The Church celebrates the feast day of Saint Stephen on December 26. Saint Stephen died shortly after the crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ. Filled with the Holy Spirit and hated for speaking the challenging truth, Stephen was cast out of the city and stoned to death. His last words were “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60). Let us reflect for a moment on his words just prior to this public forgiveness of his executioners; on the verge of death, Stephen prayed “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59).
Stephen held nothing back from the Lord. He loved Christ more than life itself. Asking Jesus to receive all he had left, he freely gave his spirit over to the gentle hand of God. By trusting in God’s perfect, reception of us, we can also peacefully go about our lives. This brings about a disposition of rest. Shortly after St. Stephen handed his spirit over to the Father, the Acts of the Apostles reads “he fell asleep” (7:60).
Our peace is in proportion to our gift of self into the hands of Our Father; our gift of self to Him can be total and our rest can be unshakeable. When we have given and are simultaneously received by another, we can rest. In fact, we are first received into the Body of Christ and from there comes our strength to give. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). No stone, hateful word, demeaning glance, unexpected interruption, or painful news can shake our deepest peace if we live Saint Stephen’s prayer; “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Spiritual masters may call this “preparation for death”. It seems unlikely that our lives will be asked of us in the name of truth. However, let us be prepared to “give whatever He takes and take whatever He gives” (Saint Teresa of Calcutta). In the little things we must give each day, we can trust we are first received.
This disposition will foster peace. So let us begin. Lord Jesus, receive our spirits.
Saint Stephen, pray for us.