Here we are, the day after Christmas, the day after the wonderful scene of Mary holding her newborn infant in a cave just outside of Bethlehem. In today’s readings, the scene has shifted to a place outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem. It is not a tranquil scene but one of mob violence as they drag a young man out of the city to his death, all because he believes in Jesus. Stephen becomes the first martyr of the new church. On Saturday, we will celebrate the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the baby boys martyred by Herod because of his fear of the infant Jesus. In these early days after Christmas the two feasts we celebrate stand in stark contrast to Christmas and they do so as a reminder that being a person of faith comes with a challenge, comes with resistance from the world. The Church reminds us that Jesus, now lying in the cave, the only begotten Son of God, will save humanity by dying on the cross.
Now we see Him lying in a manger made of wood, his naked body wrapped in swaddling clothes. After His crucifixion on a wooden cross, we will again see his naked body, again wrapped in cloth, placed in the tomb. It is no accident that the Christmas iconography sometimes represents the divine newborn Child lying in a small sarcophagus, to indicate that the Redeemer was born to die, He was born to give His life in ransom for all.
During the first four centuries of Christianity, all the saints venerated by the Church were martyrs. They are a countless multitude, which the liturgy calls “the white army of martyrs.” Their deaths were not a reason for fear and sadness, but of spiritual enthusiasm, which always gave rise to new Christians. For believers, the day of death, and even more so, the day of martyrdom, is not the end of everything, but rather is the start to immortal life, it is the day of their final birth. Realizing this, we understand the link that exists between the birth of Christ and the final birth of St. Stephen. If Jesus had not been born on earth, men would not have been able to be born for heaven. Precisely because Christ was born, we are able to be “reborn.”
With special spiritual closeness, I also am thinking of the Catholics who maintain their fidelity without giving in to compromises, at times even at the cost of grave sufferings. The whole Church admires their example and prays that they will have the strength to persevere, knowing that their tribulations are a source of victory, though for the moment they might seem to be a failure.
Christmas is not a “happily ever after” story. It is the beginning of a journey of faith that will take us from a cave outside of Bethlehem to a hill outside of Jerusalem and beyond. Christmas is the beginning of a challenge to wake up every day and find Emmanuel, God with us, in our lives. In our prayers today we ask St. Stephen to help and protect all who are persecuted because of what they believe. We pray for peace among religions, peace in our world!
Have a wonderful St. Stephen’s Day everyone and may Jesus Christ be always in our hearts!
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!