Thursday, 25 December 2014

THEY WERE INFURIATED

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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