December 26, 2014 Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr
• 04:12 AM Fri Dec 26, 2014
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Reading 1
Stephen, filled with grace and
power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of
the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen,
Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people
from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could
not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.
When they heard this, they were
infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, filled with the Holy
Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus
standing at the right hand of God, and he said, Behold, I see the heavens
opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried
out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They
threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down
their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning
Stephen, he called out Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Responsorial
Psalm
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I
commend my spirit.
Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold
to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress for
your name’s sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I
commend my spirit.
Into your hands I commend my
spirit you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God. I will rejoice and be glad
because of your mercy.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I
commend my spirit.
Rescue me from the clutches of my
enemies and my persecutors. Let your face shine upon your servant save me in
your kindness.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I
commend my spirit.
Gospel Mt
10:17-22
Jesus said to his disciplesand 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.”