Gospel (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 bear witness to them and to the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you will say, because in that hour what you must say will be given to you: in fact it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Brother will kill brother and father will kill son, and children will rise up and accuse their parents and kill them. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But whoever perseveres to the end will be saved."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

The day after Christmas the liturgy commemorates the martyrdom of Saint Stephen, the first martyr. The Church considers his martyrdom the first fruit of the love of the Father who sent his Son to earth to save us. The memory of the martyrs helps us reflect on the fruits of the incarnation of the Son of God: bringing men into the sky of love and making everyone reborn in the sky of God, which is a sky of peace and brotherhood. The Gospel of this day reminds us of Jesus' statement to the Twelve: "I send you out like sheep in the midst of wolves". The disciples, hearing these words of the master, became worried. But Jesus reassured them, saying that he would be with them forever and always. Stephen was the first of the witnesses, the first to give his life for the Gospel, in imitation of the master. Paul's fellow disciple at the school of Gamaliel, Stephen had joined the preaching of the Apostles and was then chosen among the seven deacons for the service of charity, especially to widows. The Acts of the Apostles narrate that he was "full of grace and power, he performed great wonders and signs among the people". He could not silence the Gospel that he had received and which had first changed his life. He didn't give up when opposition and violence fell on him. Strengthened by his faith, Stephen continued to bear witness to the Gospel, until he shed his blood. Following the example of Jesus, while he was being stoned, he asked God to welcome his spirit and to forgive his persecutors. Having become the first martyr in Christian history, Stephen leads the procession of all those who, in every place and in every time, have witnessed and continue to bear witness to the Gospel up to the extreme sacrifice of their lives. All of these contemplated "the heavens opened and the Son of Man who is at the right hand of God". They are in heaven today and see God "face to face" and confirm to us that without "heroism" it is not possible to be disciples of Jesus.