Things Some People Never Knew About 26th December - The Boxing Day

26th December is the Feast of St Stephen, the first Christian Martyr - Acts 7:16 . He forgave his murderers just like Jesus did. And 26th is a boxing day, the day gifts are opened in those good old days.

Saint Stephen died on AD 36 in Jerusalem and the feast day is 26th December. St. Stephen is a Christian Deacon in Jerusalem and the first Christian martyr whose defense before the Sanhedrin points to a distinct strand of belief in primitive Christianity. His defense enraged his hearers and he was taken out of the city and stoned to death.

In part, Stephen's speech of the disobedience of Israel against the God that brought then out of Egypt, trying to correct the mentality that it is only in the Temple that God swells. He tried to let then know that God dwells everywhere, not only in the temple. But this did not go well with them and they brought him before the Sanhedrin accusing him that he had declared that Jesus would destroy the Temple in Jerusalem and that he had changed the laid down customs of Moses. Even at that, Stephen describes his listeners as "stiff-necked" people who, just as their ancestors had done, resist the Holy Spirit. He ended his defense by asking: "Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him." meaning Jesus Christ. [Acts 7:51–53].

Stoning of Saint Stephen by Paolo Uccello

Here Stephen is being stoned to death. Watch out that you do not stain your hands with the blood of an innocent person.

The above outbursts enraged the crowd to an extent that they could no longer contain their anger. To them, as if that was not enough blasphemy, as Stephen looked up he cried with a loud voice saying "Look! I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God!" He claimed that the recently executed Jesus was standing by the side of God. We were told that the Jews covered their ears and rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death.

And the unexpected happened when the holy martyr prayed for his murderers as recorded in Acts 7: 58- 60:
"Stephen prayed that the Lord would receive his spirit and his killers be forgiven, sank to his knees, and "fell asleep." Unbelievable, yet it is true.

How many of us can pray for our Enemies?

Just answer honestly to the above question, be your normal self. I decided to use this short but true story in the Bible to get to the point I want to make regarding the great period staring us in the face right now - the New Year. And this story takes us to the issue of ## Crossing Over or Cross Over Night.

Please note that:

Crossing Over from Year 2017 to Year 2018

From now to 1st January, 2018, all we shall be hearing will be ## Cross Over Night, you will even see big banners hung on advert bill boards. Just look out on your street and count how many posters displayed out there on ## Cross Over Night some will call it ## Crossing Over. All these points to the fact that we should reflect on our past activities and see where we need to make amends and turn a new live so that we will not be caught unawares when the trumpet blows. It is also a way of making us check ourselves and recollect all the resolutions we made in the past, how many did we fulfill in every sense of fulfillment, because we are still going to make another new year resolution(s) this time around.

Don't forget that to eer is human and to forgive is divine.

Even in Isam, they believe in faith, repentance and forgiveness

Conclusion

In conclusion, the main issue here is how many of us in our new year resolution can be bold enough to say "God give me the grace to forgive all my enemies unconditionally" and keep to it because as long as you are still alive, you will continue to see them and they will continually make you lose your guide and react negatively to their evil devices - it could be in form of taunting, mockery, just name it. Never you mind them. Stick to your guns and ignore them no matter the provocation.

I tell you of a truth, if you fail to notice them in their negative behaviours, they certainly will want you to notice them for positive behaviuors. How you will ask? Bring your ears closer: They will want to tap from your wealth of experience and precious gift of SILENCE. They will have no other choice than to be friendly and bury all forms of animosity between both of you. Give it a trial and make it one of your New Year resolutions.

The law of an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth has turned our society to a battle field because no one wants to accept defeat or for the sake of peace, allow the sleeping dog to lie. It is said that he who fights and run, lives to fight another day. Peace, Peace, Peace is the answer.

Wishing you all the best of the New year, 2018. It will be a year to be remembered in your life.

mage source: [PIXABAY]