December 26 , 2024 Daily Dose of Discernment

I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. (Matthew 23:34)

We celebrate today the Feast of Saint Stephen, the first martyr. His is such a powerful example of following in the footsteps of Jesus. It is so fitting that his feast day is right next to the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord. Like his Lord, this saint offered his life in service of God and his neighbor. And like his Lord, as he was being cruelly executed by his fellow Jews, he asked Him not to count their sin against them. What Christlikeness!

Let us have the same attitude that was in Christ Jesus, just like Stephen did. Our Lord waived His rights and privileges and embraced inconveniences and sufferings for the sake of his brothers who couldn't deserve it less. We can do the same because we have all received of His fullness.