The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to preserve as followers of Christ even as we witness the tragedy around us that seems to support the cliche of “No good deed goes unpunished”.
The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles proclaims the Accusation against Stephen prior to Stephen’s Martyrdom.
* [6:8–8:1] The summary (Acts 6:7) on the progress of the Jerusalem community, illustrated by the conversion of the priests, is followed by a lengthy narrative regarding Stephen. Stephen’s defense is not a response to the charges made against him but takes the form of a discourse that reviews the fortunes of God’s word to Israel and leads to a prophetic declaration: a plea for the hearing of that word as announced by Christ and now possessed by the Christian community. The charges that Stephen depreciated the importance of the temple and the Mosaic law and elevated Jesus to a stature above Moses (Acts 6:13–14) were in fact true. Before the Sanhedrin, no defense against them was possible. With Stephen, who thus perceived the fuller implications of the teachings of Jesus, the differences between Judaism and Christianity began to appear. Luke’s account of Stephen’s martyrdom and its aftermath shows how the major impetus behind the Christian movement passed from Jerusalem, where the temple and law prevailed, to Antioch in Syria, where these influences were less pressing. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
* [7:55] He…saw…Jesus standing at the right hand of God: Stephen affirms to the Sanhedrin that the prophecy Jesus made before them has been fulfilled (Mk 14:62).
* [7:57] Covered their ears: Stephen’s declaration, like that of Jesus, is a scandal to the court, which regards it as blasphemy.
* [7:59] Compare Lk 23:34, 46. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 31 declares the psalmist feels overwhelmed by evil people but trusts in the “God of truth”.
* [Psalm 31] A lament (Ps 31:2–19) with a strong emphasis on trust (Ps 31:4, 6, 15–16), ending with an anticipatory thanksgiving (Ps 31:20–24). As is usual in laments, the affliction is couched in general terms. The psalmist feels overwhelmed by evil people but trusts in the “God of truth” (Ps 31:6).
* [31:6] Into your hands I commend my spirit: in Lk 23:46 Jesus breathes his last with this Psalm verse. Stephen in Acts 7:59 alludes to these words as he is attacked by enemies. The verse is used as an antiphon in the Divine Office at Compline, the last prayer of the day. (Psalms, PSALM 31 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew proclaims Coming Persecutions.
* [10:17] The persecutions attendant upon the post-resurrection mission now begin to be spoken of. Here Matthew brings into the discourse sayings found in Mk 13 which deals with events preceding the parousia.
* [10:21] See Mi 7:6 which is cited in Mt 10:35, 36.
* [10:22] To the end: the original meaning was probably “until the parousia.” But it is not likely that Matthew expected no missionary disciples to suffer death before then, since he envisages the martyrdom of other Christians (Mt 10:21). For him, the end is probably that of the individual’s life (see Mt 10:28). (Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)
Candice Tucci, OSF, comments that today, there are still martyrs of the faith. Individuals who give and gave witness to the Gospel through their lives. We live in a complex world of war, hunger, military presence in countries, cities, religious biases, racial prejudices, and people die. Love prevails! We can still celebrate Christmas in these times because we know Easter. God’s gift of everlasting LOVE and LIFE to us.
Christians are people of hope in their belief. We pray ancient psalms with words of confidence that give us comfort, for we know a history of a faithful God.
Be my rock of refuge,
A stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
For your name’s sake, you will lead and guide me…
Let your face shine upon your servant;
Save me in your kindness.
In continuing the works of Jesus and knowing that the face of Jesus shines upon us, no matter when or how the time comes, can we say with peace and great conviction, like Stephen, LIKE JESUS, “Into your hands, my God, I commend my spirit”. (Tucci, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Your Father speaks through you in every age,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"To be sure, we heard in that reading, 'But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious how or what you are to speak... for it is not you who are speaking but the Spirit of your Father who speaks through you.' And he says in another place: 'Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the world' (Matthew 28:20). Does this mean that the people who heard those words of the Lord would be here until the end of the world? The Lord was referring, rather, not only to those about to depart from this life but also to the others, including us and those who would come after us in this life. He saw everyone in his single body, and the words he spoke, 'I am with you even to the end of the world,' were heard by them and by us too. And if we did not hear them then in our knowledge, we heard them in his foreknowledge. Therefore, safe as sheep among the wolves, let us keep the commandments of him who directs us. And let us be 'innocent as doves but cautious as snakes' (Matthew 10:16). Innocent as doves that we may not harm anyone; cautious as snakes that we may be careful of letting anyone harm us." (excerpt from SERMON 64A.2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 comments on Stephen’s joy and courage in the face of death and also reveals that Jesus came to bring an end to death itself for everyone who believes. He shows how our trust in the Lord and our faith in Jesus’ promises can free us from the fear of death.
So today, follow the example of our first martyr, who “looked up intently to heaven” and saw the risen Lord (Acts 7:55). Don’t fix your eyes only on the child in the manger; gaze also at “the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (7:55). Let that vision fill your heart with joy and confidence.
“St. Stephen, pray that my heart might be transformed by a vision of the risen Lord!” (Meditation on Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler shares a reflection on the texts today. The Acts of the Apostles identifies Stephen as one of the seven deacons commissioned to care for the widows and orphans. He was a Greek speaker and possibly annoyed the Temple authorities. They decide to kill him in a kangaroo court without the permission of the Roman Authorities. The Gospel of Matthew reminds us that the “Son of Man” was a title used by Jesus and Stephen asked for forgiveness for his persecutors in a portion of the chapter not cited today. Jesus is with those suffering. Being a Christian means paying a price. Friar Jude notes that the Gospel reminds us that the Spirit will give us support in what to say when we are called to give witness even in dying to the daily annoyances in our life.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Franciscan sister and scientist Ilia Delio focuses on the theology of the incarnation and the universal nature of the Christ mystery.
So does everyone have to become Christian to know the Christ? Absolutely not. Christ is more than Jesus. Christ is the communion of divine personal love expressed in every created form of reality—every star, leaf, bird, fish, tree, rabbit, and human person. Everything is christified because everything expresses divine love incarnate. However, Jesus Christ is the “thisness” of God, so what Jesus is by nature everything else is by grace (divine love). We are not God, but every single person is born out of the love of God, expresses this love in [their] unique personal form, and has the capacity to be united with God…. Because Jesus is the Christ, every human is already reconciled with every other human in the mystery of the divine, so that Christ is more than Jesus alone. Christ is the whole reality bound in a union of love. (Rohr, n.d.)
As we look out on the “Feast of Stephen” today, the snow truly is “round about crisp and bright and even” and we ponder the paradox of persecution of the people bringing care and compassion to people by those in power threatened by lives defined by love.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/6?8
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/7?55#52007055
Matthew, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?
Meditation on Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/12/26/1459409/
Psalms, PSALM 31 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/31?3
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-universal-christ/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The One Who Endures to the End Will Be Saved. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
Tucci, C. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-december-26-2025
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