Being a Hero

Acts 6:1-7

In the days following the birth of Jesus, we remember those who were martyred for Christ.

Photo by Nick Castelli on Unsplash

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. - Acts 6:1-7

Stephen is the first deacon and the first martyr, so the Western Church established this day, the first day after the birth of Jesus, to be the day we remember him.

We have a fascination and deep respect for people who give their lives for a cause. In this case, the cause is the Word of God, but to this day, people stand and are ready to die for many causes.

Each is honored and called a hero for making such a sacrifice, and I wonder what would happen if no one chose to give their life for anything anymore.

In The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells, the Eloi, the future evolution of humans, don’t risk their lives or even show empathy for others.

We read this story and are troubled by it. We want humanity to be empathetic, to care about and for one another, even to the point of risking one’s life for them.

But when it comes to dying for a cause or belief, even one as paramount as the Word of God, we are not so moved to be moved.

If we even bother to try to talk to someone with an opposing viewpoint and they reject us, we shrug it off and go on our way, letting them live with their false ideas.

Now here is the troubling thought. Jesus told his disciples to walk away if they were not welcomed at a home they visited, but Jesus also talked about going out of one’s way to help another, like the Good Samaritan.

So, Jesus recognized that this world will be divided between those who care and those who don’t, or are too self-involved to bother.

Stephen went so far as to offer his life when challenged for believing in Jesus. And there were many who witnessed and cheered or helped in his stoning.

Today, while we are still focused on the babe in the manger, the hymns and carols echoing in our brains, let us thank God for our own empathy and love for one another. And let us commit to continue to do what we can to help others.

Chances are, we will all have different ideas on how best to do that, and that is okay. We are human afterall. But we can also be heroes in the eyes of someone in need.

More to come...

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