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Today we celebrate St Stephen, after whom our church is named. It is our church’s patronal festival, our birthday.

Stephen was a young man, appointed a deacon in the early church. He appears only in Acts 6 and 7, but in those few pages, he makes a remarkable impression and impact. He is the first Christian martyr – stoned to death because he challenged the Jew people’s lack of faith in Jesus Christ.

While we walk primarily in the footsteps of Jesus Christ – he is God incarnate, our teacher and our Lord and saviour – we give heed also to the example of Stephen, and seek to continue his legacy in our parish community today.

Our readings centre on Acts, omitting Stephen’s long, but very impressive and persuasive sermon. This are supported by a reading from 2 Chronicles, where Zechariah (an earlier Zechariah – not the father of John the Baptist) is stoned to death for speaking God’s Word. Psalm 31, which includes the words that both Jesus and Stephen speak as they died. And John 6, which is the ordinary reading for today, from Jesus’ long sermon on the Bread of Life. I have tabulated these three people, because there are significant and meaningful similarities between them, that speak to all Christians, and especially those who are members of a church named after St Stephen:

Topic	Zechariah	Jesus	Stephen
Reading	2 Chronicles 24:17-22	John 6:24-35	Acts 6:8-10 & 7:54-60
Holy Spirit	Spirit of God came on him	Baptised by John and the Holy Spirit descended on him	Full of Holy Spirit, faith, grace and power
Care for the poor	–	Fed 5000 men (plus women and children) with bread and fish	Oversaw the daily distribution of food
Challenges with the people	They were chasing after other Gods	They just wanted food and miracles	Wanted quiet conformity with the past
Challenging the people	Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands?	Do not work for food that spoils	You stiff necked people! Your hearts are uncircumcised! You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?
Consequences for God’s messengers	Stoned to death	Crucified	Stoned to death
Their final words	May the Lord see this and call you to account.	Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.	Lord, do not hold this sin against them.
Final prayer	–	Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit (in Luke)	Lord Jesus, receive my spirit (Psalm 31:5)

So, what do we take from this, and particularly from Stephen, into our daily lives?

1. We must take our faith seriously – it is costly, important and even worth dying for.
2. We must care for the poor, hungry and marginalised.
3. We must seek the infilling of Holy Spirit, who equips us for life and ministry.
4. We must seek after the things of God, and not after the things of this world.
5. We must forgive those who hurt even, even to death.
6. We must entrust ourselves to God – He has got us!

St Stephen the protomartyr. Icon by Theophili