Wednesday 26 December

Feast of St Stephen,
the first martyr

Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Psalm 30 (31):3-4, 6, 8, 16-17; Matthew 10:17-22

Trust in God

Jesus’ second discourse (Matthew 10) is on mission. It goes backwards and forwards between the life of Jesus and the later times of the early Church. The warning about persecution, and even conflict and division among families, speaks of those later times. Jesus offers advice and encouragement in the face of inevitable persecution. Disciples are to trust God. Just as the Spirit empowered Jesus and others, so disciples will be empowered by the Spirit. When the going gets tough, do I trust God and allow the Spirit to empower me?