Word to the Wise
Saturday, December 26, 2015 - Dec. 26 - Feast of St. Stephen, first martyr
[Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 and Matt 10:17-22]"You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved." [Matthew]
If the feast of St. Stephen, the first or "proto-" martyr seems strange coming on the day after the Nativity of the Lord, I recommend listening to news accounts of Christmas in the Holy Land, especially in Bethlehem. If that isn't enough, the accounts of Christians fleeing war and violence in Iraq and Syria should complete the picture. Martyrdom for the faith is not a quaint historical thing. The joy of Christmas is always tinged with the realization that the Prince of Peace causes many to draw their swords! On December 28, we will celebrate the feast of the Holy Innocents. Stephen, in my opinion, should share his title with them.
The first scripture today, describing the martyrdom of Stephen, is edited so that his discourse about Jesus and salvation history is eliminated in the interests of brevity. However, the end of the first paragraph says something important: ".....but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke." Jesus' warning to the disciples in today's gospel scripture includes this: "When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are able 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." The nativity scene, which we put away all too soon, could move us to ask ourselves the question: What do I know about Jesus, and could I risk my life for him? AMEN