Simultaneously bold and meek!

"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,
you always oppose the Holy Spirit;...
"Lord, do not hold this sin against them";
and when he said this, he fell asleep.
~ Acts 7:51 & 60

Is it not curious that we often hear sermons extolling the virtue of Stephen's boldness or that of his humility, but rarely of his bold meekness? The real mystery of this instance of capital punishment is that the one who incited the violence is one and the same as the one who implored the Divine forbearance.

O that we would imitate Saint Stephen and be both bold and meek in the same moment.