26/12/2024
Feast Day of St. Stephen
Church First Martyr
Gospel of the Day
Matthew 10: 17-22
Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues,
and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles.
When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour;
for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death;
and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
Reflection:
Saint Stephen, the Church's first martyr, exemplified Christ's words through his life and death. Appointed a deacon to aid the Apostles, he preached fervently, filled with faith and the Holy Spirit. His powerful debates and miracles angered some Jews, leading to false accusations and his eventual martyrdom.
In Acts 7:2–53, Stephen's speech connects Jesus with Old Testament prophecies, infuriating his accusers. His vision of Christ at God's right hand prompted his stoning. Yet, as he died, Stephen mirrored Jesus' forgiveness, asking God to pardon his killers.
This narrative shows Christ's promise fulfilled: in persecution, the Father's Spirit speaks through the faithful. Stephen's vision, surrender, and forgiveness weren't his alone but a divine inspiration. Reflect on God's presence in your trials, and seek Saint Stephen's intercession for courage and guidance in your most trying moments.
Let us pray:
Most glorious Saint Stephen, please pray for me. Pray for me especially when I experience the heaviest crosses in my life. Pray that I, like you, will be open to God’s inspiration and grace at those times I need it the most. St. Stephen, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Amen.
