Just a day after Christmas, we celebrate the martyrdom of St. Stephen, one of the seven first deacons of the Catholic Church. Christmas is not a mere instant of rejoicing but a serious act of God’s liberation of humanity. The mystery of Jesus' incarnation in the manger is inseparable from the mystery of the cross. Jesus warns us about the cost of becoming his followers. We too, like Stephen, should expect betrayal, hatred, rejection, persecutions even by those very close to us. St. Stephen teaches us today that faithfulness to Christ will always come with a price to pay but with a crown as a reward. The world has witnessed such powerful men and women coming from all of its corners. Christian witnessing is the great fighting force that Jesus has unleashed and continues to unleash against the powers of this world. May God fill us with grace and power so that we too, may be his faithful witnesses to our world today!

St. Stephen, pray for us!

Fr. Georges sac