On this feast day of St Stephen Christ’s first martyr, we have to decide if we are willing to die to ourselves and live our lives for Him, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We may not have to die physical deaths, but can we not die to our insecurities, fears, guilt, shame and whatever else that prevents us from declaring the joy of the Gospel to all we meet.
We can start with a simple Merry Christmas to all we meet this seven days of the Christmas Octave! We can invite someone close to us for a coffee or tea to share how our lives have been changed by our living Lord and God.
In all the challenges we face, let us call on the Holy Spirit; into Your hands Lord I commend my Spirit. Amen
Saint Stephen, pray for us…
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First reading
Acts 6:8-10,7:54-59 ·
The martyrdom of Stephen
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.’
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Gospel
Matthew 10:17-22
The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you
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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