26 December, 2023 | Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr
Gospel Mt 10:17-22
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
Reflections
What a contrast! Yesterday we celebrated life, the birthday of our Saviour, and today we celebrate death, the death of St Stephen the Protomartyr. But it’s not surprising if we take into consideration the reason for the Incarnation of Jesus – to save humanity by his suffering, death and resurrection. And Jesus had given a warning to his followers as the gospel says, “You will be hated by all because of my name.” Even today, persecutions of Christians is still rampant in different parts of the world. And many, like Stephen are standing firm in the Lord, fearlessly professing their faith, believing and trusting that the Spirit speaks through them at the right moment. Suffering for the faith is not in vain. Jesus says, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Let us pray today for all our persecuted brothers and sisters, and we also pray that our own faith be strong until the end, to see “the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”
Activity:
Spend some time today to examine and see how willing we are to carry our daily crosses. And let us joyfully bear the little suffering and pain we may be experiencing for the sake of Jesus.
Praise the Lord👏🙏
ReplyDelete