In the middle of Christmas celebrations it seems strange to be celebrating the feast of a man who died a horrible death, death by stoning. But it is a reminder of what exactly we are celebrating. We are remembering the birth of a child, who is the Son of God, who will grow up and proclaim through his words and his whole lifestyle the message he brings from his Father - the mission to establish the Reign of God on earth and to invite people everywhere to become actively part of it.

It is a mission founded on love, service and sharing. However, it is a message that many will find threatening so that they reject it entirely. So many will turn against Jesus so that he will be arrested, tortured and eventually executed in a most horrible and painful manner. This we see not as a failure but rather as the triumph of the highest level of loving service - to give one's life in love for others. This, as the Gospel tells us, is paradoxically Jesus' moment of greatest glory.

But, as Jesus reminds us in today's Gospel, what happened to him is likely to happen to anyone who follows fully in his footsteps. We too are likely to be 'handed over' and many indeed have been. And so in today's feast we see someone who followed so closely in the footsteps of Jesus. We may not have to make such a sacrifice but let us pray we may have the courage to be ready to love whatever the cost.