Gospel: 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.”
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Reflection:
During
this season of Christmas we savor the many good things about life. Such as
food, gifts and other beautiful things that will satisfy us. But there will
come a time that we will be called to live our faith to the fullest. This
simply means that we’ll have to witness for our love and faith for Jesus. This
witness for Jesus may require us to pass through hard times or it may even
require us to even give our very own life.
Saint
Stephen the first martyr of the church whose martyrdom we remember today. Is
one of those who witnessed for Jesus until the very end of his life. He
advanced the faith and did great things in the name of Jesus. But he was
eventually savagely killed for witnessing for Jesus.
In this
modern time of internet and other modern gadgets we are still called to witness
for our faith in Jesus. We are called to use every means available so that
Jesus will become more relevant. More relevant in the hearts and minds of the
modern people of today most especially the young ones for they are the future
of the church.
Have we
already witnessed for Jesus? Have we already been persecuted for our love for
Jesus? Let us not be disheartened if we’ve been through these tests of faith
for these are part and parcel of our witness and discipleship for Jesus. Let us
make Jesus more relevant today as what Saint Stephen did during his time. Let
us not be afraid of the severe consequences that may befall us.
We have
nothing to fear if Jesus is with us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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