Homily: April 24, 2023, Monday of the Third Week of Easter. (Angel Look)

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 "All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”

St. Stephen, one of seven selected deacons in the early Christian community, was standing in trial before the Sanhedrin, the supreme rabbinic court in Jerusalem. He was being accused of blasphemy, for his powerful preaching in Jesus’ name.

According to the Jewish authority, he had offended the law of Moses. Stephen knew the sentence for blasphemy was death. Yet he did not look downcast, nor fearful. Instead, his face was like an angel. What look is that?

After vesting for mass, I would always look in the mirror to check, today I did too and checked my face, I definitely do not look like an angel at all.

I have seen many whom I think look like angels. They were all little children. On Saturday, I had 3 baptisms and all those babies looked just like perfect precious angels. Innocent, pure, at peace. Even when they cried, they were still angelic.

We were all like that when we were babies. So, what happened?

Our angelic look disappeared gradually as we sin more and more. We are no longer innocent. But soon we will have the saintly face.

Max Lucado said, “The sinless one took on the face of a sinner so that we sinners could take on the face of a saint.”

Yes, we will look more and more saintly, like an angel, as we become Holier. As we near heaven, we will look more radiant, like Stephen as he faced his death and became the first Christian martyr.

A few days ago, in a conversation with Msgr. Bognanno, He asked a question,  "Why do we receive a glorified body when we go to heaven?” 

And later he gave this answer.  “God is so so beautiful. when we look at Him, we will need a body that shines likes his, a body pure like his, when we meet Him.”

Through God's love, grace and forgiveness, we will become like angels. We will have a radiant face and glorified body when we enter heaven and see the beautiful face of God. Thanks to our Lord who takes away our sins, which dull our look and dim our lives. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

Fr. Nivin Scaria 

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