HOMILY OF 4TH FRIDAY OF ADVENT (ST STEPHEN) — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: THE MARTYRDOM OF ST STEPHEN
BY: Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA
Acts 6:8-10,7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22
Introduction
Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Stephen. He was the very first person to die for his faith in Jesus.
It might seem strange to talk about a “martyr” (someone killed for their faith) right after Christmas. Yesterday we were at the manger with the baby Jesus; today, we see the color red for blood. This reminds us that Jesus came into the world to change us completely—even if it’s difficult.
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1. Filled with the Holy Spirit
In the first reading from Acts, we hear that Stephen was “filled with grace and power.” He wasn’t a king or a famous leader; he was a Deacon who helped feed the poor.
Because he stayed close to God, he had a special wisdom. When people argued with him about Jesus, they couldn’t win because Stephen wasn’t just using his own brain—he was speaking with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Lesson:
When we stay close to God in prayer, He gives us the right words to say when things get tough.
2. Looking Up, Not at the Problems
When the crowd got angry and started to threaten him, Stephen didn’t look at the angry faces or the stones in their hands. He looked up to Heaven.
He saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Usually, we say Jesus is “sitting” in heaven, but here He is standing up, like He is ready to catch Stephen and welcome him home.
Lesson:
When life feels scary or people are mean to us, don’t just look at the problem. Look up to Jesus, who is cheering you on.
3. Forgiving Like Jesus
The most amazing thing about Stephen is how he died. As people were throwing stones at him, he didn’t scream at them or call them names. Instead, he prayed: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
He died exactly like Jesus did on the Cross—forgiving the very people who were hurting him. One of the men watching this was named Saul. Later, Saul would change his life and become Saint Paul. Stephen’s forgiveness helped plant the seed for Paul’s faith.
Lesson
Forgiveness is the most powerful way to show people that we follow Jesus.
4. Don’t Be Afraid
In the Gospel (Matthew 10), Jesus tells us plainly: “People will be mean to you because of me.” He doesn’t lie to us. He says that being a Christian can be hard.
But He also gives a beautiful promise: “Do not worry about what to say.” He promises that God the Father will give us the strength and the words we need at the exact moment we need them.
Conclusion
The Feast of Saint Stephen challenges us: Is our faith strong enough to survive the day after Christmas? It is easy to love Christ in the cradle; it is harder to follow Him to the Cross.
Today, let us pray for the courage to be “Stephens” in our own lives—to be people of service, people of vision, and above all, people of radical forgiveness.
Have a blessed feast of Saint Stephen.
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