Son, listen to yor father's instruction

Today, August 16, as our church celebrates the Memorial of Stephen of Hungary, we are invited to read and reflect on passage taken from a letter of the apostle Paul to the Colossians (3:1–17), entitled "Your life is hidden with Christ in God". Our treasure, which follows, is from the admonitions to his son by Saint Stephen. Saint Stephen was born in Pannonia around the year 969. After his baptism he was crowned a king of Hungary in the year 1000. In his relationships with his subjects he was just, peaceful and pius, exactly observing the laws of the Church, and ever seeking the welfare of his people. He founded many dioceses and spent great energy in fostering the work of the Church. He died at Szekesfehervar in 1038. Saint Paul's letter is addressed to a congregation at Colossae in the Lycus Valley in Asia Minor, east of Ephesus. At the time of writing, Paul had not visited there, the letter says. The community had apparently been established by Epaphras of Colossae. Problems, however, had arisen, brought on by teachers who emphasized Christ's relation to the universe (cosmos). Their teachings stressed angels; "principalities and powers", which were connected with astral powers and cultic practices and rules about food and drink and ascetical disciplines. These teachings, Paul insists, detract from the person and work of Christ for salvation as set forth magnificently in a hymnic passage and reiterated throughout the letter. Such teachings are but "shadows"; Christ is "reality".