From today’s Scripture: “But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit…called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’”—Acts 7:55, 59-60

Those who oppose the Holy Spirit are described as stiff-necked, which might mean stubborn, rigid, inflexible, self-righteous, etc. Stephen is filled with the Holy Spirit which helps him in two ways. He can offer up his spirit to God; he can joyfully surrender this horrible death to Jesus. And he can ask the Lord to forgive them. Self-sacrifice and forgiveness are two expressions of the Holy Spirit at work.

Let us pray: Lord, please fill us with the Holy Spirit. Let the Spirit transform us and all that we do.

Today’s author is Father Mike Kerin, mission pastor of Divine Savior in Clay County and sacramental minister in nearby Overton County, Tennessee.

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