FEAST OF SAINT STEPHEN, FIRST MARTYR - Gospel (Matthew 10:17-22) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- Dec 27, 2025
- 4 min read
FIRST READING - Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
"Behold, I see the heavens opened."
A reading from the Book of the Acts
8 [a]Now Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, 10 but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. 54 When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 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,[a] 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears,[b] and rushed upon him together. 58 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. 59 As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”[c]
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mt 10:17-22
"It will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking."
✠From the Gospel according to Matthew
17 [a]But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. 19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. 20 For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 [b]Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end[c] will be saved.
FEAST OF SAINT STEPHEN - FIRST MARTYR - Gospel (Matthew 10:17-22)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
In today's Word of God, God wants to tell all humanity that when anyone walks the path of Jesus Christ, they will have to go through difficulties, trials, hardships, and distress. Especially concerning the disciples following the Holy Master Jesus, He instructed them, saying, “for my name's sake, you will be hated by everyone, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.”
The Word of God reminds all the disciples that while still in this world and walking the path Jesus walked, they will encounter persecutions and condemnations;
For the Son of God Himself, out of love for humanity, came down to earth, also had to endure difficulties, persecutions, condemnations, suffering, and death.
God wants to instruct the apostles about this beforehand, so that they may be vigilant when facing difficulties and trials, hoping they will stand firm against the temptations of Satan. Humanity today is falling into many of Satan's traps.
God calls His apostles to be courageous and joyful witnesses to the love of God present in this world.
It is the love of God that will drive away darkness and sin; it will overthrow the traps or schemes of Satan; and with faithfulness and loyalty in following the footsteps of Jesus Christ, the apostles will overcome trials and difficulties.
God also instructed them, saying that when you are brought before the council, questioned, condemned, and persecuted, do not worry, do not be afraid, do not retreat, for at that very moment, the Spirit of the Holy Spirit will protect, guard, shelter, and guide you to know what to say to please God, and what to say so that Satan must submit.
Through the lesson Jesus Christ taught the apostles in the past. Today, He also calls all His apostles to listen to the word that God commands and to look up at the image of Jesus, the God of love, who died on the cross, so that from this, they may remain faithful and steadfast in following the path of the cross of Jesus Christ.
For only by going through the cross, going through suffering, can one reach glory.
Today, God wants humanity to look up at the image of the protomartyr Stephen and to follow his virtues, which are charity, selflessness, and the love that conquered death.
He himself was wholeheartedly faithful and loyal to God the Father and trusted absolutely in the love of God the Father, believing that God will save his soul when he courageously bears witness to the holy name of God, the God of love, in this world.
God calls His apostles to know to entrust their souls to His Will and care and also to be willing to forgive those who harm or even kill them, to let love triumph over death, hatred, jealousy, and selfishness, and to live with love, charity, and selflessness, just as the Son of God, who is love, lived and died on the cross out of love for all humanity.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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