As I reflect on the first reading of today, the words that came to my mind were those of George Perry Floyd Jr.; I can’t breathe. These were the only words that Floyd could manage to say before his death. I imagine Stephen saying similar words to Jesus; Lord, I can’t breathe, Lord Jesus, do not hold this sin against them, and finally, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. These were the last words of Stephen. As I imagine the policemen and the helpless people surrounding George Floyd Jr., I imagine, as well, the scribes, the elders, the people, and Stephen lying helplessly on the floor. I imagine how no one from among the crowd could help these two people dying helplessly. And I ask myself, why do we assume the place of God and fail to use it for a good end?
My dear brothers, today, I invite us to reflect on assuming the place of God to use it against God’s creatures. The first reading, a continuation of the acts of the apostles, provides the text for our reflection. In the text, the author tells us about the death of Stephen. Often referred to as the first martyr, Stephen, as is written of him, was a man “full of grace and power” (Acts 6:8). That is, he was appointed by the twelve apostles because he was full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and of wisdom (Acts 6:3). By human standard, we could say he was not a bandit.
However, the elders and scribes, those holding the place of interpreting the law and passing down the law from one generation to another, “instigated men, who said, ‘we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God’” because, by their judgments, which was beclouded with hatred and jealousy, he profaned the name of God. Why not let God be the judge? Consequently, Stephen was killed because those who assume the place of God failed to see beyond their self-interest.
How does this relate to us as Scholastics, we could ask ourselves? Well, we shall look at how it does in two ways briefly. Firstly, the issue of Child Protection. The children in the various apostolates that we collaborate with could be vulnerable to us largely because we are in authority positions as scholastics, and partly because we have attained some intellectual maturity that we could easily use to convince them. Similarly, they could appear vulnerable to lure us to their own self-interest. Either way, our rigorous formation helps us to grow in both intellectual maturity and maturity of patience. Accordingly, we are advantaged by virtue of our formation. Thus, we assume the place of God if we use our position as scholastics, with all our intellectual maturity, to abuse these children. Let us not assume the place of God for a bad end. If we do, we are no different from the people who stoned Stephen. Neither can we hear the screaming of I can’t breathe from these children.
And finally, the people who instigated Stephen’s death were those in his close circle. The author tells us that “some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the freedmen, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrian, and of those from Cilicia and Asia arose and disputed with Stephen” (Act 6:9). What this means is that among the people that Stephen was sharing his reflection, holiness, meals, laughter, drink, game, etc. with were the circle that instigated his death. Why? We could ask ourselves. The text says “they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke” (Acts 6:10). Meaning, out of jealousy and hatred they instigated the death of a brother. As scholastics or formators, we could do the same in various ways, if we are over-ambitious or too agreeable. It is a temptation that we could avoid falling into.
To avoid the temptation, I offer some questions that could help us to reflect better: how have we assumed the place of God to use against God’s creature? In what small way have we, like the close circle of Stephen, instigated the near-death or dismissal of a brother? Do we always wait for Fraternal Correction before correcting a brother? Do we dominate in discussions and fail to listen as well? Are we always assertive, as opposed to suggestive in community meetings? How often do we pass judgment on others?
Let us not fall into the temptation of assuming the place of God to use it for a bad end. Let the words of George Floyd echo at the back of our minds whenever we assume the place of God and use it against His creatures. Let us imagine the helpless plea of the words; I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.
We pray for the grace not to fall into the temptation of assuming the place of God in order to use it for a bad end. Lord hear us.
Reflection by Michael Akashi Ikpodon S.J