Contemplating today's Gospel
Liturgic day: December 26th: Stephen, First Martyr
Comment: Fr. Joan BUSQUETS i Masana (Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain)
«They will hand you over to their courts and they will flog you»
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.
