Dec 26- Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Lễ kính Thánh Têphanô Tử Đạo

Dec 26- Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Lễ kính Thánh Têphanô Tử Đạo
Có lẽ chúng cảm thấy là lạ kỳ khi Giáo Hội mừng kính đặc biệt về cái chết của một vị thánh ngay sau ngày chúng ta mừng Chúa Giáng Sinh. Một số người nói rằng có thề là Giáo Hội để nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng niềm vui và đau khổ, vinh quang và thập giá không bao giờ có thể tách rời trong cuộc sống của một người Kitô hữu. Điều này đúng. Cũng như như chúng ta đang suy niệm về Lời Chúa trong bài đọc hôm nay, Ngài cũng  nhắc nhở cho chúng ta là Chúa đã ban cho chúng ta tất cả những Ân Sủng mà chúng ta cần để chúng ta có thể sống trong cuộc sống này đó chính là Chúa Giêsu.
Lễ kính thánh Stêphanô tử Đạo luôn luôn là một cơ hội để nhắc nhở một lần nữa chúng ta hãy nhìn Chúa Hài Nhi đang trong nằm trong máng cỏ của tâm hồn chúng ta và tự hỏi con : "chúng ta có vẫn muốn ôm ấp Chúa Hài Nhi bé nhỏ này ở trong tâm hồn của chúng ta, thậm chí chúng ta có thể phải chịu đau khổ và mất nmạng sống mình vì danh Chúa Kitô? "Nếu được như thế thì chúng ta cũng như Thánh Gioan Tẩy Giả, Chúng ta phải trở nên nhỏ bé và thấp hền đê danh Chúa được Vinh danh và cả sáng.
 
Friday 26th Dec St Stephen, Proto martyr
Isn’t it strange to see how the Church puts the commemoration of a saint’s death immediately after the celebration of our Lord’s birth? Some say that it is to remind us that joy and sorrow, the glory and the Cross can never be separated in the life of a Christian. This is true. As I meditate on the Word of God in today’s readings, He is telling me the same thing: that a Christian is one who is so willing to give his entire life just to embrace fully the greatest gift that God has given him — Jesus, “God with us.”
            The Feast of Saint Stephen is always a great opportunity to remind us Christians to gaze once more on the Child lying in the manger of our hearts and ask ourselves, “Am I still willing to embrace this Holy Infant dwelling in me, even if it costs my entire life to do so?” For this is what it means to decrease so that Christ may increase in us. Father, let me experience how much You love me by not withholding from me Your most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus, so that I may embrace him fully, even if giving up my entire life is what it takes to have him.
 
26th Dec St Stephen, Proto martyr
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.” Matthew 10:17–18
These words capture the essence of the martyrdom of Saint Stephen, the Church’s first martyr, whom we honor today. The day after celebrating the birth of Christ, the Church, in her wisdom, reflects on the reality of persecution as a consequence of worshiping the newborn King.
The Jewish community in Jerusalem was diverse, with traditional Hebraic Jews and Hellenistic Jews who were influenced by the Greco-Roman culture. As Jews began to convert to Christianity, a new unified community of believers emerged. Despite this unity, tensions arose, particularly when Hellenistic widows were neglected in the daily distribution of bread. To address this, the Apostles appointed seven deacons, with Stephen being the first, likely a Hellenist himself.
Stephen, described as “a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,” performed great wonders among the people. When confronted by Hellenistic Jews, he defended the faith with wisdom and courage, leading to his being dragged before the Sanhedrin. His eloquent defense angered his opponents, resulting in his stoning. In his final moments, Stephen commended his spirit to Jesus and prayed for his persecutors.
At first, his martyrdom seemed a tragic loss that sparked a wave of persecution and scattered the Christian community throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. This dispersion, however, spread the Gospel beyond Jerusalem, leading to many new converts. What appeared to be a tragedy became a catalyst for the growth of the early Church.
As we honor Saint Stephen, reflect on the truth that God permits evil only to draw greater good from it. If you face suffering or persecution, let today’s feast inspire hope. Trust in God’s plan, reject fear, and embrace His will, knowing that He can use every cross for His glory.
Saint Stephen, you were a man filled with grace and power, deeply committed to Jesus and the proclamation of the Gospel. Please pray for me, that I will have your courage and faith so that God can use me to further His Kingdom by drawing many souls to Him. Saint Stephen, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
26th Dec St Stephen, Proto martyr
Opening Prayer: Lord God, grant me the courage of your Spirit to bear witness to you and your Son. Help me to know what to say and do in the right moments. With your Spirit as my consolation, I will persevere in your love.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Stephen’s Relics: Yesterday, we celebrated Jesus’ birth on earth. Today, we celebrate Stephen’s birth into heaven. This teaches us that Christ’s coming into the world leads to the passion and death of his followers, who share in Christ’s sacrifice. But the real reason why we celebrate Stephen on this day is that his relics were discovered on December 26, 415, by a priest named Lucian. The priest had a vision of Gamaliel, the teacher of St. Paul, who told him the location of Stephen’s tomb, his own tomb, and that of Nicodemus. Lucian doubted the vision, thinking it was only a dream. But three weeks later, Gamaliel appeared again to Lucian and rebuked him for his lack of faith. When the relics of Stephen were recovered on December 26 and placed in a chest in the Church of Our Lady , more than 70 people were healed from various ailments. St. Augustine welcomed the relics of St. Stephen to his cathedral in Hippo and told stories of countless miraculous healings through the intercession of Stephen in his book, City of God.
2. Stephen’s Debate: The Acts of the Apostles records the main points of Stephen’s preaching and debate. Opposition to Stephen’s preaching was fierce. Just as Jesus preached about the coming destruction of the Temple, the fulfillment of the Law of Moses, and the rejection of the Messiah, Stephen does the same. And when Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin and falsely accused (Acts 6:13), we hear a misrepresentation of his preaching. This recalls the trial of Jesus and how the religious authorities misrepresented Jesus’ teaching. In his defense, Stephen moves through the Scriptures and points out all the places and times God appeared away from the Temple. He also points out how Israel rejected the prophets, leaders, and saviors sent by God. What Stephen is driving home is that God can be worshipped anywhere and not just in the Jerusalem Temple, and that Jesus was a true prophet rejected by the religious authorities (see Bergsma, New Testament Basics for Catholics, 145).
3. Stephen’s Mantle: The laying of cloaks at the feet of Saul has deep symbolism. Just as Elisha picked up the mantle of Elijah and was granted a double portion of Elijah’s prophetic spirit, so also Saul will pick up the mantle of Stephen. Saul, who became Paul, preached a message that was inspired by Stephen’s message. Both spent their lives contemplating how the New Covenant brought the Old Covenant to fulfillment. In his preaching, Stephen tried to show how the Old Temple and the Law were brought to fulfillment in the New Temple of the Church and the New Law of charity. In his letters, Paul expounds how the works of the Old Law, like that of circumcision, do not justify us. What justifies us, both Jews and Gentiles, is faith working through love (Galatians 5:1-6). Paul truly displays a double portion of Stephen’s spirit and, like Stephen, will be martyred for his faith in Christ.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you have given us the ultimate example of what it means to be a faithful martyr. You sacrificed yourself every day on our behalf, spoke the truth to all people, and gave your life so that we might live eternally with you.