Day Two — Saturday 26 December 2022 — St Stephen, Deacon and Martyr
The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. O come, let us worship. Alleluia
Domenico Piola (Italy, 1627–1703) Stoning of St Stephen (1650s) State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg.
"King Wenceslas". A biscuit tin made by Hudson, Scott & Sons for Huntley & Palmers, 1913. Victoria and Albert Museum.
2 Chronicles 24:17-22
Now after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and did obeisance to the king; then the king listened to them. They abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and served the sacred poles and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord; they testified against them, but they would not listen.
Then the spirit of God took possession of Zechariah son of the priest Jehoiada; he stood above the people and said to them, ‘Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has also forsaken you.’ But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him to death in the court of the house of the Lord. King Joash did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, had shown him, but killed his son. As he was dying, he said, ‘May the Lord see and avenge!’
Psalm 31:1-8
In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me.
Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me.
You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,
take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the Lord.
I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have taken heed of my adversities,
and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.
Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-60
8 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. . . .
When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.
Matthew 10:17-20
Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Gracious Father,
who gave the first martyr Stephen
grace to pray for those who took up stones against him:
grant that in all our sufferings for the truth
we may learn to love even our enemies
and to seek forgiveness for those who desire our hurt,
looking up to heaven to him who was crucified for us,
Jesus Christ, our mediator and advocate,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
St Stephen, by Malcolm Guite.
Witness for Jesus, man of fruitful blood,
Your martyrdom begins and stands for all.
They saw the stones, you saw the face of God,
And sowed a seed that blossomed in St. Paul.
When Saul departed breathing threats and slaughter
He had to pass through that Damascus gate
Where he had held the coats and heard the laughter
As Christ, alive in you, forgave his hate,
And showed him the same light you saw from heaven
And taught him, through his blindness, how to see;
Christ did not ask 'Why were you stoning Stephen?'
But 'Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
Each martyr after you adds to his story,
As clouds of witness shine through clouds of glory.
—from Sounding the Seasons; Seventy Sonnets for the Christian Year. Norwich: Canterbury Press, 2012.
Sancte Dei Preciose (England, C10th-11th) from the album Album Tydings Trew, by Lionheart
Sancte Dei pretiose
Protomartyr Stephane,
Qui virtute caritatis
Circumfultus undique:
Dominum pro inimico
Exorasti populo.
Funde preces pro devoto
Tibi nunc collegio:
Ut tuo propitiatus
Interventu Dominus,
Nos purgatos a peccatis
Iungat cæli civibus.
Gloria et honor Deo
Usquequo altissimo,
Una Patri Filioque
Inclito Paraclito,
Cui laus est et potestas
Per æterna sæcula. Amen.
Saint of God, elect and precious,
Protomartyr Stephen, bright
With thy love, of amplest measure,
Shining round thee like a light,
Who to God commended’st, dying,
Them that did thee all despite:
Glitters now the Crown above thee,
Figur’d in thy sacred name:
Oh! that we, who truly love thee,
May have portion in the same;
In the dreadful Day of Judgment,
Fearing neither sin nor shame.
Laud to God, and might, and honour,
Who with flow’rs of rosy dye
Crown’d thy forehead, and hath plac’d thee
In the starry throne on high.
He direct us, He protect us,
From death’s sting eternally. Amen.
May the Lord, who has called us out of darkness into his marvellous light, bless us and fill us with peace. Amen.