Wednesday 26 December

St Stephen, Protomartyr, Feast

Acts 6:8-10,7:54-60, Ps 31, Matthew 10:17-22

Forgiveness

All we know of St Stephen is found in Chapters 6 and 7 of the Acts of the Apostles. A martyr for Christ is someone who bore witness to him by giving up his or her life. Stephen was the first person to do this for Jesus. He teaches us to forgive our enemies as Jesus did, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” were his last words. Is there any person I need to forgive? Also he imitated Jesus with his plea, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit.” That is a great “good night” prayer isn’t it!