26 December: St. Stephen, First Martyr
I Reading: Acts 6: 8-10; 7: 54-59: I can see heaven thrown open.
Gospel: Mt 10: 17-22: It is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit
of your Father will be speaking in you.
Jesus’ warning of persecution (Mt 10: 16-23)
In
this passage, Christ was warning his disciples about the coming of future
persecutions. The disciples are like sheep in the midst of wolves. They can be
expected to be persecuted at any time in any where for the sake of Jesus
Christ. He counselled them on how to deal with persecution.
Today
we celebrate the first martyr of the Church St. Stephen, the first Christian
bearing witness to Jesus Christ by shedding of his blood believing in these
encouraging words of Jesus Christ. During the time of trail and persecution, he
knelt down and said aloud “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” He could
forgive his enemies because he experienced the love, mercy and forgiveness of
Jesus in his life. Thus he could see heaven thrown open and the Son of man standing
at the right hand of God. When the persecutors were stoning him, he prayed,
“Lord Jesus receive my spirit.”
1. Two facts must be kept in mind
(v.16):
a.
Disciples
are commissioned: sent forth.
b.
Disciples
are as sheep among wolves.
2. Counsel 1: be wise and harmless
(v.16).
3. Counsel 2: beware of men (17-18).
a.
The
persecutors: the state and the religionists.
b.
The
reasons you will be persecuted:
1.
For the Lord’s sake
2.
To be a testimony.
4. Counsel 3: do not worry about a
defence (19-20).
a.
God
will meet your need
b.
God’s
Spirit will speak through you
5. Counsel 4: know that families will
be divided (21).
6. Counsel 5: endure to the end (22).
7. Counsel 6: flee persecution (23).
Thought: The
Lord’s witness is to have a snake-like mind (clever) and a dove-like spirit
(innocent). The Lord’s people and messengers are exposed to a world of evil
people (wolves). Therefore be wise or shrewd as snake and be innocent or
harmless as dove.
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