It is 26th December 2020. We celebrate the Feast of St Stephen, the First Martyr.
The readings are from Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; and the Gospel from Matthew 10:17-22.
The martyrdom of St. Stephen is a powerful reminder for all of us that we need to become the living witness for the Newborn Jesus. This feast is rightly in place after the Nativity. Some may not agree about the timing, yet the Church wants us to connect with the reality not mere peripheral sentiments. The reality is that the newborn Infant from Bethlehem has to face the Cross on the Mount Calvary. Martyrdom is not a privilege for the few. It is a call everyone who believes in Jesus. The way we take a stand, we have the high exposure and possibility to lose our stand, the dwelling place.
Celebration around the world has been reduced to the lowest level ever. No one will ever forget this Christmas in their lifetime. It is uniquely different with its overwhelming experiences of humanity that needs a profound sensibility to comprehend.
The pandemic has taught us all one lesson that we are all equals. There is no one is exempted from getting exposed and infected.
The responsorial Psalm intercedes, “Into your hands, O Lord, I entrust my spirit.” (Lk.23:46)
Perseverance till the ends rewards us with the eternity. “You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.” (Mt. 10:22). If we are hated for Jesus, we are already in the process of martyrdom. Our forgiveness and acceptance of those who hate us on account of Jesus is the proof of our endurance to all that we face in our life. May the Lord help us to be the witness for the New Born Christ. May you have a lovely day. God bless you.