Circumcision Event Remembered

Covenant with God

Signs of God's Covenant

Circumcision

Acts 7:1-8 The Message

Stephen, Full of the Holy Spirit

7 Then the Chief Priest said, “What do you have to say for yourself?”
2-3 Stephen replied, “Friends, fathers, and brothers, the God of glory
appeared to our father Abraham when he was still in Mesopotamia, before the move to Haran, and told him, ‘Leave your country and family and go to the land I’ll show you.’
4-7 “So he left the country of the Chaldees and moved to Haran. After the death of his father, he immigrated to this country where you now live, but God gave him nothing, not so much as a foothold. He did promise to give the country to him and his son later on, even though Abraham had no son at the time. God let him know that his offspring would move to an alien country where they would be enslaved and brutalized for four hundred years. ‘But,’ God said, ‘I will step in and take care of those slaveholders and bring my people out so they can worship me in this place.’
8 “Then he made a covenant with him and signed it in Abraham’s flesh by circumcision. When Abraham had his son, Isaac, within eight days, he reproduced the sign of circumcision in him. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob father of twelve ‘fathers,’ each faithfully passing on the covenant sign.

For Reflection

Stephan is under attack from those who accuse him of blasphemy.  He defends himself by invoking Abraham's name.  Stephan uses the sign of his Jewish heritage to indicate his allegiance to God.  What argument could you use that would convince others of your love for God and your commitment to the "Way?"

Pray
Pray for all those whose faith have placed their lives in jeopardy. Pray that you will have the courage to stand on the side of your God and fight for the victory of truth, kindness, forgiveness, and justice.