Dec 26 – Feast of St. Stephen, protomartyr
St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. A deacon and a preacher, all we know of him is related in the Acts of the Apostles. While preaching the gospel in the streets, angry Jews who believed his message to be blasphemy dragged him outside the city, and stoned him to death. In the crowd, on the side of the mob, was a man who would later be known as St. Paul.
- Patron Saint Index
Stephen is the first martyr. He was one of the deacons appointed by the Apostles to organize the distribution of food to the poor. He performed many miracles and confounded the Jews in disputation. They fabricated false charges against him. At his trial he preached the risen Christ to them, so they stoned him to death. He prayed for his persecutors as he was dying. One of them, Saul of Tarsus, who was looking after the cloaks of the stone-throwers, was later converted and became the great missionary St Paul.
– Universalis
Acts 6:8-10,7:54-59
Mt 10:17-22
“…the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.”
When Jesus speaks about being “handed over”, He is not only describing dramatic scenes before governors or courts. Often, being handed over happens in much quieter ways. Through betrayal; through being wronged by someone we expected to respect us. Through a refusal by someone to take responsibility for a hurt that was caused to us.
Recently, I experienced this myself. A dispute arose with someone I trusted to treat me with respect. Instead, I felt betrayed and dismissed. Anger surfaced quickly, and I lashed out. In that moment, my words came from pain and frustration rather than calm or clarity.
The next day, I was able to slow down. With some distance from the intensity of the moment, I calmed myself enough to have a more rational conversation. It was not perfect, and it did not erase what had happened, but the tone shifted. Looking back, I realise that this change did not come from my own strength alone.
Jesus tells His disciples not to worry about what to say when they are handed over, because what they need will be given to them. That promise became very real to me. When I stopped trying to force accountability and instead focused on speaking truth calmly, the right words began to come.
There is a quiet joy in this. Not because the situation is easy, but because we discover that God’s Spirit remains with us, even in the moments where peace feels distant. The Spirit does not abandon us, but stays with us, steadying our hearts and guiding us to God.
From this episode, I realised that standing firm does not mean never reacting poorly. It means trusting that we are not left alone in painful moments. We may be handed over by others, but we are never handed over by God. In conflict and in calm, in hurt and in healing, the Spirit accompanies us. We are not abandoned.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Stacey Fernandez)
Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, I need You. Come, sweet Spirit, I pray. Come with Your strength and Your power. Come in Your own gentle way. When I am handed over, when I do not know what to say, be the voice that speaks within me. Calm my heart, guide my words, and help me trust that I am not alone. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Thank You, Lord, for the gift of Your Spirit, who stays with me even when I struggle to respond with grace. Thank You for reminding me that I am never alone in moments of being handed over.
OXYGEN 
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