GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 26TH DECEMBER 2016
FEAST OF SAINT STEPHEN, THE FIRST MARTYR
1ST READING: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
PSALM: Psalm 31:3-4,6,8,16-17
GOSPEL: Matthew 10:17-22
THEME: STEPHEN AND THE MANGER
I stood there admiring a very beautiful Christmas crib. The lightening system was elegant and the interior decoration had a touch of excellence. As I savoured this magnificent piece of art, my eyes suddenly got glued to the manger. The sight of the manger suddenly changed the rhythm of my heart; it told me a story quite different from what the sanitised Christmas crib in a “peaceful Bethlehem” was portraying.
The manger symbolises rejection. In Luke 2:7, we read, “She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn”. Already in the womb of his mother, Jesus experienced rejection.
Having experienced rejection himself (cf. Jn. 1:11), Jesus in the gospel text for today tells his disciples, “Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues; and you shall even be brought before governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles” (Mat 10:17-18). Stephen, whose feast we celebrate today, stands out as the first of the followers of Jesus to be rejected unto death (cf. First Reading).
Whenever I walk out there to evangelise, either by the roadside or in somebody’s home, I experience both acceptance and rejection. I am encouraged when someone accepts Jesus into his life but I choose not to be discouraged when I am rejected because I am neither the first nor the last to experience rejection on account of the Gospel.
The fear of rejection has deflated the boldness of many Christians and derailed them from standing up for Christ in a world that is quickly passing away. Some have been deceived by the argument that says, “Don’t take the ‘Christ thing’ too seriously”. However, they forget that Christ took ‘our thing’ seriously when, although he was in the form of God (cf. Phil 2:6ff), he chose to be born in a manger in order to save us.
Our generation needs more “Stephens”. Men and women who will be daring enough to stand up for Christ and not be ashamed of the Gospel.
During this Christmas season, as we ponder over the story of the baby in the manger, may we draw the needed inspiration and strength to let our Christianity count wherever we find ourselves.
Prayer: Eternal Father, you so loved me that you gave your only begotten Son; may I so love you that I may stand up for the Gospel.
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).