Reflection for Monday 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 a person to give his life to Jesus? It’s the fidelity to the mission of Jesus and it’s the love for Jesus. For many of us it’s hard to think that there are people who are willing to give their life for Jesus. But there really are unsung heroes who will willingly give their life for the mission of Jesus.  

Another reality of life is this, those who humbly continue the mission of Jesus are often times persecuted also. Let us think about the many martyrs of the church who shed their blood for Jesus’ mission. There are many of them some became saints and some silently went to heaven. They never wavered in their fidelity to the mission of Jesus, they continued amidst the hardship and persecution. 

Let us say for example, what if we would also be called to witness for Jesus inside our respective families? Can we take the risk of speaking about the teachings of Jesus even if it’s unpopular to the majority of our family members?  

A faithful follower will never be afraid to speak about Jesus, for to speak for Jesus teachings is always right. But we must also do it in such a way that we do it with a mindset of humility, gentleness and love. Otherwise we wouldn’t be able to successfully share Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas