20241226 THE POWER OF WITNESSING
First reading |
Acts 6:8-10,7:54-59 |
The martyrdom of Stephen
Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people. But then certain people came forward to debate with Stephen, some from Cyrene and Alexandria who were members of the synagogue called the Synagogue of Freedmen, and others from Cilicia and Asia. They found they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said. They were infuriated when they heard this, and ground their teeth at him.
But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ‘I can see heaven thrown open’ he said ‘and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this all the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they all rushed at him, sent him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses put down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul. As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 30(31):3-4,6,8,16-17 |
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a mighty stronghold to save me,
for you are my rock, my stronghold.
For your name’s sake, lead me and guide me.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
It is you who will redeem me, Lord.
As for me, I trust in the Lord:
let me be glad and rejoice in your love.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
My life is in your hands, deliver me
from the hands of those who hate me.
Let your face shine on your servant.
Save me in your love.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Gospel Acclamation | Ps117:26,27 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord:
the Lord God is our light.
Alleluia!
Gospel |
Matthew 10:17-22 |
The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.
‘Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved.’
26 December 2024, Thursday, St Stephen, the First Martyr
THE POWER OF WITNESSING
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Acts 6:8-10,7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22]
Today, we celebrate the Feast of the first Martyr, St Stephen, who died for Christ whilst witnessing to Him. It seems strange that this feast falls immediately after the joyous and peaceful celebration of the birth of Christ. It seems rather out of place to have such a feast celebrated side by side with Christmas, which is meant to be a sentimental feast contemplating on the innocent infant Jesus. Perhaps the Church wants us to really come down to earth. When God chose to be born as a man and live among men, He literally came down to earth. This life is complicated and not as idealistic as some of us think. We must not take refuge at Christmas by withdrawing from the realities of life. There is a real temptation for some of us to take Christmas as a sentimental celebration, singing nice hymns, having nice fellowship and meals. Of course, it is not that such celebrations are not in order, but we must not forget the real meaning of Christmas.
What is Christmas, then, if not to make God present in our lives? At Christmas, we celebrate the incarnation of our Lord. In Him, we see God present in a most humble and non-threatening manner in a child, and born in a stable. At Christmas, we see the self-emptying love of God because God gave Himself to us without reservation. However, this is just the beginning of a lifelong giving in history. Coming to birth is but the beginning of a lifelong martyrdom. When a child is born, we rejoice, but that child will have a long way to journey in life and fulfil his purpose in the world. He will have to go through many trials and difficulties. So too for Jesus. The persecution of King Herod was but a veiled anticipation of more persecutions to come. The reason for His coming at His incarnation comes to full flowering at His death and resurrection. The incarnation was destined for the passion. Christ came to die for us on the cross for our salvation.
Consequently, we have St Stephen who incarnated the Lord in his life. How can we also incarnate Christ in our lives? We are called to take a page from St Stephen. We must first begin by going back to the scriptures to understand how Jesus is the fulfilment of the prophets from of old. We must go back to the history of salvation as recorded in the scriptures, just as Stephen did when he illustrated the key points in his defence of our Lord before the Sanhedrin.
Stephen showed that he had a good grasp of our Lord, meditating on his life. Through his familiarity with the Word of God, he understood Jesus as the new temple of God. In the sacrificial death of our Lord, Stephen knew that the new Temple referred to His body given up on the cross for our salvation, replacing the Old Testament sacrifices. Stephen was able to defend the Lord; that He was fulfilling the plan of God for humanity, and that He was the one that was announced by the prophets. In Him, God made Himself definitively and truly present. For this reason, it can be said that Jesus is the place of true worship. He is both the victim and the high priest of the new sacrifice. We, too, must immerse ourselves in the scriptures and contemplate on His divine plan.
Secondly, Stephen learnt to surrender everything into the hands of His Father. He showed his total confidence in the Father even though everything was going against him. When he was stoned to death, he said, “in invocation, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'” This was the same prayer that Jesus prayed on the cross. In spite of Him being put to death, He never gave up hope on His Father. Instead, with utter humility, trust and confidence, He believed that the Father will put things right and that He would somehow vindicate Him and His works. So too Stephen, when he was brought before the Sanhedrin. He had no fear before the Council and spoke forcefully and with conviction.
Stephen taught us how to commend everything into the hands of God as well. Imitating the open arms of Stephen and our Lord, we must welcome whatever happens to us in our lives, good or bad. Life is never a bed of roses. We will have our difficulties and moments of joy as well. But when we trust God, we will be able to bear everything graciously, using them as moments for personal growth and the building of relationships. To witness to the Lord does not mean that we are always happy because life is without difficulties or trials, but that we are happy and at peace in accepting everything that comes our way with gratitude because we abandon ourselves into the hands of the Lord.
This is what the responsorial psalm is inviting us as well. “Be a rock of refuge for me, a mighty stronghold to save me, for you are my rock, my stronghold. For your name’s sake, lead me and guide me. Into your hands I commend my spirit. It is you who will redeem me, Lord. As for me, I trust in the Lord: let me be glad and rejoice in your love. My life is in your hands, deliver me from the hands of those who hate me. Let your face shine on your servant. Save me in your love.” God is our refuge and we can trust that He will redeem us in spite of those who discourage us, just as those who discouraged our Lord on the cross. “The leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!'” (Lk 23:35f)
Thirdly, from Stephen, we can learn how to imitate the Lord in forgiving our enemies. Forgiveness is something that is greatly underscored in the bible and given great emphasis by our Lord. Jesus did not simply teach us not to take revenge, but He lived out His preaching by not retaliating against His enemies when accused falsely and was put to death on the cross. On the cross, He not only excused His enemies for their ignorance in crucifying Him but He also prayed for their forgiveness. This was the way Stephen prayed as well. “Then he knelt down and said aloud, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’; and with these words he fell asleep.”
Indeed, forgiveness is much stronger than violence and might. It was because of the way that Stephen died whilst forgiving his enemies that Saul, who was a witness to his death, was touched. “They all rushed at him, sent him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses put down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul. Saul entirely approved of the killing.” Saul who watched this incident must had been struck in his heart by the graciousness, mercy and tranquillity of Stephen when he was stoned to death. There was no anger, rancour or resentment. There was only mercy, love and forgiveness. He had to testify to the truth about Jesus. He meant no harm to anyone. We, too, must learn from Stephen that forgiveness is the way to win hearts for our Lord. Using the law and punitive actions do not necessarily change lives, but often we make them more bitter, resentful and angry with the world. What is needed today for broken and hateful and violent people is to help them to experience divine mercy and forgiveness. Forgiveness is the way to peace, to allay anger, and reconciliation. Forgiveness is the way to soften harden hearts, as was the case with Saul. He thought he did the right thing but he was challenged to rethink his action.
But at the end of the day, whether it is to surrender everything into the hands of God or to forgive our enemies, we must follow St Stephen who sought to imitate Christ in his life by believing in the power of prayer and intercession. We are told that Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before He undertook the passion. Jesus prayed at the cross for His enemies. Jesus prayed to the Father to accomplish the task He had begun. So too, Stephen. He prayed as Jesus did. Forgiveness can happen only through prayer when we keep our eyes on Jesus. Without contemplating on Christ’s incarnation and passion, we will not be able to find strength to forgive those who have hurt us unjustly. From a life of prayer, we will find the strength to endure our own call to martyrdom. We must ask without ceasing the Holy Spirit to enlighten and strengthen us in our trials. Little by little, we are called to be faithful to Christ and be a witness to His love and mercy through our daily life, self-sacrifice, tolerance, forgiveness and acts of charity. With Stephen, we inspire hearts to change.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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