Breaking the Word

Stephen, Proto-Martyr, Tuesday – 26^th December 2023 – Acts 6,8-10; 7,54-60; Mt 10,17-22

Seeds of Faith

Today we continue the celebration of Christmas. Since Christmas is a big feast, it cannot be limited to a single day of celebration. Today we also celebrate the feast of St. Stephen. It may seem strange to celebrate the feast of a martyr following the joyful celebration of the Birth of Jesus. Yet, it is very fitting that the first feast celebrated after Christmas should be that of the first person recorded as giving his life as follower and witness of Jesus and to enumerate the great vision of life that the Gospel portrays.

The first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, recounts the story of the disciple Stephen who was a powerful voice in proclaiming the message of Jesus. He was both clever and highly intelligent, but also totally innocent of any charges against him. He was hauled before a court.  Like Jesus, he was filled with wisdom, and was guided by the Spirit in all that he said. He knew exactly what to say, and the only reply his accusers could make was to stone him to death in anger. But he was at peace and, in his dying moments, forgave his killers. Out of Stephen’s tragic death would come the conversion of Saul to become Paul, one of the witnesses of martyrdom. Far from being a fanatical Jew, Paul would become the Apostle to the Gentiles, bringing the Word of Christ not only to his own, but to the whole world. It could be that the forgiveness uttered by Stephen has sown in Paul the seeds of conversion and faith.

4^th Week of Advent, Saturday – 23^rd December 2023 — Gospel:  Lk 1,57-66

Patience is Rewarded

Two days before the birth of the Messiah, the Church invites us to reflect on the birth, naming and circumcision of his precursor, John the Baptist. It is a day of particular joy for Elizabeth, as her shame is wiped out. She can now stand tall in the presence of her family and neighbours. Zechariah, the father, who was speechless, when loosened his tongue and he could speak and praise God. This incident became the talk of the whole district as the people were surprised of this unusual happening. Zechariah was a priest and a man of prayer. He had been praying for long time for a child. When his prayers were answered through Gabriel’s message, he had doubted and was made mute until Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Zechariah was patient now for the delivery of the child, as he had been earlier without a child. He was able to see God’s grace leading him to maturity of faith and waited until then patiently. The fruit of his patience was that he did not express anger or bitterness, rather only praise gushes forth from his lips on seeing the birth and naming. Zechariah becomes a model of persistent prayer that pays off in patience. He was a man who took time to understand God’s timing, actions and purposes that are beyond human comprehension. We need to be patient until God uses us for his purposes. God’s timing is perfect and different.