Back to Reality

Back to reality. Holiday’s over. This is what some, or most of us feel today. Immediately the day after Christmas, we’re going back to work, back to our normal lives. It seems that Christmas was just a weekend – well it literally was anyway.

The readings today remind me of something similar to that. After preparing for weeks, expecting Jesus to come, to save us from sin and death, Jesus was finally born during Christmas. Then this, immediately after Christmas, we celebrate the feast of St Stephen, the first martyr. After celebrating that the Messiah was born, we now remember the first martyr. For me, this is a reminder that life is not all about celebrating. Yes, we are happy that Jesus was born, but that did not stop there. Jesus had to suffer and die to fulfil his mission, not just celebrate and go to parties. Tayo rin, after all the merrymaking, we should remember that we should work for God, and we will experience hardships.

However, the readings also inspire us and remind us that when we work for God, he works double time for and with us.

came forward and debated with Stephen,

but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke

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.

How amazing, how great, how comforting. Even if we experience trials, problems, challenges, we should have faith that God will be with us to defend us. As we continue to celebrate the Christmas Season, may we also act in a way pleasing and glorifying God, and have faith that in every challenge we face, God is always with us.

God bless!