Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr
Lectionary: 696
Lectionary: 696
Stephen, filled with grace and power,
was working great wonders and signs among the people.
Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,
Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,
and people from Cilicia and Asia,
came forward and debated with Stephen,
but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.
When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him.
But he, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven
and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and he said,
"Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God."
But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears,
and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
was working great wonders and signs among the people.
Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,
Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,
and people from Cilicia and Asia,
came forward and debated with Stephen,
but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.
When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him.
But he, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven
and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and he said,
"Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God."
But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears,
and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Responsorial Psalm Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 And 8ab, 16bc And 17
R. (6) Into
your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Gospel Mt 10:17-22
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment 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 brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved."
"Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment 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 brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved."
www.usccb.org
Meditation:"The
one who endures to the end will be saved"
What is the connection between
Bethlehem and Calvary – the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and his passion
and death on a cross? The very reason the Son of God took on flesh and became a
man for our sake was to redeem us from slavery to sin and death and to give us
new life as the adopted children of God. The way to glory in the kingdom of God
is through the cross. If we want to share in Jesus' glory, then we, too, must
take up our cross each day and follow in his footsteps. Jesus never hesitated
to tell his disciples what they might expect if they followed him. Here Jesus
says to his disciples: This is my task for you at its grimmest and worst; do
you accept it? This is not the world's way of offering a job. After the defeat
at Dunkirk, Churchill offered his country blood, toil, sweat, and tears. This
is not the message we prefer to hear when the Lord commissions us in his service.
Nonetheless, our privilege is to follow in the footsteps of the Master who laid
down his life for us. The Lord gives us sufficient grace to follow him and to
bear our cross with courage and hope. Do you know the joy and victory of the
cross of Jesus Christ?"Lord Jesus, your coming in the flesh to ransom us from slavery to sin gives us cause for great rejoicing even in the midst of trials and pain. Help me to patiently and joyfully accept the hardships, adversities, and persecution which come my way in serving you. Strengthen my faith and give me courage that I may not shrink back from doing your will".
www.dailyscripture.net
.jpg) The Power of Witness |
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Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr
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Matthew
10:17-22
Jesus said to his
disciples: “Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge
you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for
my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do
not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be
given at that moment 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
brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against
parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my
name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I open my heart
to you on this new day. Because of your unfailing love for me, you deserve my
deep gratitude and complete confidence in you, so I set my entire being at
your disposal. Do with me what you wish. I know that you love me and that
nothing that can truly harm me will happen as long as I keep striving to live
in your love.
Petition: Lord, help me to experience your forgiveness
and learn to forgive in return.
1. “Do Not Hold This Sin Against Them!” These words of St.
Stephen (Acts 7:60) repeat Christ’s last words on earth. He has entered into
Christ’s heart. He is on fire for his Lord. This fire is making him pass
through the same crucible of rejection and death that Christ passed through.
And he is walking in the fire without being scorched. His heart burns so much
for Christ that it cannot fester with hatred and despair. Like his Lord, he
wants only the salvation of his persecutors. Am I letting my heart to be
ignited with the flame of love that burns in that Child in the manger? Am I
showing the zeal of love that is selfless service?
2. The Case of Saul: The Acts of the
Apostles records the approval of Stephen’s martyrdom by Saul. Saul was a man
who thought he understood everything. He thought he knew how evil Stephen was
and what a threat his teaching brought. His intentions seemed correct, but he
was dead wrong. Saul will later speak of himself as someone born dead. He was
dead –– dead in his soul – because he had missed the point. Yet God is
merciful. Saul soon becomes St. Paul. Jesus accepts the prayer of Stephen
just as the Father accepts the prayer of Jesus. We do not need to be afraid.
God accepts our prayers, too. He will do marvels if we persevere in prayer
and service.
3. Hard of Heart: We’re often pushed
out of our comfort zone by Christ’s message. We are ready to be forgiven by
Christ and by others, but it is not so easy to take the logical next step of
quickly and easily forgiving others. To become a forgiving St. Stephen we
need to keep in mind that we, too, are Sauls. The Christmas Season is a
perfect time for a change of heart. By contemplating today the loving face of
God in that child in the manger we can experience his tender, infinite love
for us. Anchored in his friendship we can gain the magnanimity of heart to
set aside any ill will from past injuries and desire for everyone to find the
peace and joy that only comes from knowing the Word Incarnate.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, thank you for
the example of St. Stephen, the first martyr of your young Church. On this
day after your birth, you also show me the birth of total courage in love. I
believe that I am safe in your arms no matter how hard the difficulties. I
believe that you entrust me with your mission. Today I renew the commitment
to be faithful to my mission as a Christian and an apostle “till death on the
battlefield.” Jesus, you are my Lord. I will follow you.
Resolution: Today I will look for the positive side in
everyone I meet. I will look beyond their limitations. I will forgive anyone
who might offend me.
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WEDNESDAY,
DECEMBER 26
FEAST OF STEPHEN, FIRST MARTYR
MATTHEW 10:17-22
(Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Psalm 31)
KEY VERSE: "You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved" (v 22).
READING: The day after the Feast of the Nativity, the shadow of the cross falls upon the Christmas crib. The mystery of the Incarnation must be seen alongside the mystery of the Passion. When Jesus shared his ministry and mission with his disciples, he warned them of the suffering and persecution they would face. His disciples would be despised by their fellow Jews and even be rejected by members of their own families. Jesustold them not to be concerned about how they would defend themselves; the Holy Spirit would inspire them to be faithful witnesses. Stephen was the first martyr to the faith. Charged with violating the Mosaic Law, he was stoned to death. Stephen died like Jesus, forgiving his enemies and praying for them. Like Jesus, he commended his spirit to the loving mercy of God (Acts 6-7).
REFLECTING: St. Stephen, help me to have courage to profess my faith despite opposition from others.
PRAYING: Do I pray for the persecuted Church throughout the world?
FEAST OF STEPHEN, FIRST MARTYR
MATTHEW 10:17-22
(Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Psalm 31)
KEY VERSE: "You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved" (v 22).
READING: The day after the Feast of the Nativity, the shadow of the cross falls upon the Christmas crib. The mystery of the Incarnation must be seen alongside the mystery of the Passion. When Jesus shared his ministry and mission with his disciples, he warned them of the suffering and persecution they would face. His disciples would be despised by their fellow Jews and even be rejected by members of their own families. Jesustold them not to be concerned about how they would defend themselves; the Holy Spirit would inspire them to be faithful witnesses. Stephen was the first martyr to the faith. Charged with violating the Mosaic Law, he was stoned to death. Stephen died like Jesus, forgiving his enemies and praying for them. Like Jesus, he commended his spirit to the loving mercy of God (Acts 6-7).
REFLECTING: St. Stephen, help me to have courage to profess my faith despite opposition from others.
PRAYING: Do I pray for the persecuted Church throughout the world?
FEAST OF STEPHEN, FIRST MARTYR
Stephen's name means "crown," and he was the first Christian to receive the martyr's crown. Stephen was one of the first deacons in the early Christian Church. When the apostles found that they needed helpers to look after the widows and the poor, they ordained seven deacons, including Stephen, "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit" (Acts 6:5). God worked miracles through Stephen who spoke with such wisdom that many of his hearers became followers of Jesus. The enemies of the Church were furious when they saw how successful Stephen's preaching was, and they laid a plot to arrest him. Stephen faced his enemies without fear. In fact, it is said that he had the face of an angel. They dragged Stephen outside the city of Jerusalem and stoned him to death. In the crowd watching the martyrdom of Stephen that day was a man named Saul, who would later be known as the great apostle and evangelist, St. Paul.
Stephen's name means "crown," and he was the first Christian to receive the martyr's crown. Stephen was one of the first deacons in the early Christian Church. When the apostles found that they needed helpers to look after the widows and the poor, they ordained seven deacons, including Stephen, "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit" (Acts 6:5). God worked miracles through Stephen who spoke with such wisdom that many of his hearers became followers of Jesus. The enemies of the Church were furious when they saw how successful Stephen's preaching was, and they laid a plot to arrest him. Stephen faced his enemies without fear. In fact, it is said that he had the face of an angel. They dragged Stephen outside the city of Jerusalem and stoned him to death. In the crowd watching the martyrdom of Stephen that day was a man named Saul, who would later be known as the great apostle and evangelist, St. Paul.
BOXING DAY-- December 26
Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated on December 26th. It is also known as the Feast of St. Stephen (after the first Christian martyr). The tradition of Boxing Day has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions. In the United Kingdom, it became a custom of the nineteenth-century Victorians for tradesmen to collect their "Christmas boxes" or gifts on the day after Christmas in return for service throughout the year. In addition, around the 1800s, churches opened their alms boxes where people place monetary donations and distributed the contents to the poor. Some claim that Boxing Day goes back to the late Roman/early Christian era when metal boxes were placed outside churches to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen. The Carol "Good King Wenceslas" is set on the Feast of St. Stephen and is about a King in the Middle Ages who brings food to a poor family. Boxing Day has now become a public holiday in countries such as Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ghana, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Kenya, Guyana, Trinidad, Tobago, Jamaica and other countries in the Commonwealth of Nations with a mainly Christian population. In South Africa this public holiday is now known as the Day of Goodwill.
Since 1966 many people of African descent have spent the seven days from December 26 to January 1 honoring ancient African principles and values. Each day, the appropriate candle is lit, the black candle first, representing the Black people in unity. From the second day onwards, the candles are lit from left (red for struggle) to right (green for the future). This symbolizes how all people must struggle in order to attain a great future. The candles, represent the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa:
1.Umoja (Unity) 2.Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) 3.Ujima (Collective work & responsibility) 4.Ujamaa (Cooperative economics) 5.Nia (Purpose) 6.Kuumba(Creativity) 7.Imani (Faith)
www.daily-word-of-life.com
Into your hands, O Lord, I entrust my spirit
They could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which Stephen spoke.
The gospel today is far from comfortable. We realise that earthly kingdoms, so very different from the kingdom of God, will struggle with the radical message of God’s love. God’s message of intimate partnership in adversity is clear—God will speak through us. We remember the voices that have spoken for justice and freedom with a clarity and depth that comes from beyond them. Nelson Mandela, after 27 years in prison, emerged as a leader, a person who spoke and led from a place of compassion and love. I imagine he was quite like Stephen!
How do we stand against injustice, when it comes at a cost to us? When it may curtail our own freedom? Let us pray for courage to do this, and gratefulness for those who have across time.
www.churchresources.info
December 26
St. Stephen
(d. 36 A.D.?)
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| St.Stephen |
All we know of Stephen is found in Acts
of the Apostles, chapters Six and Seven. It is enough to tell us what kind of
man he was:
At that time, as
the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenist (Greek-speaking)
Christians complained about the Hebrew-speaking Christians, saying that their
widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called
together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to
neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you
seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint
to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry
of the word.” The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose
Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit... (Acts 6:1-5).
Acts says that
Stephen was a man filled with grace and power, who worked great wonders among
the people. Certain Jews, members of the Synagogue of Roman Freedmen, debated
with Stephen but proved no match for the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke.
They persuaded others to make the charge of blasphemy against him. He was
seized and carried before the Sanhedrin.
In his speech,
Stephen recalled God’s guidance through Israel’s history, as well as Israel’s
idolatry and disobedience. He then claimed that his persecutors were showing
this same spirit. “[Y]ou always oppose the holy Spirit; you are just like your
ancestors” (Acts 7:51b).
His speech
brought anger from the crowd. “But [Stephen], filled with the holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the
right hand of God, and he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son
of Man standing at the right hand of God....’ They threw him out of the city,
and began to stone him.... As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit.... Lord, do not hold this sin against them’” (Acts
7:55-56, 58a, 59, 60b).
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| The St.Stephen church at the Get Gemal monastery in Israel |
Comment:
Stephen died as Jesus did: falsely accused, brought to unjust condemnation because he spoke the truth fearlessly. He died with his eyes trustfully fixed on God, and with a prayer of forgiveness on his lips. A “happy” death is one that finds us in the same spirit, whether our dying is as quiet as Joseph’s or as violent as Stephen’s: dying with courage, total trust and forgiving love.
Stephen died as Jesus did: falsely accused, brought to unjust condemnation because he spoke the truth fearlessly. He died with his eyes trustfully fixed on God, and with a prayer of forgiveness on his lips. A “happy” death is one that finds us in the same spirit, whether our dying is as quiet as Joseph’s or as violent as Stephen’s: dying with courage, total trust and forgiving love.
Patron
Saint of:
Bricklayers
Deacons
Hungary
www.americancatholic.orgBricklayers
Deacons
Hungary
LECTIO: ST. STEPHEN,
FIRST MARTYR - MT. 10:17-22
Lectio:
Wednesday,
December 26, 2012
Christmas Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
we honour today St Stephen,
the first martyr of your young Church.
Make us good witnesses like him,
people filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit,
men and women who are full of fortitude,
as we try to live the life of Jesus.
Give us a great trust
that we may live and die in your hands
and make us pray for those who harm us,
that you may forgive them and us.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
we honour today St Stephen,
the first martyr of your young Church.
Make us good witnesses like him,
people filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit,
men and women who are full of fortitude,
as we try to live the life of Jesus.
Give us a great trust
that we may live and die in your hands
and make us pray for those who harm us,
that you may forgive them and us.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading –
Matthew 10, 17-22
'Be prepared for people to hand you over to
sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before
governors and kings for my sake, as evidence to them and to the gentiles. But
when you are handed 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 a father his child; children will come forward against their parents and have them put to death.
You will be universally hated on account of my name; but anyone who stands firm to the end will be saved.
'Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will come forward against their parents and have them put to death.
You will be universally hated on account of my name; but anyone who stands firm to the end will be saved.
3) Reflection
• The contrast is enormous. Yesterday,
Christmas Day, we had the crib of the newly born child, with the singing of the
angels and the visit of the Shepherds. Today here is the blood of Stephen,
stoned to death, because he had the courage to believe in the promise expressed
in the simplicity of the crib. Stephen criticized the fundamentalist
interpretation of the Law of God and the monopoly of the Temple. This is why he
was killed (Acts 6, 13-14).
• Today, the feast of Stephen, first martyr, the liturgy presents us a passage from the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 10, 17-22), taken from the so called Sermon of the Mission (Mt 10, 5-42). In it Jesus advices the disciples saying that fidelity to the Gospel implies difficulties and persecutions: They will hand you over to the Sanhedrin and scourge you in their synagogues”. But for Jesus what is important in persecution is not the painful side of suffering, but rather the positive side of witnessing: “You will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, as evidence to them and to the gentiles”. Persecution offers the occasion of giving witness of the Good News which God brings to us.
• This is what happened to Stephen. He gave witness of his faith in Jesus up until the last moment of his life. At the hour of his death he says: “I can see Heaven thrown open, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7, 56). And in falling dead under the stones, he imitated Jesus crying out: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” (Acts 7, 60; Lk 23,34).
• Jesus had said: “When they will hand you over to them, do not worry about how or what you have to day, because it will be suggested to you at that moment what you have to say: in fact, it is not you who will speak, but the Spirit of your Father who will speak in you”. This prophecy is also fulfilled in Stephen. His enemies did not succeed to resist the inspired wisdom with which he spoke” (Acts 6, 10). “The members of the Sanhedrin all looked intently on Stephen, and his face appeared to them as the face of an angel” (Acts 6, 15). Stephen spoke “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7, 55). This is why the anger of the others was so great that they killed him.
• The same thing happens also today. In many places, many persons are drawn before the tribunals and they know how to give responses which exceed the wisdom of the learned and the wise (Lk 10, 21).
4) Personal
questions
• Placing oneself in Stephen’s place, have you
suffered, sometimes, because of your fidelity to the Gospel?
• The simplicity of the crib and the harshness of martyrdom go hand in hand in the life of the Saints and in the life of so many persons who, today are persecuted up to the point of death because of their fidelity to the Gospel. Do you know closely persons like this?
5) Concluding Prayer
Lord, be for me a rock-fastness,
a fortified citadel to save me.
You are my rock, my rampart;
true to your name, lead me and guide me! (Ps 31,2-3)
www.ocarm.orga fortified citadel to save me.
You are my rock, my rampart;
true to your name, lead me and guide me! (Ps 31,2-3)
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