December 26, 2023 — Saint Stephen, The First Martyr — Feast — Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD: the LORD is God and has given us light — Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew (Mt 10: 17-22)

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”