PRAYER MOMENT
Friday
26 December 2014, St Stephen
THEY
WERE INFURIATED
Pause. Enter into the stillness of God
within.
Reading: “They were infuriated when
they heard what Stephen said, and ground their teeth at him.” (Acts 6:8-10)
Reflection. I have often wondered why we
get so quickly out of the Christmas mood into the martyrdom mood with Stephen
coming in on 26 December. Stephen is stoned to death in a way that echoes the
death of Jesus. He even repeats the words, ‘forgive them for what they are
doing.’ Perhaps whoever made the decision to put Stephen on this day had in
mind that the birth of Jesus would lead to the birth of a community we call the
church, the People of God. There was no room in the inn for Mary and Joseph and
there was no room in the hearts of the Jewish leaders for the birth of the new
community after Pentecost. The Holy Father’s message on Christmas Day to the city
and the world hinged on the suffering and martyrdom of Christians and Muslims
in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria and other places. Jes us was indeed a ‘sign of
contradiction’ and he still is.
Prayer. Lord, we rejoice at your
birth. Help us to know the cost of discipleship and accept it. Amen.
David Harold-Barry SJ
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