First reading Acts 7:55-60
The stoning of Stephen
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.’ Then he knelt down and said aloud, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’; and with these words he fell asleep.
Responsorial Psalm 96(97):1-2b,6-7,9
The Lord is king, most high above all the earth.
or
Alleluia!
The Lord is king, let earth rejoice,
the many coastlands be glad.
His throne is justice and right.
The skies proclaim his justice;
all peoples see his glory.
All you spirits, worship him.
For you indeed are the Lord
most high above all the earth,
exalted far above all spirits.
Second reading Apocalypse 22:12-14,16-17,20
Come, Lord Jesus
I, John, heard a voice speaking to me: ‘Very soon now, I shall be with you again, bringing the reward to be given to every man according to what he deserves. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Happy are those who will have washed their robes clean, so that they will have the right to feed on the tree of life and can come through the gates into the city.
‘I, Jesus, have sent my angel to make these revelations to you for the sake of the churches. I am of David’s line, the root of David and the bright star of the morning.’
The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ Let everyone who listens answer, ‘Come.’ Then let all who are thirsty come: all who want it may have the water of life, and have it free.
The one who guarantees these revelations repeats his promise: I shall indeed be with you soon. Amen; come, Lord Jesus.
Gospel John 17:20-26
Father, may they be completely one
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:
‘Holy Father,
I pray not only for these,
but for those also
who through their words will believe in me.
May they all be one.
Father, may they be one in us,
as you are in me and I am in you,
so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.
I have given them the glory you gave to me,
that they may be one as we are one.
With me in them and you in me,
may they be so completely one
that the world will realize that it was you who sent me
and that I have loved them as much as you loved me.
Father, I want those you have given me
to be with me where I am,
so that they may always see the glory you have given me
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Father, Righteous One,
the world has not known you,
but I have known you,
and these have known that you have sent me.
I have made your name known to them
and will continue to make it known,
so that the love with which you loved me may be in them,
and so that I may be in them.’
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Faith in Jesus and unity with others
“As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’, and with these words he fell asleep” (1st reading). In the face of persecution, Stephen’s faith in Jesus remained steadfast. His gaze was not on his suffering, but he had his eyes fixed on Jesus, His strength and His refuge. At the end, his death was described as “falling asleep”, which reminds us that death is not a descent into nothingness, but a transition to a new life with Jesus. Today, let us be inspired by the story of Stephen, which invites us to keep trusting in Jesus, even as we face difficulties in life. In addition, as Christians, we are not to fear death because it is the door we will all one day pass through to enjoy true life with Jesus, our Friend and Master.
“May they all be one”: This prayer of Jesus continues to echo today. We are called to reflect God’s merciful love to others and constantly work for unity. Let us ask Jesus to help us build bridges, not walls.
Reflection question:
How can I strengthen my faith in Jesus and build unity with others?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
