a man who would later write the following to the Church in Rome: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)
At the heart of the duality between good and evil lies a narrow way, an almost too good to be true news, a supernatural solution, a sweet and tender voice, a hidden truth, a way out, a way in, a way into the very heart of the matter of the ages, through a wound pierced in the Son of God incarnate hanging on a cross, receiving the violence of men; the religious and the pagans alike; a way of grace, power and truth. THAT is the truth we proclaim to the world when we say He is alive!
So dear brothers and fathers, hear us out when we proclaim the goodness of God over the bitterness that wants to blind your hearts. He is alive! He is here! he is real! He is the Savior of the world and is here to touch you through us the Church, His body on earth, left on earth for your sake and the sake of all mankind, present and future generations...
His passing on to glory displays the mystery of the Gospel in tangible power before the eyes of a man who would later turn from religious persecutor of the Church to the most influential and most persecuted apostle of Christ; a man who would later write the following to the Church in Rome: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)
At the heart of the duality between good and evil lies a narrow way, an almost too good to be true news, a supernatural solution, a sweet and tender voice, a hidden truth, a way out, a way in, a way into the very heart of the matter of the ages, through a wound pierced in the Son of God incarnate hanging on a cross, receiving the violence of men; the religious and the pagans alike; a way of grace, power and truth. THAT is the truth we proclaim to the world when we say He is alive!
So dear brothers and fathers, hear us out when we proclaim the goodness of God over the bitterness that wants to blind your hearts. He is alive! He is here! he is real! He is the Savior of the world and is here to touch you through us the Church, His body on earth, left on earth for your sake and the sake of all mankind, present and future generations...
