The deacon Stephen is the first of the followers of Jesus to die. St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles shapes his death as an imitation of the death of Jesus and as a model for the deaths of all Christians which follow. First, we prepare for death by seeing that we are in the presence of God already. “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Walking with God in our life each day makes death less of a threat. Next, we surrender ourselves to the will of God. “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Like Jesus on the cross, Stephen entrusts his life and death to the Lord as we are all called to do. Finally, and somewhat surprisingly, forgiveness should be part of the experience of dying. Again, like Jesus on the cross, Stephen prays, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Being weighed down by resentments and grudges makes it impossible to soar into the heights of glory. Jesus, Stephen, all believers find that in life and in death we belong to God.
