SAINT FIDELIS OF SIGMARINGEN, PRIEST AND MARTYR (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

His face was like the face of an angel. 

“Filled with grace and power” and “working great wonders and signs,” Stephen surely made an impression on people (Acts 6:8)! He was so inspiring that no one who debated with him could “withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke” (6:10). Not even the men of the Sanhedrin could ignore his angelic countenance (6:15). That’s how stunningly obvious it was!

But why was Stephen’s face glowing at a time when he must have clearly known that his life was in danger? Perhaps it was because Stephen believed that he had nothing to fear. Jesus had triumphed over sin and death, and now Stephen—like every other believer—knew that he had been raised with Christ. He knew that his own death would usher him into the kingdom of God. That truth filled him with hope and joy and caused him to proclaim the gospel fearlessly.

We probably don’t walk around looking like angels, but because of Jesus’ resurrection, we can have the same hope and joy that Stephen had. In Baptism, we, too, have been raised with Christ, so we don’t have to be controlled by the fear of death—or of anything else, for that matter. Because whatever difficulties we encounter in this life, we know that one day we will be ushered into God’s kingdom and see our Lord face-to-face.

Of course, that doesn’t mean we won’t experience fear from time to time. It just means that fear doesn’t have to dictate how we approach life. Because we know this world is passing away, we don’t have to fear losing the things this world values so highly. Because we believe in God’s mercy, we don’t have to worry that we won’t be forgiven when we fail. And because we believe in life after death, we can cling to the hope that we will one day be reunited with our loved ones who have gone before us.

You might never proclaim the gospel as forcefully as Stephen did. But as you live your life without being controlled by fear, you’ll become a witness to the world of the hope of Jesus’ resurrection and of life everlasting just the same.

“Jesus, thank you for the promise of eternal life. May it dispel all my fears.”

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