Today's Gospel December 26, 2020 with the words of Pope Francis

READING OF THE DAY
From the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 6,8: 10.12-7,54; 60-XNUMX

In those days, Stephen, full of grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of the synagogue known as the Liberti, the Cyrenians, the Alexandrians and those of Cilìcia and Asia, got up to discuss with Stephen, but they could not resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. And so they lifted up the people, the elders and the scribes, fell upon him, captured him and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

All those who sat in the Sanhedrin, [hearing his words,] were furious in their hearts and gnashed their teeth at Stephen. But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, staring at the sky, saw the glory of God and Jesus who stood at his right hand of God and said: "Behold, I contemplate the open heavens and the Son of man who is at the right hand of God."

Then, shouting with a loud voice, they stopped their ears and rushed all together against him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen, who prayed and said: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he bent his knees and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Having said that, he died.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 10,17-22

At that time, Jesus said to his apostles:

“Beware of men, because they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, to give witness to them and to the Gentiles.

But, when they deliver you, do not worry about how or what you will say, because what you have to say will be given to you at that hour: in fact it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
The brother will kill the brother and the father the child, and the children will rise up to accuse the parents and kill them. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But whoever perseveres to the end will be saved ”.

WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
Today the feast of Saint Stephen, the first martyr, is celebrated. In the joyful atmosphere of Christmas, this memory of the first Christian killed for the faith may seem out of place. However, precisely in the perspective of faith, today's celebration is in harmony with the true meaning of Christmas. In fact, in Stephen's martyrdom, violence is defeated by love, death by life: he, in the hour of the supreme witness, contemplates the open heavens and gives his forgiveness to the persecutors (cf. v. 60). (Angelus, December 26, 2019)