Today's feast we recall Saint Stephen, the first person martyred for his faith in Christ.

Being faithful to the Christ born in Bethlehem means following him to the cross.

He was among the first followers of Christ to clearly unite the Old Testament with the unfolding New Testament.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59

Stephen, full of grace and power,

Did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Some persons then came forward,

who belonged to the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia.

They argued with Stephen. But they could not match the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

 

When they heard this reproach, they were enraged; and they gnashed their teeth against Stephen.

But he, full of the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on heaven and saw the glory of God,

and Jesus at God's right hand; so he declared: "I see the heavens open, and the Son of Man at the right hand of God."

But they shouted and covered their ears with their hands, and rushed together upon him.

 

They brought him out of the city and stoned him;

and the witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.

As they were stoning him, Stephen prayed saying: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

 

Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 & 8ab, 16bc & 17 Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊     

Matthew 10:17-22

Be on your guard with people, for they will hand you over to their courts,

and they will flog you in their synagogues. You will be brought to trial before rulers and kings because of me,

so that you may witness to them and the pagans.

 

But when you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say, or how you are to say it;

when the hour comes, you will be given 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 his brother to death, and a father his child;

children will turn against their parents and have them put to death.

Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Reflection:

"Bearing witness to Jesus."

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen. We are also on Thursday within the Christmas Octave.

We are now called to ponder on St. Stephen's martyrdom. St. Stephen is the first martyr (cf. Acts 7:54- 60).

What is clear, however, is the fact that St. Stephen gave witness to Jesus Christ.

 

His blood bore witness to Jesus, whose birth we celebrate during this Christmas season.

The Gospel passage for today reminds us of the fact that when we receive Christ and make a stand for and with him,

there will be consequences. One of the possible consequences is martyrdom (cf. martyrion).

Martyrdom basically means bearing witness to Jesus, the Word who became flesh in order to live among us.

This entails that we take for ourselves the values that he taught during his ministry and earthly life.

 

When we decide to live up to the challenges of the values of the incarnate Word,

we can counteract the dark side of worldly values.

However, martyrdom does not always mean being crucified or stoned to death literally.

Standing against the negative side of worldly values is never easy. But as Christians,

we must. By this way, we become martyrs ourselves, just like St. Stephen.