There is much evil in the world out to silence those who profess the joy of the Christmas and Easter miracle. For they are unable to fathom the reality that God in His loving mercy came down to walk among us and to save us; and to free us from death through the Resurrection so that we may have eternal life with Him. Evil thrives on our lusts for power, wealth, sensual desires and worldly pleasures. They think that nothing is to be got in the truth!
However children of God who have seen the light, the way and the truth through the Word. Their hearts sing out loud the joy and peace received through our Lord of Lords; King of kings, Jesus Christ! Death for them is only a means to new life with Him.
And so sisters and brothers, let us fight the good fight and run the race to the very end even unto death. Proclaiming the good news to all who will listen that Jesus Christ is Lord and He has come to save us. Amen
St Stephen pray for us.
First reading
Acts 6:8-10,7:54-59
Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people. But then certain people came forward to debate with Stephen, some from Cyrene and Alexandria who were members of the synagogue called the Synagogue of Freedmen, and others from Cilicia and Asia. They found they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said. They were infuriated when they heard this, and ground their teeth at him.
But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ‘I can see heaven thrown open’ he said ‘and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this all the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they all rushed at him, sent him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses put down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul. As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’
Gospel
Matthew 10:17-22
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.
‘Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved.’
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