Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr. The assigned readings are Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59 and Matthew 10:17-22. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 31 (Psalm 31: 3-4, 6, 8. 16-17).
The first reading is as follows:
Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.
When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Reflections on this feast day:
CatholicCulture: Feast of St. Stephen, first martyr
Pope Benedict XVI: Angeles Message, Feast of Saint Stephen (26 DEC 05)
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