Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr
A day after commemorating the birth of the one who came to bring us life, we commemorate the first Christian martyr, St. Stephen, whose faith in this little one would cost him his life. But we know that death does not have the final word. Moments before his death, Stephen sees the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father, he announces it to those present, and he confidently surrenders his spirit to the Lord.
What an example for the Christian people! At its etymological root, a martyr is a witness, one who sees something, is willing to make sense of it, articulate it into words and share it with others. Our fate may not be the same as St. Stephens, but are we willing to notice the presence of God in our life, taking time to reflect on the many ways He is and has acted, being attentive, seeing with the eyes of faith, being true witnesses? Each day and till our very last we may surrender our spirit more and more to the one who came that we may always have life.
St. Stephen, pray for us!