Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.”
Martyrdom
1) Stephen: Today is the day of Saint Stephen; the first person to die defending his faith and love for Christ. I take this opportunity to clarify that one thing is martyrdom and another is victimization. Martyrdom is giving your life for a cause that you are convinced of and that makes you feel fulfilled: to die for your faith, your family, your country. Those who victimise themselves, on the other hand, do things out of selfishness and always blame someone else for what happens to them, because they don’t accept their mistakes. According to these definitions, are you a victim or a martyr?
2) Testimony: I think that for a long time we have become used to a massive and popular Church. But today we celebrate martyrdom within Christmas, because it takes us back to our origin. Remember, we do not seek popularity, or this world’s success, we are called to bring Jesus to each and every person. We are Christians who are bearing witness to that encounter with Him. It is time to remember that our origin started in a humble manger.
3) The light: God will never abandon you. I understand there are moments when this life hurts, and there are things that bother us a lot, but He does not abandon us. Face and accept your responsibilities. We must pay the price for the decisions we have to make. Never stop moving forward, because God supports you. Come on! Heaven is our goal!
God-bless you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
