Pills of Faith December 26 "Santo Stefano, the first to follow in the footsteps of Christ"

MEDITATION OF THE DAY
"Christ suffered for us, leaving an example for you to follow in his footsteps" (1 Pt 2,21). What example of the Lord will we have to follow? Is it to resurrect the dead? To walk on the sea? Absolutely not, but to be meek and humble of heart (Mt 11,29), and to love not only our friends, but also our enemies (Mt 5,44).

"Why do you follow in his footsteps," writes St. Peter. The blessed evangelist John says the same: "Whoever says that he dwells in Christ must behave as he behaved" (1 Jn 2,6: 23,34). How did Christ behave? On the cross he prayed for his enemies, saying: "Father forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing" (Lk XNUMX:XNUMX). They have in fact lost their senses and are possessed by an evil spirit, and as they persecute us, they suffer greater persecution from the devil. This is why we must pray for their release rather than for their condemnation.

This is exactly what Blessed Stephen did, who first gloriously followed in the footsteps of Christ. In fact, while he was hit by a stone stoner, he prayed standing for himself; then, kneeling, he cried with all his might for his enemies: "Lord Jesus Christ, do not impute this sin to them" (Acts 7,60:XNUMX). Therefore, if we believe that we are not capable of imitating our Lord, we at least imitate the one who was, like us, his servant.

GIACULATORIA OF THE DAY
Jesus, Maria, I love you! Save all souls

PRAYER OF THE DAY
O Holy Spirit

Love that proceeds from the Father and the Son

Inexhaustible source of grace and life

I wish to consecrate my person to you,

my past, my present, my future, my desires,

my choices, my decisions, my thoughts, my affections,

all that belongs to me and all that I am.

Everyone I meet, whom I think I know, whom I love

and everything my life will come into contact with:

all be benefited by the power of your light, your warmth, your peace.

You are Lord and give life

and without your Strength nothing is without fault.

O Spirit of Eternal Love

come into my heart, renew it

and make it more and more like the Heart of Mary,

so that I can become, now and forever,

Temple and Tabernacle of Your Divine Presence.