Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr

LECTIONARY
696

FIRST READING

ACTS 6:8-10; 7:54-59

Stephen, filled with grace and power,
was working great wonders and signs among the people.
Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,
Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,
and people from Cilicia and Asia,
came forward and debated with Stephen,
but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him.
But he, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven
and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and he said,
"Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God."
But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears,
and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

PSALM

PS 31:3CD-4, 6 AND 8AB, 16BC AND 17

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

Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.

Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.

Rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.

GOSPEL

MT 10:17-22

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment 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 brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved."

Daily Reflection

As the number of converts to Christianity grew, the Apostles felt the need to officially delegate some of their duties – preaching, baptising and distribution of alms to the needy. Among the seven ordained Deacons (‘servants’ of the Lord), was Stephen.

Besides being strong in faith and Spirit-filled, Stephen had received the best religious education and also spoke Greek; this helped tremendously to proclaim the Good News to other cultures. His fearless proclamation, that people had killed the very Messiah they awaited, angered the religious establishment and they deviously orchestrated his stoning.

Even as he breathed his last, Stephen prayed for the forgiveness of his persecutors. In fact, in today’s Gospel, we already hear Jesus foretell how his witnesses would be persecuted, long before it happens! Jesus however assures His apostles that the Holy Spirit will be with them.

Having experienced the unconditional love of God this Christmas, can we like Stephen choose to love even those who reject us and our witness of Christ?