Today, the church celebrates the feast of St. Stephen, the martyr. He is the first martyr of the church. As we celebrate his feast day, the liturgy of the word invites us to bear witness to Christ. We are called to bear witness to Christ in our daily life.
In the first reading, we read about St. Stephen, who bore witness to Christ. He was full of grace and power. The spirit of the Lord was with him. In the gospel reading, Jesus gives us an invitation to bear witness to him. He confirms that the spirit of the Father will work through us, when we stand and bear witness to him.
Full of the Holy Spirit, St. Stephen did great wonders and signs among the people. He did not fear people and faced challenges against his mission boldly. Like St. Stephen we are invited to bear witness to Christ. We witness Christ when we talk about our experience with him to others. We witness Christ when we live in happiness and show our faith in him. We become witnesses of Christ when we manifest his values attitudes in our daily life.
Therefore, dear friends, let us give ourselves to the influence of the Spirit and become living martyrs for the Lord and his church.
By Thamajoy Reang csc. Readings: Acts 6: 8 – 10; 7: 54 – 59; Mt 10: 10 – 22 Every year after the celebration of Christmas, on December 26, we celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. St. Stephen was full of faith and power and did…
By Thomas T, IVD - Readings: Act 6: 8-10, 7:54-59; Mt 10: 17-22 Today, the church celebrates the feast of St. Stephen who died at the age of 36 as a deacon in Jerusalem and the first martyr. He was taken out of the city and stoned to death. His…
By Leon Bent - St. Stephen, feast day December 26, Christian deacon in Jerusalem and the first Christian martyr, whose apology before the Sanhedrin (Acts of the Apostles 7) points to a distinct strand of belief in early Christianity. His defence of his faith before the rabbinic court enraged his…
By Thamajoy Reang csc. Readings: Acts 6: 8 – 10; 7: 54 – 59; Mt 10: 10 – 22 Every year after the celebration of Christmas, on December 26, we celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. St. Stephen was full of faith and power and did…
By Thomas T, IVD - Readings: Act 6: 8-10, 7:54-59; Mt 10: 17-22 Today, the church celebrates the feast of St. Stephen who died at the age of 36 as a deacon in Jerusalem and the first martyr. He was taken out of the city and stoned to death. His…
By Leon Bent - St. Stephen, feast day December 26, Christian deacon in Jerusalem and the first Christian martyr, whose apology before the Sanhedrin (Acts of the Apostles 7) points to a distinct strand of belief in early Christianity. His defence of his faith before the rabbinic court enraged his…
