Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 / Matthew 10:17-22
Yesterday, we celebrated the feast of Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
In this deep mystery of the Incarnation, we believe that God came to the world and became one like us.
God became man, so that man can become like God.
God chose to become like man, but it is for man to choose whether he wants to be like God.
As for St. Stephen, he believed in Jesus as his Lord and Saviour, and he went about proclaiming the Good News of salvation.
St. Stephen chose to follow Jesus, but he may not have thought of being martyred for doing so.
But the events and circumstances led him to that point when he had to declare his faith in the face of opposition and hostility.
From then on, there was no turning back as St. Stephen went on to witness to Jesus by lying down his life, and thus, he became the first martyr for Jesus.
When we believe in the mystery of the Incarnation, that God so loved us that He even became like one of us, then we too must witness to our belief.
We may not know how or where or when we will witness to Jesus.
But when the comes, let us like St. Stephen, witness to Jesus faithfully and courageously.
As Jesus said in the gospel, the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.