Reflection for Tuesday, May 10, 2011: 3rd week in Easter.

Abstract

In today's first Scripture reading we continue the saga of Stephen, one of the first seven permanent deacons and first martyr of the Christian Church. As deacon he was chosen to care for the poor and widowed of the Jerusalem community to see that the food and resources in their command were evenly distributed especially between the Greek speaking widows and the Hebrew women.||Have you ever wondered whether Stephen felt a bit neglected that he wasn't chosen and sent with Barnabas or Paul on one of the preaching journeys? After all, it seems he had the talents to be of great help in converting the non-believers judging from the success he had with the "Cyreneans, Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia" whom we read about in today epistle. After all, managing a food distribution center hardly seemed like the best use of his talents.|None the less, he cared for the widows marvelously and ended the friction between the groups that was causing division. It even gave him extra time to continue the dialogue about Jesus with the non-believers. In this occupation he shamed them into seeing his superior knowledge but inflamed their anger against what they considered his blasphemy.|I call your attention to a specials group of Creighton students. Like Stephen, they also find a way to further proclaim their faith. In addition to the full-time occupation of studying to be teachers, physicians, lawyers, pharmacists, nurses and other professionals they budget their time and volunteer to share their faith by writing reflections for this Creighton ministry. Accepting the Scripture for the Mass of the day, they develop and elucidate the meaning of the message in a fresh and unique way.