SAINT STEPHEN, THE FIRST MARTYR (FEAST)

I see the heavens opened. 

It sure doesn’t take long, does it? We just celebrated the birth of Jesus yesterday, and today we read about the brutal death of St. Stephen, the first martyr. The Church hardly waits a day to show us what can happen when we follow Jesus.

But are betrayal, injustice, and violence all that the Church is showing us today? If you take a close look at the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, you will see so much more than the story of a violent death. You’ll see that God filled Stephen with grace and power so that he was able to work “great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). You’ll see that God gave him “wisdom and the spirit” to proclaim the gospel effectively (6:10). And you’ll see that when Stephen was surrounded by men who wanted to kill him, God opened the heavens to show him Jesus, the risen Lord, and the glory that awaited him (7:55)!

That’s what we need to see today when we look at St. Stephen. He was filled with God’s life and grace by the coming of Christ. And filled with that grace, he found the courage to face martyrdom with joy.

We might not face the ultimate test of our faith, but the same Christ who filled Stephen with grace has come into our lives. He has come to lift us up, convince us of his power, and transform us. Like Stephen, each of us can become servants and evangelists, vessels for God’s work among his people. Even when challenges come at us in life, we can face them with the same bravery and joy that Stephen did.

You might still be basking in the glow of yesterday’s celebration of Christmas. But don’t stop at the manger. Today, as you read about St. Stephen and see God’s remarkable grace at work in his life, contemplate the awesome ways your own life can be transformed. That’s what can happen when you follow Jesus!

“Jesus, you came to bring the fullness of life. Help me to walk in that life today.”

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Psalm 31:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17
Matthew 10:17-22