~~~ Acts of the Apostles 6:8-10, 7:54-59 ~~~Psalm 31~~~Matthew 10:17-22~~~
Today we commemorate the feast of Stephen, the first martyr.
We are reminded, while kneeling at the side of the crib,
of the cross.
We can fool ourselves into thinking only of this gift
of the Word becoming flesh.
The Word became flesh to accomplish one thing...
to save us from ourselves.
In just a few years the crib morphs into the cross.
The crib cradles the tiny body of our God made flesh.
The infant Jesus allows himself to be placed into the crib.
The crib represents peace and love.
For God so loved the world.
The cross ironically also represents peace and love
in the middle of the brutality of the crucifixion.
The body of Jesus is violently held onto the cross.
Nails held the crib together.
Nails held Jesus to the cross.
Saint Stephen drew his strength from the crib and the cross.
Without the crib we would not have the cross.
God wanted us to love him from the very beginning...
thus he took on the form of a baby.
Come Let us Adore him.
Today I am inspired by the faith of Saint Stephen.
When faced with his imminent death by stoning...
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.
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.
The Crib prepares us for the Cross.
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