SAINT ATHANASIUS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (MEMORIAL)

His face was like the face of an angel. 

Stephen was under no illusions. He knew that his accusers had only one goal: to find an excuse to justify putting him to death. The verdict had already been rendered. Stephen was going to die that day.

So how did he face death? With “the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15).

You’d think he might be fearful or anxious. But he wasn’t. You’d think he might have had his own “Gethsemane” moment as Jesus did, but Scripture doesn’t recount anything like that. You might even think he spent his last hours trying to escape his predicament. But he didn’t. In fact, all that Scripture tells us is that he launched into a lengthy defense of his preaching that inflamed his accusers even more.

Why was Stephen so peaceful and radiant? Because death had no power over him. He knew it wasn’t the end. Rather, it was the gateway to eternal life. In a vision, he even saw Jesus—risen from the dead—awaiting him on the other side of the grave (Acts 7:55-56).

Stephen stands at the head of a long line of martyrs who faced death with courage, grace, and even good humor. There’s St. Lawrence (225–258). As he was being burned alive, he said, “Turn me over; I’m done on this side.” There’s also St. Thomas More (1478–1535), who, about to be beheaded, adjusted his beard and told his executioner, “It would be a pity if that were cut; it hasn’t committed treason.” And there’s the Korean martyr, St. Andrew Kim Taegon (1821–1846), who said, “My immortal life is about to begin!”

Stephen and his successors show us that Jesus truly has destroyed death—for everyone who believes! As St. Paul said, nothing, not even death, “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).

Of course, it’s only natural to fear something as mysterious as death. But that fear doesn’t have to control us. It doesn’t have to dictate our choices or cloud our hearts. It can actually send us back to the Lord, where we can hear him say to us, “Do not be afraid . . . , for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).

“Praise to you, Jesus, victor over sin and death!”

Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30
John 6:22-29
Acts 6:8-15