26 DECEMBER (Mt 10,17-22)

The hatred of the world is not against the Christian. It is against the absolute, eternal, indisputable and universal truth that he proclaims and lives. It is not against the truth he says. It is against the truth that he lives and proclaims. A truth spoken, but lived does not unleash the hatred of the world. This truth is vain, void and ineffective. It is with no germ of life. It is like the sand in the desert, that remains in the desert. That does not invade the men’s house. The lived and spoken truth is annoying, boring, disturbs the mind and heart of the world, irritates it, creates it turmoil, puts it in a crisis and deprives it of peace. Let us read a page of Ancient Scripture and this truth will become clear to our heart.

Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the Lord. To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, Because his life is not like other men’s, and different are his ways. He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him” (Wis 2,12-20).

Faced with Stephen that speaks of Christ Jesus, from a heart entirely kneaded with Lord Jesus, the Jews become angry to the point of grinding their teeth. Such is their anger, hatred and desire for physical elimination. His presence disturbs them and blurs them.

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it.” When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, 4 and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”; and when he said this, he fell asleep (At 7,51-60).

When the world no longer hates Christians, it is a bad sign. It is a sign that the Christian no longer lives the truth of Christ the Lord, no longer lives with his Redeemer and Saviour in his heart. He says words about Him but they are not confirmed with his life. For his life is of the world, belongs to the world and the world will never move war to him. The world knows what already belongs to it and respects it. Even Satan knows his people and respects them. They are all those who say the Word, but do not live it. All of these do not cause any harm to his principality. Rather they are his perfect collaborators.

But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.

Those who do not live the Word collaborate with Satan in the construction of his principality, because they indicate their brothers that the Gospel is said, but it is not necessary to be lived. So attesting, a worldly Christianity of sin is built.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us true disciples of Jesus.