The WORD today reminds me to get back to reality and proclaim God.
Christmas day is over. After months of preparation and anticipation, it is over. After days of no work (some even a lot longer), Christmas is over. Back to reality indeed. Holiday's over. Even though the holiday season is not over, and there are still a lot of decors and get togethers, Christmas day itself is over, just like that. However, the spirit of Christmas should not go away after December 25.
We should live Christmas everyday.
It is by no accident that the day after Christmas, we commemorate the feast day of St Stephen, the first martyr. We see his story in the first reading. Like what Jesus told Peter, James and John in the mountain after transfiguration, he too is telling us to go down the mountain, back to reality, back to our daily lives, and continue to live the spirit of Christmas, the spirit of love – and continue to proclaim God.
God loves us so much, and as we feel that love, we should be moved to love him back.
Stephen died for his faith. He was not forced to. He probably could have run away from the people, but he chose not to. He chose to stand up for his faith. He chose to proclaim God to others, even if it cost him his life. In the same way, we are called to be like Stephen. We do not need to be martyrs to show God we love him, that we appreciate his coming to save us, and that we are grateful. We should, little by little, everyday, make a decision to proclaim him - to honor him and live for him. In the gospel, we are reminded to be firm and faithful, and that God will always be there for us. Wr just need to have faith in Him.
How was Christmas for me? How do I feel right now? Am I going back to work, back to reality? How can I proclaim Him today?
May we be challenged and inspired to live our faith, to go back to reality and stand up for our faith, and proclaim the love and greatness of God.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the holidays. Thank you for bringing me back to reality. Thank you for all the gifts which you, the Celebrant, continue to give me. Lord I pray that I have faith like Stephen. May I focus on you and your glory, instead of focusing on and complaining about my pains and difficulties. Help me stand up for and proclaim you everyday. Help me live for you and die of myself, so that you may live in me, and through me. May I make you more real and more alive through my life. Amen.
Blessed Week!
In Christ,
-g-
Daily Readings
Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr
Lectionary: 696
Reading 1
Stephen, filled with grace and power,
was working great wonders and signs among the people.
Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,
Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,
and people from Cilicia and Asia,
came forward and debated with Stephen,
but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.
When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him.
But he, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven
and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and he said,
“Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God.”
But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears,
and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Responsorial Psalm
R. (6) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD:
the LORD is God and has given us light.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD:
the LORD is God and has given us light.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
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.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
“Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
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.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
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