Homily, The Feast of St. Stephen, 2025
Martyrdom is not something that we consider very often in America. Persecution for us is that someone said something unkind to us on our way to church. Yet real suffering for Christ has been part of the Christian experience from the very beginning. Jesus deserve all of our loyalty. Are we willing to suffer for His sake? Are we will to allow our families to suffer for Jesus’ sake? These are difficult questions, and yet the answer is that we must give everything for Christ. May we prepare in times of comfort and property for the persecution that we may one day face. Like Stephen who followed the example set for us by Christ Himself, may we be found faithful in the day of trial.