Monday 26 December

Saint Stephen

Acts 6: 8-10, 7: 54-59, Ps. 31, Matthew 10: 17-23

Mary, mother of Stephen

Mary, they run to tell you,
Stephen stoned!
He witnessed Christ;
saw him at God’s right hand.
He prayed for his killers.
Mary, your heart torn,
your soul sword pierced!
Why do we bring this
so close to Christmas?
To shatter joy?
Mary, “No,” you say,
“that joy is tinsel.
The deep joy of Christians
bears pain without anger.