"They will hand you over to their courts and they will flog you": Stephen, First Martyr (Dec 26, 2015)

Liturgic day: December 26th: Stephen, First Martyr

Gospel text (Mt 10,17-22): Jesus said to his disciples, "Be on your guard with respect to 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, and so you may witness to them and the pagans. But when you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say and how you are to say it; when the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say. For it is not you who will speak; but it will be the Spirit of your Father in you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved".

"They will hand you over to their courts and they will flog you"

+ Fr. Joan BUSQUETS i Masana
(Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of its first martyr, deacon Saint Stephen. At times, the Gospel seems rather baffling. Only yesterday, it was evoking joy and happiness at the birth of the infant Jesus: "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen" (Lk 2:20). Today, instead, it alerts us of oncoming dangers: "Be on your guard with respect to people, for they will hand you over to their courts and they will flog you in their synagogues" (Mt 10:17). Those who witness the joy of Christ's birth as shepherds must also be as gallant as Stephen in proclaiming the death and resurrection of the Child of everlasting life.

The same Spirit who overshadowed Mary, the Virgin Mother, to announce God's plan of salvation, the same Spirit who descended upon the Apostles empowering their courage to start proclaiming the Good News —the Gospel— all over the world, is the Spirit who gave strength to that boy to argue with the priests at the synagogue who "were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke" (Acts 6:10).

Saint Stephen was a martyr in life. Martyr means “testimony”. And because of the way he died he was also a martyr. In life, he heeded his Master's words: "Do not worry about what you are to say and how you are to say it; when the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say" (Mt 10:19). "But Stephen, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God" (Acts 7:55). Stephen saw this vision and said so. So too should today's Christians witnesses of Jesus Christ through eyes of faith, fearlessly proclaim him in plain language and courageous action.

Source: evangeli.net