We have read in the Bible: there is a time to be silent and a time to speak. Let me illustrate with a story.
A police officer pulled a car over for speeding. The driver said: “I had the cruise control on at 60.” His wife chimed in: “Sweetheart, the car doesn’t have cruise control.” Her husband replied: “Would you please let me speak?”
The officer then noted: “You’re not wearing your seat belt.” The driver explained: “I took it off to get my license when you stopped me.” The wife said: “You never wear your seat belt.” The husband then yelled: “Let me handle this!” The officer asked the woman: “Does he always shout?” She replied: “Only when he’s drinking?” Definitely there’s a time to be silent.
The word of God takes us back to the beginnings of Christianity when Christianity wasn’t easily distinguishable from Judaism. The burning question was: do Gentile Christians have to observe Jewish practices? The apostles here came to a compromise. Gentile Christians should observe a few Jewish practices to avoid scandalizing their fellow Jewish Christians, but they don’t have to observe all these practices to be disciples of Jesus. Why? Because Jesus alone reestablished our relationship with God. He alone is the way, the truth, and the life.
This controversy challenges us to ask: how do we resolve tensions or conflicts? Resolutions can only emerge if we are willing to forgive, compromise, respect one another, compliment the good, accept differences, communicate; and above all, distinguish between inappropriate behavior and negative judgments about people who behave inappropriately. Good relationships require working together to resolve conflicts.
The book of Revelation describes a mystical experience in which the author sees an awesome, dazzling new vision of reality, built on the foundation of the apostles and radiating the glory of God. The all -mighty God and the slain Lamb, Jesus Christ, illuminate this vision. The author may be asking whether we recognize God’s presence in our daily lives.
The Gospel takes us back to the farewell address of Jesus, who considers how his community will continue his ministry after his departure. The disciples should be faithful to his words, especially his new commandment—to love one another: treating our fellow human beings with respect because they are made in the image of God and offering a helping hand to those in need whenever we have the opportunity. Jesus then promises to send the Spirit, who will energize and guide his community of disciples into the fullness of God’s kingdom.
This Easter season, we meet different biblical personalities—the questioning Thomas, the repentant Peter, the purpose-driven Paul and the faith-filled Mary of Magdala. Today I would like to consider Stephen: a Spirit-filled leader in the Jerusalem church, a Greek-speaking Jewish Christian, appointed with six others to help needy widows. Stephen worked signs and wonders and proclaimed courageously that Jesus is the fulfillment of the messianic promises made to ancient Israel. But the Jewish authorities were outraged with Stephen’s claims about Jesus and they had him stoned to death.
Stephen is the proto martyr of Christianity. His death was like that of Jesus. He forgave his executioners and cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
I like to think Stephen had an intense relationship with God, nurtured through prayer. Now, what is prayer? It’s tuning into the presence of God. C.S. Lewis wrote a series of letters titled The Screwtape Letters, between a senior devil, Screwtape, and an apprentice devil, Wormwood. Screwtape advises Wormwood how to win a soul for the devil. One way, he explains, is to create so much noise that people can no longer hear the voice of God. Does this ring true? We wake up to clock radios, TV, radio. We check cell phones, e-mail, and so forth, all of which distract us from tuning into the presence of God’s in our lives. The devil’s strategy seems to be working.
Prayer has been the priority for heroes and heroines of Christianity. They not only worshipped in the Eucharist but prayed internally as well to nurture their relationship with God. As Mother Teresa put it, “God speaks to us; we listen. We speak to God; He listens.” Prayer is a two-way street. Speaking and listening!
And does God answer? Yes, but not always as we like. The following shows how inventive God can be:
I asked for strength, and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom, and God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity, and God gave me a brain and the energy to work.
I asked for courage, and God gave me dangers to overcome.
I asked for love, and God gave me troubled people to help.
I received nothing I wanted, but I received everything I needed.
Let us pray for the grace to converse with God as we would with a true friend, a friendship based on God's unconditional love for us. May we nurture our friendship with God through daily prayer as Stephen, the proto martyr of Christianity, did. Amen.
