Jesus said to his disciples:
Beware of men, 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.
The peace of the Lord be with you. Happy second day of Christmas.
The second day of Christmas in the 12 days of Christmas is symbolized by the two turtle doves, which is a symbol of love — particularly, sacramental marital love. This so fitting on this feast of Stephen who is the first Christian martyr who not only preached the love of God, but like Jesus asked forgiveness for his persecutors, as his life was coming to an end.
Today, let us ponder the importance the love of other and ask for the grace to always seek the betterment of others over ourselves.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.