Martyrdom with the correct attitude

December 26, 2011

Basilica de S. Pudenziana

Feast of St Stephen, First Martyr

Mt 10.17-22

Acts 6.8-10 7.54-59

1.    Life is full of CONTRADICTIONS.

2.    Life is UNFAIR (our common understanding of being fair is “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”.)

3.    GOD is always Fair (not equality but EQUITY).

4.    Are we aware of what we have? What do we do with what we have? Are we living the life we are supposed to live, or doing the task we are asked to fulfill?

5.    WE are full of CONTRADICTIONS, We are UNFAIR. (v21 speaks of man’s contradiction. The use of familial relationship made the contradiction graver).

c/o catholictradition.org

     6.BIRTH and DEATH are necessary course in life. Indeed a difficult process (especially if they are caused by man’s fault) but part of a greater purpose, a noble plan of a loving, caring, compassionate and merciful Creator God (v22 makes sense by highlighting the promise of a reward to them who will endure).

.    7.  Profession vs. Vocation – service for a fee vs. service for free (sacrifice).

      8.CHRISTIAN VOCATION – “Love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, and mind, and soul, and love your ‘brothers and sisters’ as you love yourself”. Love is our vocation and it involves sacrifice, even to the point of martyrdom.


   There are people who allow themselves to be 'martyred' for the wrong reason. Martyrdom is never an act of foolishness nor about fad but martyrdom is about true and noble act for the sake of the Beloved.

          9. St Stephen, pray for us. Amen.