Acts 7:51 - 8:1 / John 6:30-35
We have heard of statements like "let go and submit to the will of God". We heard it in homilies and preaching and in religious talks.
It can be understood as an idea and a concept but what does that mean in reality?
Well, in the 1st reading, the deacon Stephen showed what it meant to let go of oneself and submit to the will of God.
He disregarded the consequences for speaking the truth to the people, the elders and the scribes. He knew that he was not going to be let off easily.
But the defining moment came when he was filled with the Holy Spirit and submitted to the will of God as he gazed into heaven and proclaimed openly what he saw. And that led to his death sentence.
We may wonder how Stephen felt as his enemies rushed at him and sent him out of the city and stoned him.
One thing for sure is that when we let go of ourselves and submit to the will of God, we will have peace of heart even in the face of danger.
Because Jesus will be in our hearts and He will be our bread of life and with Him we will never be hungry nor thirst for anything more.
The deacon Stephen was at peace in the face of death and he even forgave his enemies. May we have that same peace as we continue to put our faith in Jesus.