Monday 26th December

Feast of St Stephen - First Martyr

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

Martyr - Witness

Immediately after the birth of Jesus the Church celebrates St Stephen, the first martyr (witness). This is a reminder of the choice. Following Jesus will not necessarily be easy. As the early church experience indicated: “brother will betray brother”, “children will rise up against parents”. While we may not be ‘killed’ for our ‘faith’ some writers talk about the contemporary ‘white martyrdom’ of perseverance, and faithful witness daily to Jesus. How do you ‘witness’ to Jesus in your family and community?