Feast of Saint Stephen

Jesus said to his disciples: "Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. 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. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.” -Matthew 10:17-22

It comes down to trust and whether we believe what Jesus told us. He said He would go to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house. If we trust His words, we should not care about protecting our position in this world.

Moments after my auto accident, I had the sense that this world seemed fake and that there was a place, somewhere, that was true and real. I later would be given a glimpse of that other world and the Holy Spirit, who infused His knowledge into me for a time.

Open yourself to the Holy Spirit, speaking boldly in the truth of the Lord. We can only wear one crown, either the one of this world or the one offered by our Father. To choose to endure the crown fashioned by Christ is to choose salvation, if only we trust in the Lord.

Merry Christmas!

Saint Stephen, pray for us.

Click on the Link for the Daily Reading.

Jesus, I trust in you!