Gospel: December 26, 2025

December 26, 2025 (Friday)

Feast of St. Stephen, First Martyr

Psalter: Proper / (Red)

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

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

1st Reading: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59

Gospel: Matthew 10:17-22

Be 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:

“As the Father sent me so I send you.”

See Also

Cops probed over slay of Digos village chief

We can see the action of the Holy Trinity in the life and death of Saint Stephen. As one of the first deacons of the Church, he assisted at the Eucharist and cared for the needy of the Christian community (Acts 6:1-7).

Filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, Stephen “did great wonders and miraculous signs,” and these signs witnessed to the truth of the Risen Christ. Jesus said, “As the Father sent me so I send you” (Jn 20:21). Stephen remained faithful to this mission which was united to the Son and the Father, even in the face of danger and false testimony.

Thus, Stephen also imitated Christ in the manner of his death. This is shown in the account in Acts where his words of forgiveness and surrender to God reflect Christ’s words at his trial and on the cross. We celebrate feasts of martyrs around Christmas to remind us that Christ was born on earth so that we might be born again in heaven. This is why the Church calls the day of a saint’s death the dies natalis: his or her birthday in heaven. Saint Stephen, pray for us.