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Filled with Grace and Power: Living the Great Commission
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Acts 6:8-15
Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. Then they instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, accosted him, seized him, and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They presented false witnesses who testified, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law. For we have heard him claim that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Grace Prayed For
“Lord Jesus, grant me the grace of holy boldness and unwavering love, that I may joyfully proclaim You in every circumstance, no matter the cost.”
Reflection
Look at Stephen, standing boldly in the face of accusation, his heart anchored in the risen Christ. He doesn’t shrink back; instead, the Spirit radiates through him so visibly that his face shines like an angel’s. This is resurrection power: not just the triumph over death, but the courage to witness, to proclaim, and to love even when confronted by rejection and hostility.
Stephen’s life invites us to trust that Jesus is with us—even in opposition. Just as Jesus stood with Stephen as he spoke the truth, He stands with us as we carry the Gospel into our families, communities, and the world. His Resurrection wasn’t only an event—it’s a living reality empowering us to be fearless witnesses of His love.
If you’ve ever hesitated to speak of Christ for fear of ridicule or misunderstanding, let Stephen’s shining face remind you: the Spirit will give you the words. You are not alone. You carry within you the light of the Risen One, called to let it shine brightly in both word and action.
Growing in Intimacy/Union with Jesus
This passage invites us to walk with Jesus in His mission, trusting that the same Spirit who filled Stephen also fills us. By contemplating Stephen’s fearless love, we are drawn deeper into union with Christ’s own courage, mercy, and faithfulness—experiencing His presence not only in triumph but in suffering and witness.
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Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post