Carracci Annibale, The Stoning of St Stephen

 

First reading Acts 6:8-10,7:54-59

The martyrdom of Stephen

Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people. But then certain people came forward to debate with Stephen, some from Cyrene and Alexandria who were members of the synagogue called the Synagogue of Freedmen, and others from Cilicia and Asia. They found they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said. They were infuriated when they heard this, and ground their teeth at him.
  But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ‘I can see heaven thrown open’ he said ‘and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this all the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they all rushed at him, sent him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses put down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul. As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’
 

Responsorial Psalm 30(31):3-4,6,8,16-17

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
 
Be a rock of refuge for me,
  a mighty stronghold to save me,
for you are my rock, my stronghold.
  For your name’s sake, lead me and guide me.
 
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
  It is you who will redeem me, Lord.
As for me, I trust in the Lord:
  let me be glad and rejoice in your love.
 
My life is in your hands, deliver me
  from the hands of those who hate me.
Let your face shine on your servant.
  Save me in your love.
 

Gospel Matthew 10:17-22

The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.
  ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved.’
 
________________________________________________________________
 
26th December 2020 Saturday 1st Day in the Octave of Christmas – St. Stephen.

Reflection
Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59, Matthew 10:17-22

“Following Jesus to the end”
“As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, ‘Lord, receive my spirit.’” From celebrating the birth of a child, we move today to celebrate the death of the first martyr. As we read the account of the death of St. Stephen in the first reading, we see his commitment to give his everything, including his very life, to that infant born in Bethlehem. At his death, St. Stephen was able to say “Lord, receive my spirit” because he precisely lived his daily life for Jesus.

Today, as we contemplate on baby Jesus in the manger, let us, desire to imitate St. Stephen by recommitting ourselves to love and serve Him above all else. At the end of our life, may we too be able to say with trust, “Lord, receive my spirit”.

Question for reflection:
Reflecting on the story of St. Stephen, how do I want to live my discipleship?
??????????

26 hb Disember 2020 Hari Sabtu Hari Ke -1 di Oktaf Krismasa – St. Stephen.

Renungan
Kisah Para Rasul 6:8-10; 7:54-59,
Matius 10:17-22

“Mengikuti Yesus hingga akhir”
“Ketika mereka melemparkan batu ke arahnya, Stefanus berdoa, Ya Tuhan Yesus, terimalah rohku.”
Dari merayakan kelahiran seorang anak, kita beralih untuk merayakan kematian martir yang pertama. Ketika kita membaca tentang kematian St. Stephen melalui bacaan pertama, kita melihat komitmen yang dilakukannya; memberi segala yang dimilikinya, termasuk hidupnya sendiri kepada anak yang lahir di Bethlehem. Pada watu kematiannya, St. Stephen dapat mengatakan “Tuhan terimalah rohku” kerana dia menjalani hidup hariannya untuk Yesus.
Hari ini, saat kita merenungkan bayi Yesus dipalungan, marilah memiliki keinginan untuk meniru St. Stephen dengan berkomitmen kembali untuk mengasihi dan melayani Dia lebih dari segalanya. Pada akhir hidup kita semoga kita juga dapat mengatakan dengan penuh kepercayaan, “Tuhan terimalah rohku”.

Soalan Renungan: :
Dengan merenungkan kisah St. Stephen, bagaimana saya ingin menjalani hidup sebagai rasul?
??????????

26 Disember 2020, Orou Koonom, St. Stephen

Rinalatan 6:8-10, 7:54-59, Matius 10:17-22

Maya’ ri Jisus saboi ra pupus
“Paat ra ilo nomomobol riso, indagu ra pakiasian, ‘Tuhan, apuo noyo ambiluo kuti.’ “
Intor ra mangiantak ra sangulun lalagang inanak, minsir takau ra orou raiti’ mangiantak ra pinatayan ru sangulun martir ondo’ kasaa’. Paat ra itakau mambasa’ ra tunung ru pinatayan ri Santo Stipanus, makito takau ra totopot Io mirot ra io nampataak ra ngaangai’, pinaaya’ ngai’ ru kaayagan nano ra lalagang ondo’ inanak giu’ ra Bitliim. Paat ra io matoi, Santo Stipanus nakaindagu, “Tuhan, apuo’ ambiluo kuti” sabap ri Jisus noyo kaayagan nano ra moonong orou.
Orou raiti’, ra itakau mampaguang ra lalagang Jisus ralalom pampakanan ra bibiag, ibok takau, moogot tumilu koson ri Santo Stipanus ra tojojo piroton takau galama’ motogom am mangandoi Riso intor ra ngaangai’. Paat ra pupus ru kaayagan takau, gama’ ru itakau pana makaindagu pabayaan ra mangintopot, “Tuhan, apuo’ ambiluo kuti”.

Pangkuatan ra paguangin:
1) Karaan saguli’ poyo tunung ri Santo Stipanus, ati kulaan masaga’ aku maayag ra aku ti maamaya’?
♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️

26-12-2020 Hari Enam Oktaf Krismas. – St. Stephen

Renungan
Kereja Rasul 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22

“Nitih ka Jesus datai ba adan.”
“Lebuh sida benung nuku Stepen ngena batu, iya besampi, “Tuhan Jesus, sambut semengat aku!”

Bepun ari ngintu pengada Siko Anak, kitai mindah ngagai ngerami pemati siko orang ketegal pengarap. Dalam jalai jerita St. Stephen, kitai meda komitmen iya ti nyerah semua utai nyengkaum pengidup iya ngagai Anak Mit ti ada ba Bethlehem. Lebuh maya pemati, St. Stephen iya bejako, “Tuhan Jesus, sambut semengat aku” laban amat diau nitih pengidup ketegal Jesus.

Saritu, kitai betati ka Anak Mit Jesus ti ba dulang, aran kitai keran deka nitih St. Stephen enggau ngemaru ka komitmen kitai deka rindu enggau mela Iya ari atas semua. Ba pengujong pengidup kitai, awak kitai ulih nyebut enggau pengarap, “Tuhan, sambut semengat aku”.

Belematika jalai jerita St. Stephen, kati aku ulih diau nyadi baka murid?
??????????

2020年12月26日圣诞八日庆期第二天 圣斯德望

省思
《宗六:8-10;
七:54-59》
《玛十:17-22》
“跟随耶稣到最后”
“当他們用石頭砸斯德望的时候,他祈求說:「主耶稣!接我的灵魂去吧!”

从欢庆一位孩子的诞生到今天我们迎接一位烈士的牺牲。在读经一我们读到圣斯德望的牺牲,从这里我们看到他对一切的责任感,包括他的生命,献于那位出身在伯利恒的婴儿。在他面龄死亡时,圣斯德望能说”主啊,接我的灵魂去吧”,这是因为他是为了耶稣而活。
今天,当我们专注在马槽里的婴儿耶稣,我们也要向圣斯德望学习,把自己完全的去爱和奉献天主。当我们在我生命的尽头时,我们也能很信任的说,”主啊,接我的灵魂去吧。”

省思题:
反省着圣斯德望的故事,我要如何活着我的信徒之路?
??????????

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr. Sandra Seow FMVD.