The Gospel for the feast of St. Stephen. First martyr is taken from Matthew 10:17 22. 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.

I believe the church celebrates this feast of St. Stephen immediately after we receive the good news of God’s presence in the world. We listen to the very real image of evil. There is a power in the world that is so opposed to who God is and who Jesus wants us to become. And yet we know that there is a way in which that work is essential. To not be afraid, to hold on to what you believe, even if it means loss of your life.

These are signs and wonders of the faith that God has given us to do the work of the Son of God to bring his message of life and goodness to the world, despite whatever dangers there may be. After your reflection, I will close with a prayer. Foreign. Father, we need to be realistic. We need to understand there is a spirit that is so opposed to who we become. When God enters into us and we resonate and share his wisdom, his power, his healing, his love.

Keep us strong. Keep us dedicated to this work, no matter what the cost. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.