26 Dec Tue Feast of St Stephen, protomartyr Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59 Ps. 31:3-4, 6-7, 8, 17, 21 Mt. 10:17-22 How To Pray With Shalom Home Page of Shalom Index of This Month        The last words of Stephen are a profound confession of faith and a prayer of resignation. In addressing his prayer to Jesus, Stephen affirms his faith in the resurrection: Jesus is alive and has overcome death and has ascended to the Father's right hand. In calling Jesus "Lord", Stephen affirms the divinity of Christ.     As a prayer of resignation, Stephen's last words are remarkably similar to the last words of Jesus on the cross. According to Luke's account, Jesus' last words were a prayer from Psalm 31:5: "Father, into your hand I commit my spirit".     Stephen was the first martyr of the Church and, as far as we know, the first Christian to die. In presenting the martyrdom of Stephen and the death of Jesus as both crowned with the same prayer, Luke is obviously telling us to look at all Christian death, especially the death of martyrs, in close association with the death of Jesus. In celebrating the martyrdom of Stephen immediately after Christmas Day, the Church is reinforcing the teaching of Luke. With Herod's wickedness, the shadow of the cross fell across the manger of Jesus' birth. The death of Stephen reminded the early Church that the way to life and glory is the way of the cross.      Father, into Your hand I commit my spirit. DAILY OFFERING Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen. PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH INTENTION That the celebration of the Jubilee may become the source of a new commitment in men and women of good will to protect and promote human life. MORE
- END - P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H     INTENTION : That the celebration of the Jubilee may become the source of a new commitment in men and women of good will to protect and promote human life. In the threshold of the year 2001, it is our duty to renew our commitment to safeguarding the dignity of the poor and marginalised and to recognise in a practical way the rights of those who have no rights. This is the spirit of the new millennium which presupposes the following: The basic right to life which is inviolable which involves a positive choice for life. The development of a culture of this kind embraces all the circumstances of life and ensures the promotion of human dignity in every situation. Recent developments in the field of genetic engineering present a profoundly disquieting challenge. In order that scientific research in this area may be at the service of the person, it must be accompanied at every stage by careful ethical reflection, which will bring about adequate legal norms safeguarding the integrity of human life. Life can never be downgraded to the level of a thing. To choose life involves rejecting every form of violence. In every circumstance, the right to life must be promoted and safeguarded with appropriate legal and political guarantees. Let us raise our voices on their behalf. - END -