Feast of Saint Stephen, the first martyr

Perhaps each of us will ask or ask questions such as: why we remember during Christmas. The birth of the Lord Jesus and the very next day the death of St. Stephen diaconus, the first martyr. A certain artist said that at the beginning of his artistic career, the teacher was praised for the art lesson. The new priest confessed that the first impulse to think about the priesthood was for him the example of an old priest who worked in his village. Most children from the seventh
wanted to become an actor after a discussion with a well-known theater artist. If we were looking for the root of our profession or hobby, maybe we would similarly stop at a person from whom the “spark” of interest in something jumped at us, which we then devoted themselves with complete seriousness. Thus, every human-to-human encounter is very inspiring, and I dare say that it is also part of God’s plan.
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Jesus prepared all of us, including his contemporaries, today and those who believe in him until the end of time to testify about his relationship with him. He warned, “Protect people because you they will be issued by a court … “He predicted:” A brother will deliver a brother to death, and a father a child … “He adds:” All they will hate you for my name’s sake ”(Mathew 10, 17.21.22).
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On the second day of Christmas, the Church invites a meeting with the first martyr of the Church of St. Stephen. The feast of St. Stephen was indeed celebrated from the beginning. After his death, he became a Christian on this day; they commemorated the fidelity of St. Stephen to Jesus. The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord Jesus begins the Church celebrates in granting freedom. The birth of the Lord Jesus and the death of St. Stefan belongs to us to me. The Church is very wise when, after the proclamation of the “great joy,” the birth of ours, the Savior draws our attention to the martyrdom of a young deacon. The words of the Lord Jesus the testimony of him began to be fulfilled quickly. The deeds of the apostles represent St. Stephen as “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6: 5), a man who “is full of grace and strength, he did great wonders and signs among the people ”(Acts 6: 8). He belonged to the first generation of those who believed in Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. Christ’s death, resurrection, and sending of the Holy Spirit happened for many a change of life. In addition to the apostles, he participated in the proclamation and teaching of Jesus
and deacon Stephen. He proclaimed Christ by word, but especially by life. Of course, Stephen’s actions hindered many. It had time to come quickly to get those they had a share of the death of Jesus; they also took care to remove the unpleasant believer of Christ, Stephen. Pharisees and scribes they mailed them. At that time, “some so-called synagogues of the Libertines, the Cyrenians, rose and the Alexandrian’s, and those of Cilicia and Asia, and quarreling with Stephen. But they weren’t able to face the wisdom and the Spirit which he spoke ”(Acts 6: 9). These certainly did not know the words
the predictions of the Lord Jesus which he gave to all who will have to suffer for him: “But when will give, and don’t care how and what you say, for at that hour you will be given what you have to say ”(Mathew 10:19). Therefore, when Stefan spoke, he explained, gave evidence, taught them, then full of anger, ignorance, “their hearts were broken with anger, and their teeth were gnashed against him” (Acts 6:10). My
blindness, stupidity, could not destroy what Jesus sowed. And Stephen knew the words of the Lord Jesus: “But he who endures to the end will be saved ”(Mathew 17:22).
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Memories of St. Stephen tell us that the secret of Christmas can be brought to life; it is possible to live according to our Savior’s teachings, that this beautifully shapes human life. Today’s feast of St. Stefan can become an inspiration for our lives. It’s up to us or not we are ready for the “skipping of the spark” that ignites something new in human life.
The priest remembers the experience when he prayed in Stropkov in the monastery of the fathers Redemptorists at the tomb of Blessed P. Methods Dominik Trčka, Redemptorist, priest, and the martyr. At that time, an older woman with a small boy, probably a grandson, entered the temple. They sat down on the last bench. After a short prayer, the woman began to say something to the boy and alternately pointed to the icon and the reliquary with the remains of St. Method. The priest notes: as I walked past them, I heard only one sentence: “He loved Jesus very much …” Whole This simple scene reminded me of talking like the first Christians in the Romans they met at the catacombs at martyrs’ graves. How inspiring it would have to be for each one of them. How inspiring it must have been for the little boy
in the Stropkov church. Today’s holiday is a challenge for us to be open to me for inspiration, which is based on the life of St. Stefan, and I wish we could lead to a similar inspiration meeting even those around us. During Christmas, we go to church more often than we should; they opened themselves to God, received His words, inspired, and adjusted their future actions accordingly, life. Otherwise, we and those around us may be inspired by something else that will affect our
lives completely differently from meeting those who have lived their lives to the fullest in God. St. Stephan was like any of us. However, he was open to God. He worked with what he heard; he took from others about Jesus. And he himself developed this heritage in prayer. Christmas has been an important spiritual significance. Let a certain tradition, symbolism, awaken us to evaluate what we believed in; they have lived so far and have clarified things or specified in the future.

For example, the symbolic meaning of the Star of Bethlehem can also be enriched. When we plant it in its original framework, the star we observe over the manger also speaks to the spirit and heart of a third-millennium man. He speaks to the secularized man by arousing in him the desire of his life as a pilgrim on the path of seeking the truth and absolute. Who wouldn’t long for a “star” to guide him on his travels in this land? This need is felt by individuals as well as by entire nations. Jesus is this Star, and so on represents nations regardless of race or culture. Thus was born the Church, which is composed of men and women who, united in Christ, are led by the Holy Spirit on their pilgrimage to the Kingdom of the Father. We have received the message of salvation, which is presented to all people. This is the basis
of the missionary vocation of every Christian. Man cannot know for himself what God really is. That’s why he has a lot of misconceptions that people need to have explained. When God makes himself known to us if St. Stephan, we are obliged to help others know God, even if it will probably cost us our lives. Perhaps no word was abused as the word God. The US dollar says: “Let’s trust God.” On the belt of the German soldiers was the inscription: “God is with us.” Which word was as dirty as the word God? People killed him but also died for him.
People created ugly cartoons and wrote “God” under them. They murder and say, “In my name, there are people, some of whom seem to profess God as if they were with him. Hotline. Although St. We represent Joseph, I point out incorrectly, as an older man, we must not portray God as an older man with a beard, though a lovely one as a throne above the clouds. Not even for it is not above the clouds, but everywhere, if we want more precisely, and we are in the grace of God, so is it in our heart. Even though Christmas is short, we need to realize that God is not bound to space and time. Those who say that God must always listen to them as soon as they are the wrong turn to him with a request. God is not some coin-operated machine. God has a right also say “no.” God is not even a policeman to punish us right away for every little thing. Fight, however, is fair. God is not responsible for people’s mistakes. Everyone has a reason and is free
will. Ecology is also a human work. Weather changes and other things that bring disasters are not just punishment from God, but the effect we humans have caused in nature. We must not seek God in the forces of nature, but behind them as their last cause.

The girl lost a boy she loved in a car accident. She asked her uncle if God was interested in her love. Her uncle told her that God had other worries than worries about their love. Girl, she responded by saying, “When God is not interested in me, I am not interested in him either.”
We know that this view is wrong. God is inside every human being. We live in god we move, and we are. God is the deepest motive for our questions and through faith to us reveals us as a brother, friend, Father, our strength, Love. “God is Love” (1 Johan 4: 8).

The Feast of St. Stefan is in place during Christmas. Faith is not just something emotional, sweet, light, without obligations, children … Faith requires appropriate age, mission, position to take a responsible approach. Christmas is a time for us to learn, to have the right idea of ​​God, goals, the meaning of life …
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Christmas and in them the Birth of the Lord and the death of St. They represent Stephan right and right, the reality of life on earth, which does not end with death but continues in eternal life. It is right that today not only at the manger but as the Church teaches at St. Stefan’s intercession, and should beg for the necessary graces.