You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,

Paul portrays regeneration as becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus.

It is seen as being born again. 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 7:51-8:1a

But you are a stubborn people.

You hardened your hearts and closed your ears. You have always resisted the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.

Was there a prophet whom your ancestors did not persecute? They killed those who announced the coming of the Just One,

whom you have now betrayed and murdered; you who received the law through the angels but did not fulfill it."

 

When they heard this reproach, they were enraged; and they gnashed their teeth against Stephen.

But he, full of the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus at God's right hand;

so he declared: "I see the heavens open, and the Son of Man at the right hand of God."

 

But they shouted and covered their ears with their hands, and rushed together upon him.

They brought him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.

As they were stoning him, Stephen prayed saying: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Then he knelt down and said in a loud voice: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he died.

Saul was there, approving his murder. This was the beginning of a great persecution against the Church in Jerusalem.

 

Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 & 7b & 8a, 17 & 21ab Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊     

John 6:30-35

They then said, "Show us miraculous signs, that we may see and believe you. What sign do you perform?

Our ancestors ate manna in the desert; as Scripture says: They were given bread from heaven to eat."

Jesus then said to them, "Truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven.

My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. The bread God gives is the One who comes from heaven and gives life to the world."

And they said to him, "Give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life;

whoever comes to me shall never be hungry, and whoever believes in me shall never be thirsty.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

 

"Lord, Jesus receive my spirit."

The trial and death of Stephen reflect Christ's own Passion,

showing that Stephen truly lived an imitation of Christ that ran far deeper than actions,

but to his very core. Before his accusers he is angelic and calm, and unafraid to challenge falsehood.

His union with Christ helps him to see the glory of heaven. The words of Stephen also reflect Christ's.

As he dies, Stephen says, "Lord, Jesus receive my spirit", similar to Christ's words to his Father (Lk 23:46).

Both are compassionate to their killers and pray for them.

 

The one who does not see clearly in this passage is the young and zealous Saul. He approves of the killing,

seeing Stephen as a blasphemer, someone who is far from God rather than intimately united to him.

And on that day religious hatred is whipped up into the start of a persecution of Christians.

Such hatred still scars nations to this day, and so Pope Francis calls religious leaders to be "heralds of peace,"

who reject the "narrative of fear" and act "with gestures opposed to the rhetoric of hatred."

United to Christ, may we all be witnesses to our faith and instruments of peace.