Now, everyone knows that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was "full of grace." Says so right there in the "Hail Mary." Except, of course, that's not in Scripture. There is a reference to a biblical character being "full of grace." Stephen, one of the first deacons (Acts 6:1-5), is described as "full of grace and power" (Acts 6:8). As a refresher, what is grace? Grace is unmerited favor (Rom 11:6). It is favor that is not deserved or earned. So just what does a follower of Christ who is full of grace look like?
Stephen's primary job was taking care of people (Acts 6:2). Stephen was "doing great wonders and signs" (Acts 6:8), although there's no reason that all who are "full of grace" do that. But Stephen ran up against the religious unbelievers of his day, and that's not unlikely for people pursuing grace. Stephen went on trial for false accusations (Acts 6:10-14). In the Council chambers, he spoke his only recorded sermon -- 52 verses long (Acts 7:2-53). He gave a rundown of Israel's history from Abraham on, explaining Israel's history of rebellion. He told them, "The Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands" (Acts 7:48). You can be confident that got their dander up. And then he did what all those who are full of grace do; he accused them of being stiff-necked, uncircumcised in the heart, and resisting the Holy Spirit. "Now, hang on," we might want to retort, "doesn't 'full of grace' mean we don't point out others' wrongs?" No, that would more likely be "full of mercy," where justice is set aside. Grace gives favor to those who don't deserve it, and pointing out sin is simply pointing out "they don't deserve it."
The crowd, of course, took it well. Okay, no, they rushed at him, dragged him out of the city, and stoned him to death. But note Stephen's response. As they were stoning him, he called on the Lord: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" (Acts 7:59). And then he prayed, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" (Acts 7:60). And he died. That, dear reader, is "full of grace." He served others. He did God's work. He faced false accusations with "the face of an angel" (Acts 6:15). He did point out their sin because it was the issue -- he spoke the truth in love -- and he prayed for their forgiveness ... while they murdered him. Being full of grace, you see, doesn't mean turning a blind eye to sin or not speaking up about the truth when it's required. It pursues the truth in love and seeks the best for those who don't deserve it, sometimes at great cost to self. Grace is not ignoring sin; grace is the solution to sin.
6 comments:
It would be funny if after all this time of the Catholic Church attributing grace to Mary, it really meant that she was just a wonderful dancer, just so graceful.
It is interesting to consider how Stephen was “full of grace” but also extremely bold and forthright--to the point of losing his earthly life through it. (Could I ever be that courageous?) When most people speak of being “gracious,” it’s often the opposite of Stephen’s example--only saying what appeases their hearers--but true graciousness would lead to exposing and confronting sin, as you point out. Therefore, a frequent prayer of my heart is, “Lord, help me be willing and able to speak the truth in love even while I share Your grace with others.” Personally, I find that resolving this “grace and truth paradox” is very challenging, but I know it is uniquely Christlike--the way I want to be.
Funny, David, but the "Hail, Mary, full of grace" is actually one translation of Gabriel's greeting to Mary when he told her she would bear a Son (Luke 1:28). Almost all translations say, "Greetings" where the KJV and the LITV say "Hail," and all of them say she is "highly favored" or has a "special grace." Only the Catholic Edition of the RSV puts it "Hail, Mary, full of grace," but we get it. It isn't too far out. Kind of reverse prooftexting. "Make it say what we want so we can claim it's biblical."
It's funny, Lorna, because the only other place that I find the phrase "full of grace" is in John's Gospel. "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Besides Stephen, Jesus is uniquely designated that way in the Bible. Uniquely Christlike.
Sadly, the RCC actually teaches that Mary dispenses grace to Catholics as the “Mediatrix of All Graces”--partially based on that phrase, “Hail, Mary, full of grace.” I even read a saying online, “Every grace from God passes through Mary”--meaning “that she is the conduit through which God’s grace flows to humanity.” Unbelievable. I am grateful that Stan clarified this for us here and pointed us to Jesus today (through Stephen, in this instance).
I knew that Stephen reminded me of someone--lovingly serving others, performing wonders, speaking truth boldly, upsetting the “religious elite,” enduring false accusations, praying for his murderers as he was dying (and it wasn’t Mary, as “highly favored” as she was)!
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