Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 / Matthew 10:17-22
The festive celebrations of Christmas may have tapered off but actually the Christmas season has just begun.
But the odd thing is that the Christmas season begins with the martyrdom of St. Stephen.
The tenderness of the birth of Jesus was like broken and shattered by the violent death of St. Stephen.
We may wonder why the Church would place birth and death almost like next to each other.
But upon deeper reflection, we can also see that when Jesus came into this world, He also faced rejection and even hostility.
The martyrdom of St. Stephen was also a manifestation of the rejection and hostility at the love of God.
St. Stephen preached about the saving love of God but the people didn’t want to hear anything about it because of their pride and ego.
And that pride and ego exploded into violence when they silenced St. Stephen with stones.
But with his last breath, St. Stephen forgave his enemies and accepted his death.
So even in martyrdom and in death, the tender love of God still prevails.
That love would later bear fruit in the conversion of St. Paul who was there and approved of the killing of St. Stephen.
So whether it is the birth of Jesus or the martyrdom of St. Stephen, it is about God’s love.
Let us believe in God’s love and live by God’s love till our last breath.