Gospel: December 26, 2023

(Tuesday)

Feast of St. Stephen, First Martyr

Psalter: Proper / (Red)

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 31: 3cd-4, 6 & 8ab, 16bc & 17

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

1st Reading: Acts 6: 8-10; 7: 54-59Stephen, 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.”

Gospel: Matthew 10: 17-22Be 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.Reflection:“Faith comes with a cost.”

After the anticipation of Advent and the great joy of Christmas, today’s feast can come as a shock. In these early days of our Christmas celebration, we recall Saint Stephen, the first person martyred for his faith in Christ. Why would the Church juxtapose these feasts? In the midst of Christmas joy and the nostalgia of our family celebrations, Stephen’s martyrdom is a stark reminder that faith comes with a cost. Living a life of faith is not all carols and candles and manger scenes. Being faithful to the Christ born in Bethlehem means following him to the cross, taking up our own crosses on the way and sacrificing ourselves and our desires in obedience to God’s will. We may enjoy our Christmas gifts, but Christian life requires the gift of ourselves.

God willing, we will never be asked to give up our lives for our faith as Stephen did, but we are asked to lay down our lives in service to our brothers and sisters. We celebrate Christ’s birth by making him present in our world in love and compassion.