+(Intro) This morning we have the feast of St Stephen, among the first martyrs of the Church. Faithful to the working of the Holy Spirit, he invites us to take a moment to reflect on when we may be unfaithful or neglectful of the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives
Today’s feast may seem strange at first, coming right after celebrating the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. But what controlled the life of St Stephen is the very same that lead the eternal Word of God to take flesh and be born among us. The same love filed both of their lives as many of us heard from St Fulgentius at Vigils this morning.
Even though St Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people, the religious leaders of the time became infuriated and sought to kill him. How important it is in our own time, to be attentive to the presence and working of the Holy Spirit in those witnesses calling us away from the ways of the world so as to be true to our Christian and monastic callings.
Jesus warning his disciples to beware of those handing them over to courts, leading them before governors and persons of power is a real call to be discerning in our own time. So let us ask the Holy Spirit to take hold of the whole of our lives so that we may be true witnesses in our own time as was St Stephen in his.
Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Matt 10:17-22