The 26^th of December is not the end of Christmas. It is beginning of the Christmas season. The season continues for 14 days. 14 days for us to revel in the mystery that we have celebrated and will continue to live into for the rest of the liturgical year.

This time is the perfect opportunity to prepare our hearts and minds to be truly open to the presence of Jesus in our lives.

As we celebrate the feast of St Stephen today, we hear in the gospel that he was filled with grace and power.  When we receive a gift that is unexpected and delights our being we usually have a spontaneous response of deep gratitude and love. We appreciate the giver and the gift. The gift giver is God, and the gift is Jesus.

The gift that we have received as we celebrate Christmas should fill us with a profound sense of love and hope. We too have the potential to be filled with grace and power. The same grace and power that enabled Stephen to experience the Glory of God, is ours to receive.

Today, let my mantra be: ‘Fill me with your grace and power this day.’

by Anne Surtees osu