Word to the Wise
Monday, December 26, 2011 - Dec. 26 - St. Stephen, first martyr
[Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 and Matt 10:17-22,768]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. [Matthew]
"Peace on earth! Good will to all people!" That is a core message for this season, isn't it? Yet, on the day after Christmas the church celebrates a violent and bloody death by stoning! St. Stephen has the distinction of being the first recorded martyr for the Christian faith. The gospel scripture for the day reminds us that "peace on earth" doesn't come about just by being an attractive thought! Christmas Day brought news of a bomb exploding in a Catholic Church in Nigeria at Mass!
The act of spending some moments in front of the manger scene in prayer for our world is important. Although it is a peaceful sight, I rather doubt it was comfortable for those who had to experience it in the original! In a very few days, the family would have to pack up and leave in terror for Egypt! The very birth of Jesus was a threat to those in power. But the birth of Jesus is a time to renew hopes and dreams for peace on earth. Preaching peace and living it in daily life can both be dangerous, but the importance of the goal has to be kept in mind. Jesus tells us that we must "endure to the end" no matter who it is that betrays us! Perhaps we should leave the manger scene up all year and place it under the crucifix. This is a life and death matter for our troubled world! AMEN