At the Angelus prayer on the feast of St. Stephen, Pope Francis urges Christians to bear witness to their faith in Christ, rewarding evil with good and breaking the cycle of hatred with love.
By Devin Watkins
Pope Francis prayed to Angelus on Saturday at noon, as the Church marks the feast of St. Stephen.
The pope said the saint was the first person to confess Jesus to his life, making him the first Christian martyr, which means “witness.”
St. Stephen was “the first of a series of brothers and sisters who continue to bring light into the darkness today.” These men and women, the Pope added, do not give in to violence, but break the chains of hatred with gentleness and love.
“On the nights of the world, these witnesses bring the dawn of God,” he said.
Forgiveness sows seeds of conversion
Pope Francis said that St. Stephen shows the way to all other Christians, who “imitate Jesus.”
However, the Pope added, one might ask, “Are these witnesses of goodness really necessary when the world is full of evil?” The first reading of the day (Acts 6: 8-10; 7: 54-59) provides the answer in tiny detail, he said.
While Stephen was dying of his wounds, he prayed that God would forgive the murderers. “The text says that among those for whom Stephen prayed and for whom he forgave was” a young man named Saul, “who” agreed with his death. “
Saul, the Pope remarked, will become Paul, the greatest missionary in history. “Paul was born by the grace of God, but by the forgiveness of his witness, Stephen. This was the seed of his conversion. This is proof that loving actions change history. “
Ordinary acts of love change history
Even small acts of love can change the course of history, the Pope said, because God “guides history through the humble courage of those who pray, love and forgive.”
Pope Francis said that we too can make a difference through the ordinary events of daily life.
“We are called to testify of Jesus right where we live, in our families, at work, everywhere,” he said, “even just giving the light of a smile and running away from the shadow of gossip and rumors.”
He also offered advice. Instead of complaining when we see something wrong, we should pray for the person who did wrong.
“Saint Stephen, while at the end of the stones of hatred, answered with words of forgiveness. He thus changed history. “
Turn evil into good
Each of us, Pope Francis said, can turn evil into good when we return our love for hate.
And he urged everyone to pray for many Christians who are facing persecution for their faith in Jesus.
“Let us entrust these brothers and sisters to the Virgin Mary, so that they may respond gently to the oppression and, as true witnesses of Jesus, overcome evil with good.”