There are two striking similarities between the Gospel accounts of the death of Jesus and to-day's account of Stephen's death. Stephen, the fiery, combative disciple, prayed as he was dying "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." In Luke's Gospel Jesus' last words were, "Father into your hands I commend my spirit." Having given their all in the service of the Kingdom, Jesus and Stephen handed themselves over into the caring hands of the One they had served so faithfully.

Recently I have found myself praying, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit: Lord Jesus receive my soul." I don't know exactly when I started praying like that and I didn't notice changing "spirit" into "soul." This unconscious prayer reflects, perhaps, my almost despairing desire to be of some service to my Lord and my God. I hope that God will accept my offer.

Stephen's death resembles Jesus' death in another way. Stephen asked God not to hold his murder against the men who killed him. Jesus pleaded with His Father to forgive His killers because, as He said, they did not know what they were doing.

Many of us may never have been treated really unjustly. Sometimes, however, people may offend us, and make us uneasy because their serenity and self acceptance challenge our sense of security. In a small way, then, we imitate Jesus and Stephen as we pray: