Daily Gospel for Thursday, 26 December 2013

Daily Gospel for Thursday, 26 December 2013

“Peter replied, “Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life.”(John 6:68, The Message).

Saint Stephen, first martyr – Feast

Saint of the Day:

SAINT STEPHEN

The first martyr

Feast

Saint Stephen is one of the first deacons chosen by the early church in Acts of the Apostles.

Upon the death of Jesus, Stephen began to work hard to spread what was then called The Way. He preached the teachings of Jesus and participated in the conversion of Jews and Gentiles. Acts tells the story of how Stephen was tried by the Sanhedrin for blasphemy and was then stoned to death by an infuriated mob encouraged by Saul of Tarsus, the future Saint Paul. He died praying for those who killed him : "Lord, do not hold this sin against them".

Saint Stephen's name is simply derived from the Greek Stephanos, meaning "crown", which translated into Aramaic as Kelil. Saint Stephen is traditionally invested with a crown of martyrdom for Christianity and is often depicted in art with three stones and the martyrs' palm. In Eastern Christian iconography he is shown as a young beardless man with a tonsure, wearing deacon's vestments, and often holding a miniature church building and censer.

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Lord,

today we celebrate the entrance of Saint Stephen

into eternal glory.

He died praying for those who killed him.

Help us to imitate his goodness

and love our enemies.

Saint Stephen, first martyr – Feast

Acts 6: The Arrest of Stephen

8 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit[a] with which he spoke.

Footnotes:

a. Acts 6:10 Or spirit; 7: The Stoning of Stephen

54 When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen.[a] 55 But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. 58 Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Footnotes:

a. Acts 7:54 Gk him

Psalm 31: 3 You are indeed my rock and my fortress;

    for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,

4 take me out of the net that is hidden for me,

    for you are my refuge.

6 You hate[a] those who pay regard to worthless idols,

    but I trust in the Lord.

Footnotes:

a. Psalm 31:6 One Heb Ms Gk Syr Jerome: MT I hate

8 and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;

    you have set my feet in a broad place.

16 Let your face shine upon your servant;

    save me in your steadfast love.

17 Do not let me be put to shame, O Lord,

    for I call on you;

let the wicked be put to shame;

    let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 10: 17 Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Saint Stephen, first martyr - Feast

Commentary of the Day:

Benedict XVI, pope from 2005 to 2013

Angelus of 26/12/2006 (trans. © Libreria Editrice Vaticana)

From cradle to cross

Today, the day after the Solemnity of Christmas, we are celebrating the Feast of St Stephen, deacon and the first martyr. At first glance, the memory of the "Protomartyr" alongside the birth of the Redeemer can leave us perplexed due to the striking contrast between the peace and joy of Bethlehem and the drama of Stephen, stoned in Jerusalem in the first persecutions against the newborn Church. In reality, the apparent contradiction is overcome if we consider more in depth the mystery of Christmas. The Child Jesus who lays in the grotto is the only-begotten Son of God who became man. He will save humanity by dying on the Cross. Now we see him in swaddling clothes in the manger; after his crucifixion he will be clad anew in bandages and laid in a sepulchre. It is not by chance that Christmas iconography sometimes depicts the Divine Newborn carefully lain in a little sarcophagus in order to indicate that the Redeemer is born to die, is born to give his life in ransom for all (Mk 10,45).

St Stephen was the first to follow in the footsteps of Christ with his martyrdom. He died, like the divine Master, pardoning and praying for his killers (cf. Acts 7,60). In the first four centuries of Christianity, all the saints venerated by the Church were martyrs. They were a countless body that the liturgy calls "the white-robed army of martyrs"... Their death did not rouse fear and sadness, but spiritual enthusiasm that gave rise to ever new Christians. For believers the day of death, and even more the day of martyrdom, is not the end of all; rather, it is the "transit" towards immortal life. It is the day of definitive birth, in Latin, dies natalis. The link that exists then between the "dies natalis" of Christ and the dies natalis of St Stephen is understood. If Jesus was not born on earth, humankind could not be born unto Heaven. Specifically, because Christ is born, we can be "reborn"!

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