The style of the discourses by John and Jesus were very different. John was a fiery preacher. He said it the way it was, no whitewashing. He called Jews names like wipers. Jesus, on the other hand, was very soft spoken. He spoke from his heart with full of love. He loved the sinner, because his mission was to save the sinners. But he surely hated sin. The message was very clear, you cannot inherit the eternal life unless you repent. Repentance is necessary before the remission of sins. Remission of sins comes by the Grace of Jesus - Jesus paid the price for our sins. But it requires that we confess our sins and obtain the remission of our sins. We need to have our sins forgiven or wiped clean with the sacrament of confession. There is no other way. Period.

Before ascending into heaven, one of the last words of Jesus were:

"Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
- Luke 24:47

This summarizes the mission of Jesus. To preach the importance of repentance and the remission of sins. Jesus also provided the Keys to the Kingdom to Peter and provided the power to forgive sins to the church. It is ours for the asking. (But we need to ask.)

So, this concept of repentance and remission of sins is very important. In today's MWJ we have some important timely articles that explains this concept from various angles. The Featured article is a little long; but it goes in depth on biblical basis - both old testament and new testament -behind this. Read it slow. And read it multiple times before you start having a grasp of it. It is very important.

We had discussed the mixing of blood and joy at the arrival of Jesus. Jesus came to die on the cross. As soon as he was born, many children in Bethlehem were brutally murdered by Herod. Jesus escaped by going to Egypt. This week, we also recall two other martyrs of our early church. On January 7, we recalled the beheading of John the Baptist. On January 8, the Holy Church remembers St. Stephen, the first martyr of the young church after Jesus' ascension. We remember St. Stephen every Sunday in our Thubden.

Stephen was stoned because he was also very outspoken like John the Baptist. He said it the way it was without any sugarcoating, or politically correct speech. The Jewish Temple establishment wanted him to be dead. He irritated them!

Interestingly, there were many parallels between the death of St. Stephen and that of Jesus Christ. Stephen was a great disciple. He knew the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. He knew by heart the words Jesus talked when he was on the cross. He meditated and visualized on the passion of Jesus Christ when he faced the trials and tribulations in his life. He tried to imitate Jesus in everything he did. The last words of Stephen were:

"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." - Acts 7:59

Earlier, when the Jews were getting ready to stone him to death, in perfect imitation of Christ, St. Stephen said:

"Look!...I see an opening in the sky, and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand" (Acts 7:56).

Later St. Paul (who was watching the stoning of Stephen) would write:

"Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus." (Heb 12:2)

This is a great way to face suffering - rejoicing in the presence of persecution.

Stephen prayed as [he] was being stoned:

"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59).

This parallels what Jesus prayed on the cross just before He died:

"Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit." (Lk 23:46)

Just before he died, Stephen prayed:

"Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:60).

Jesus likewise prayed from the cross:

"Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23:34).

So, we can see how Stephen tried to imitate Jesus in his life. As disciples we should imitate Jesus in His character and in His ministry. Such a life trains us to respond as Jesus did in every moment of our life. and to face persecutions with confidence and joy.

God has a purpose for everything. We hear that the blood of a martyr is the seed/fertilizer of the church. In case of Stephen, the purpose of his death was made clear very soon. Stephen's death was witnessed by a young Jewish man named Saul of Tarsus (Acts 7:58; 8:1). Saul wanted Stephen killed. However he heard the last words of Stephen and those made a lasting impression on him. Saul converted to Christianity and became St. Paul, one of the greatest and successful apostles. He was often called the apostle to Gentiles. Paul personally led many thousands of people to Jesus. His conversion would not have happened if he had not witnessed the martyrdom of Stephen.

Our mission is to discover the mission God for us and let him use us for that. Just like Stephen led Saul to Paul, we can do great things for God.

Be a Stephen. Imitate Jesus daily in word and deed. Let others see what Christianity is like, by reflecting the light of Jesus through our faces and through our deeds.

Next week we shall follow Jesus as he assembles his team of disciples. "Come and See," as Mother Teresa used to say. The Nineveh Lent (3-day Lent) begins on Monday, January 18. The Great Lent will begin on Monday, February 8.