Self-serving lies lead Truth Seekers to Heaven.
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Question 1: “Why is The Catholic Reading after Christmas about The First Catholic Martyr killed by those overwhelmed with love of their opinions?”
Answer: “In Acts 6:8-10 and 7:54-59, we learn that ‘Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people.
Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.’
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Question 2: “What did those with less ‘wisdom’ than St. Stephen do when confronted with his superior knowledge of God’s Truth?”
Answer: “‘When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, filled with The Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,’
Then, St. Stephen told them, and us, what he was seeing! ‘and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’”
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Question 3: “What did the self-righteous mob of angry pseudo-intellectuals do?”
Answer: “‘But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.'”
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Question 4: “Did the enraged mob of angry, self-righteous, pseudo-intellectuals have support from The Jerusalem Establishment?”
Answer: “‘Those who saw and heard Stephen laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul and began to stone Stephen.’ Saul was among the most intelligent and well-educated people in The Jerusalem Establishment. Stephen did not care!
As heavy stones were smashing into his head and body, The Second Catholic Martyr (Jesus was the First) called out ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’”
St. Stephen’s last words in Acts 7:60 tell us what Catholics should ask God to do for our attackers: ‘Lord do not hold this sin against them.’
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Today’s Simple Rhyme: “It’s better to die / than live a lie. / It is best to live / and to forgive.”
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