Monday, III Easter
(Acts 6)
A mother comes forth. “What do you do,” she asks, “when your daughter doesn’t listen to you?” The woman feels persecuted by her own family! Probably she is not an isolated case. We may not be threatened anymore with death from persecutors. But many are frustrated by the difficulty they have in passing on the faith to the next generation.
Stephen provides us with at least a hint of a response. He has the face of an angel because he does not become upset with those whom he is debating. He merely speaks to them the truth in love. In his gospel St. Luke, the author of the Acts of the Apostles as well, quotes Jesus twice as saying that when persecuted, his disciples are not to prepare an elaborate defense. No, Jesus will give them the necessary wisdom to proclaim.
In speaking to a younger generation on their obligations to God the best we can do is to be calm and gentle. Blinded by the dazzling lights of fame, fortune, and fun which our culture flashes at every turn, they may not be able to understand our desire to please God. Nor may they appreciate our fear of being separated from God. But how could they fail to be impressed if we tell them of our love for God and show it by treating them with respect? Along with our prayers, our words of love related with goodwill may turn rebellious youth into true believers.
