La la la I’m not listening

It is a childish reaction: they cover their ears and sing or shout aloud so that they do not hear what they do not want to.

In today’s first reading (Acts 7:51-8:1a), however, the people doing this are adults: refusing to listen to Saint Stephen’s bold speaking of the truth.

When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him.

But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and Stephen said,
“Behold, I see the heavens opened
and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

But they cried out in a loud voice,
covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.

A week from today, the Successor of the man who with the other Apostles ordained Stephen a Deacon, will come to the most powerful cities in the world to speak the truth.

The shouting is already beginning. There will be many pundits and protesters, usually in their own little echo chambers, shouting nonsense and keeping their ears and minds closed so they may not hear the truth of Christ that the Holy Father comes to bring.

Like Saint Stephen, Pope Benedict will not stop speaking the truth and neither should we.

Like Saint Stephen, despite what men may do, Pope Benedict will never stop praying for them and neither should we.