Reflection for Friday December 26 Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr: Matthew 10:17-22

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:

What fuels us to give our lives to Jesus? It is our fidelity to His mission and our deep love for Him.

For many of us, it is difficult to imagine that there are people who are truly willing to give their lives for Jesus. And yet, this is a living reality in the Church. There are unsung heroes—ordinary men and women—who freely and courageously offer their lives for the mission of Christ. They may not be known by the world, but they are known and cherished by God.

Another reality we cannot ignore is this: when we humbly choose to continue the mission of Jesus, persecution often follows. We are reminded of the countless martyrs of the Church who shed their blood for the sake of Christ’s mission.

Some were declared saints; others quietly entered heaven, their sacrifices unseen and uncelebrated on earth. Yet all of them shared one thing in common—they never wavered in their fidelity. Amid hardship, suffering, and rejection, they persevered, trusting that God’s grace was enough.

This reflection invites us to look closer to home. What if we, too, are called to witness for Jesus within our own families? Are we willing to take the risk of speaking about the teachings of Jesus when they are unpopular, misunderstood, or even rejected by those closest to us? Are we ready to choose faithfulness over comfort, truth over silence?

Saint Stephen, whose feast we celebrate today, reminds us what courageous discipleship looks like. He was not afraid to proclaim Jesus, even at great cost. He teaches us that to stand for the truth of the Gospel is always right. Yet he also reminds us how we must witness—not with anger or pride, but with humility, gentleness, and love. For it is only through love that hearts are truly opened and Christ is truly shared. – Marino J. Dasmarinas