{"id":523,"date":"2014-12-26T20:45:42","date_gmt":"2014-12-27T01:45:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/?p=523"},"modified":"2014-12-26T21:50:28","modified_gmt":"2014-12-27T02:50:28","slug":"catholic-mass-feast-of-saint-stephen-protomartyr-12-26-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/catholic-mass-feast-of-saint-stephen-protomartyr-12-26-14\/","title":{"rendered":"CATHOLIC MASS: Feast of Saint Stephen, Protomartyr 12.26.14"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-126 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Bible-200.jpg\" alt=\"Bible-200\" width=\"200\" height=\"133\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Bible-200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Bible-200-150x99.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>&#8220;&#8230; filled with the Holy Spirit, [Stephen] looked up intently to Heaven and &#8230;\u00a0said, &#8216;Behold, I see the Heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the Right Hand of God.&#8217; &#8230; they &#8230; began to stone him. &#8230;\u00a0As they were stoning Stephen, he called out &#8216;Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"float:right;padding-left:10px;padding-top:10px;\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.dpbolvw.net\/click-7380954-10751356\" target=\"_top\">\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ftjcfx.com\/image-7380954-10751356\" width=\"180\" height=\"150\" alt=\"\" border=\"0\"\/><\/a>\r\n<\/div>\n<p><a title=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/bible\/readings\/122614.cfm\" href=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/bible\/readings\/122614.cfm\" target=\"_blank\">Mass Readings 12.26.14<\/a>\u00a0&#8212;\u00a0<a title=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/bible\/acts\/6:8\" href=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/bible\/acts\/6:8\" target=\"_blank\">ACTS 6:8-10; 7:54-59<\/a>\u00a0&#8212;\u00a0<a title=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/31:3\" href=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/31:3\" target=\"_blank\">PS 31:3CD-4, 6 AND 8AB, 16BC AND 17<\/a>\u00a0&#8212;\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/bible\/matthew\/10:17\">MT 10:17-22<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"http:\/\/www.masstimes.org\/\" href=\"http:\/\/www.masstimes.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Find a Mass: MassTimes.org<\/a>\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0<a title=\"http:\/\/www.thecatholicdirectory.com\/\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thecatholicdirectory.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Find a Mass: TheCatholicDirectory.com<\/a>\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0<a title=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/dailymass\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/dailymass\" target=\"_blank\">VIDEO: Daily Mass \u2013 Toronto<\/a>\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0<a title=\"http:\/\/www.catholictv.com\/shows\/daily-mass\" href=\"http:\/\/www.catholictv.com\/shows\/daily-mass\" target=\"_blank\">VIDEO: Daily Mass \u2013 Boston\/Catholic TV<\/a><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/player.theplatform.com\/p\/A4vtPC\/PMkhjfQLL3UA\/embed\/select\/media\/PDrGbwZlGbrc\" width=\"100%\" height=\"420\" frameborder=\"0\" seamless=\"seamless\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\">Your browser does not support iframes.<\/iframe><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;\">\r\n<script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- faith-wp-respons-2 -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3210937145558786\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"5586646142\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script>\r\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/q7W49t6x7gE?rel=0\" width=\"100%\" height=\"420\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/bible\/acts\/6:8\" href=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/bible\/acts\/6:8\" target=\"_blank\">FIRST READING: Acts of the Apostles 6:8-10; 7:54-59<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Saint Stephen sheds his blood for Christ, as the Church&#8217;s first martyr.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Stephen, filled with grace and power,\u00a0was working great wonders and signs among the people.\u00a0Certain [anti-Christian adversaries] came forward and debated with Stephen,\u00a0but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;\u00a0filled with the Holy Spirit, [Stephen] looked up intently to Heaven\u00a0and saw the Glory of God and Jesus standing at the Right Hand of God\u00a0&#8230;\u00a0he said, &#8216;Behold, I see the Heavens opened and the Son of Man\u00a0standing at the Right Hand of God.&#8217;\u00a0&#8230;\u00a0they &#8230;\u00a0rushed upon him &#8230;\u00a0and began to stone him.\u00a0The witnesses laid down their cloaks\u00a0at the feet of a young man named Saul. \u00a0As they were stoning Stephen, he called out &#8216;Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.&#8217;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"width:50%; float:right;padding-left:15px;\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.dpbolvw.net\/click-7380954-5434248-1440532932000\" target=\"_top\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.awltovhc.com\/image-7380954-5434248-1440532932000\" width=\"100%\" alt=\"\" border=\"0\"\/><\/a>\r\n<\/div>\n<p>We see Stephen echo Christ on the Cross.<\/p>\n<p>When Jesus laid down His Life on the Cross, among His Last Words were to God the Father, saying &#8220;Father, into Your Hands I commend My Spirit.&#8221; Here, we see Stephen addressing Christ with similar words, saying &#8220;Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Outside the scope of this passage, Stephen also echoes Jesus by asking God to forgive his murderers, even as he was being killed.<\/p>\n<p>Stephen became one of the first Deacons, engaging in concrete action to help widows. We see here that Stephen presents a rich dynamic of gifts and experiences, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>grace and power<\/li>\n<li>working signs and wonders<\/li>\n<li>wisdom and spirit in debate (in bearing witness to Christ and Christian teachings) that anti-Christian adversaries cannot withstand<\/li>\n<li>mystical vision, including having a vision\u00a0of God&#8217;s Throne in Heaven, with Jesus at the Right Hand of the Father<\/li>\n<li>persevering to the end, shedding his blood for Christ as a Martyr<\/li>\n<li>forgiving his enemies, praying for his murderers even as they killed him<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Saul (Paul), at this point, is violently anti-Christian, and stands by consenting to Stephen&#8217;s stoning.\u00a0Saul later undergoes dramatic conversion and becomes a staunch Christian<\/p>\n<p>Saintly commentary and Homilists observe that, when , one Grace from Stephen&#8217;s Martyrdrom is Paul&#8217;s conversion. Indeed, we see Stephen praying for those killing him, and his prayers bear fruit in Paul&#8217;s ultimate conversion.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/31:3\" href=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/31:3\" target=\"_blank\">PSALM 31:3CD-4, 6 AND 8AB, 16BC AND 17<\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u00a0Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;\">\r\n<script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- faith-wp-respons-2 -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3210937145558786\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"5586646142\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script>\r\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/usccb.org\/bible\/matthew\/10:17\">GOSPEL: Matthew 10:17-22<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Jesus cautions us that His Followers will face persecution for His Sake. Persecution offers an opportunity to bear witness to Christ.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8216;Jesus said to His Disciples: &#8216;Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts\u00a0and scourge you in their synagogues\u00a0&#8230;\u00a0you will be led before governors and kings for My Sake\u00a0as a witness before them and the pagans.&#8217;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will inspire a response more than one&#8217;s own intellect.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8216;When they hand you over,\u00a0do not worry about how you are to speak &#8230;\u00a0You will be given at that moment what you are to say. &#8230;\u00a0it will not be you who speak\u00a0but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. &#8216;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Jesus cautions that even earthly familial ties will not prevent the divisions resulting when\u00a0some follow Christ and others reject\u00a0Christ and attack His Followers:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8216;Brother will hand over brother to death,\u00a0and the father his child;\u00a0children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.&#8217;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>God is Love, and out of Love God invites us to Eternal Life, an invitation to give up the empty lure of sin. Yet those who embrace sin and evil will hate those who choose the God of Love. \u00a0Those who persevere in Christ will be Saved.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8216;You will be hated by all because of My Name,\u00a0but whoever endures to the end will be Saved.&#8217;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div style=\"padding:10px;\">\r\n<div style=\"float:left;\">\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"float:right;padding-right:75px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tkqlhce.com\/58116uoxuowBJFKCLHGBDCJHDFHF\" target=\"_blank\" onmouseover=\"window.status='http:\/\/www.TrinityRoad.com';return true;\" onmouseout=\"window.status=' ';return true;\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ftjcfx.com\/gg77nswkqo9HDIAJFE9BAHFBDFD\" alt=\"\" border=\"0\"\/><\/a>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;&#8230; filled with the Holy Spirit, [Stephen] looked up intently to Heaven and &#8230;\u00a0said, &#8216;Behold, I see the Heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the Right Hand of God.&#8217; &#8230; they &#8230; \u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"continue-reading-button\"> <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/catholic-mass-feast-of-saint-stephen-protomartyr-12-26-14\/\">Continue reading<i class=\"crycon-right-dir\"><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":126,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[58,4,18,13],"tags":[9,17,14,10],"class_list":["post-523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-acts-of-the-apostles","category-bible","category-gospel-of-matthew","category-psalms","tag-catholic-mass","tag-catholic-videos","tag-mass-readings","tag-tv-mass"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Bible-200.jpg","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5edXM-8r","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=523"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":529,"href":"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/523\/revisions\/529"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevencwelsh.info\/faith-central\/catholic-faith-central-christian-update\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}