The First Martyr, St Stephen

Acts 6:8-10.7:54-59, Mt. 10:17-22. Yesterday we celebrated the joyful birth of our Messiah and today we honour the martyrdom of an innocent man, St Stephen. Stephen was martyred for witnessing to Jesus, for publicly calling him the glorious Son of Man, now standing at the right hand of God. Today's first reading describes Stephen dying with two prayers on his lips, first, a prayer of surrender: “Lord, Jesus, receive my spirit,” and then a prayer of petition for his executioners, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Stephen was one of the first Deacon in the early Church. He preached and debated and his words were from the Holy Spirit and he could not be refuted. Like Jesus says in today's Gospel: “Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

Those who were disputing him were furious because they could not withstand his wisdom. When he said he had a vision, Jesus standing at the right hand of God, they called it blasphemy and stoned him at the gates of Jerusalem. As the name Stephen signifies ‘the crown’, his faithfulness and supreme love for Jesus won for him an imperishable crown. The witness of life of Stephen is a challenge for us to make Jesus and His word relevant again in our world today without being afraid of the consequences. Today is a day for charity, generosity and almsgiving and referred to as 'Boxing Day' to aid charitable actions. It is a day set aside to give out small gift to those who have served well throughout the year.

May the Lord give us fresh outpouring of courage to bear witness to what we believe and teach us to pray for our enemies like Stephen, who prayed even for the men who stoned him to death! Amen!! Good morning and have a glorious day!!!