December 26, 2025 – saint Étienne, first martyr
Ac 6,8-10; 7,54-60 ; Mt 10, 17-22
Homily
Dear brothers and sisters,
Yesterday we celebrated the birth of Jesus, the Son of God.
We know that God became incarnate and came into this world for our salvation.
And, of course, we already know that it is through His death and resurrection that He will redeem us and bring us salvation.
The Gospel we have just read already tells us that anyone who wants to be a faithful disciple of Christ must be prepared to make choices and that these choices may cost him his life.
Today, the day after the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus, we celebrate the memory of the first of His disciples who was called to give his life for his faithfulness to the Gospel, Saint Stephen.
And already, in the very account of Stephen's death, we see the figure of Paul, who at that moment is on the side of the persecutors – at least passively – but who will also be called to give his life in fidelity to his Master, Jesus.
This grandiose view of the mystery of Redemption embraces us all.
It is unlikely that we will ever have to suffer martyrdom in order to remain faithful to Christ and the Gospel.
who will also be called to give his life out of fidelity to his Master, Jesus.
This grandiose view of the mystery of Redemption embraces us all.
It is unlikely that we will ever have to suffer martyrdom in order to remain faithful to Christ and the Gospel.
But one thing is certain: throughout our lives, we must always be ready for whatever our love for Christ may demand of us, He who loved us so much that He gave His life for us all and for each one of us.
Let us ask Saint Stephen, the first of Christ's martyrs, to obtain for each of us the grace to know how to love to the end, whatever this fidelity to Christ's love may demand of us.
Armand Veilleux