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• The first reading describes the death of the first martyr.
• Stephen’s preaching angered his listeners.
• The description of his death parallels and contrasts Luke’s description of the trial and death of Jesus.

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• The reading from Revelation mirrors the vision from the beginning of the book.
• Again, Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
• In the final paragraph of the Book of Revelation, a chorus of voices cries out “Come”; and the One who gives witness at the price of his blood answers “Yes, I am coming soon!”

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• The Gospel of John stresses the importance of believing that God the Father sent Jesus.
• In today’s passage, Jesus’ prayer for his followers is that they may be one in love, as he and the Father are one.
• Jesus had revealed God to them and now they must bear witness to the world.