SAINT STEPHEN, THE FIRST MARTYR (FEAST)

It will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father. 

St. Stephen may not have known at first how to answer his detractors. But in today’s Gospel (Matthew 10:17-22), Jesus encourages his followers not to worry about what to say when they’re being persecuted because the Holy Spirit will speak through them (Matthew 10:20). So Stephen relied on the Spirit, who gave him not only the courage to preach but also the grace to forgive the people who killed him (Acts 6:10; 7:60).

We know what it’s like to feel tongue-tied in a tough situation. But God wants us to turn to his Spirit for help, just as Stephen did. We might think that because Stephen was a great saint, he had special access to the Spirit. But that’s not the case. Through our baptism, we all have the same access to the Holy Spirit. He lives in us, just as he lived in Stephen. The difference is that Stephen welcomed the Holy Spirit into his circumstances.

So how do we open ourselves to the Spirit? As St. Paul told Timothy, we can “stir into flame” his presence within us (2 Timothy 1:6). That doesn’t necessarily mean praying long, drawn-out prayers. It can be as simple as “Come, Holy Spirit!” or “Holy Spirit, help me!” The Holy Spirit is so close to us that even when we don’t know what to ask for, he “intercedes with inexpressible groanings” on our behalf (Romans 8:26). We just have to try to be aware, open, and expectant.

Such heartfelt prayers are perfect just before, say, a tough meeting at work. Or prior to delicate conversations with family members you will see around the holidays. Or when you’re trying to figure out how to share your faith. You don’t even have to wait for a tense situation—you can count on the Spirit to help you whenever you are at a loss for words!

God is with us. He lives in us. Let’s trust that when we call on him, he will speak through us.

“Come, Holy Spirit, and speak through me today.”

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Psalm 31:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17
Matthew 10:17-22

WORD AMONG US