I groggily stumbled into our chapel this morning 2 minutes before Mass with thoughts of last night's Christmas talent show and carols still fresh in my semi-coherent mind. The Creche was set up, the Christmas candles were lit, and the sanctuary cloths were red. I was as happy as I could be that early in the morning. It was still Christmas!
Then the celebrant started off Mass telling us how honored he was to be celebrating the Mass on his childhood parish's feast day. I silently wondered to myself, what is he talking about? It is true that today is still Christmas, so I still have reason to be full of that Christmas excitement and happiness. But it turns out those red sanctuary cloths weren't for Christmas. They were for a martyr. (Apparently the Christmas sanctuary colors are white). Today is the feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr of the Church.
Feel free to keep eating your candy canes, sipping your eggnog, wearing your new set of Christmas slippers, and listening to "An American Idol Christmas," but I would like to focus today's blog on St. Stephen.
Today's first reading is taken from the acts of the apostles. It partly reads:
[St. Stephen said,] “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:57-59)
I think it's a great idea of the Church's to put the feast of St. Stephen the day after Christmas. Stephen, like any famous martyr of the Church, is a model of how to be a Christian--how to welcome Christ into our lives. As a member of the very early Church in Jerusalem, Stephen probably had the opportunity to see Jesus first hand and to work side by side with the apostles. Unlike the pharisees in the reading, when he heard the word of God--the Good News that the kingdom of God is at hand--Stephen did not turn a deaf ear. He heard the News, internalized it, and physically lived it out in word and in action. Stephen trusted God, body, mind, and soul. Stephen trusted Him, even as the same familiar leaders whom he grew up admiring and listening to were chucking boulders at him. His whole life was open so much that his last recorded words were "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." This was all because he opened His soul to the gifts of the Holy Spirit (unlike Saul who had not yet had a conversion form the Holy Spirit to become St. Paul and who was on the persecuting end).
I assume that in a less graphic way today, we have been blessed with the same opportunity presented to St. Stephen, to form our lives more deeply in the reality of Christ's call. What do I mean? I mean that Christmas, as I mentioned earlier, is not just one day of the year. It is an entire season. Throughout the season of Christmas at Mass we recall the stories of Jesus' incarnation as well as His early life. As we learn of Jesus' descent and integration into our humanity, we too are called to grow in our own humanity. The following weeks are for us to bring Christ's desires and our desires closer together.
Mass on Christmas isn't just as nice family tradition. It is the start of our continual conversion. If we leave all the emotions, prayers, and desires of Christmas just on December 25th, they quickly die. We must recall those spiritual Christmas movements, and continually try to integrate them into our lives, always asking the Holy Spirit to help us do it. I think as Christians it is good for us to try our best to make real the movements of love, peace, and joy that we experience in our hearts.
I pray that through the prayers of St. Stephen, we may have the grace to live out and make tactile the love and blessings we experience at Christmas.
ps. FYI, St. Stephen was one of the first deacon of the Church. Today he is a patron for all deacons. I would like to extend a happy feast day to all the important deacons in my life! Deacons, you know who you are. Blessings upon your service and thank you for all you do. Also, Peter wanted me to also let everyone know that today is (one of) his feast days. Happy Feast day, Peter! While I am happy to wish him a happy feast day, I would also like to add that tomorrow is my feast day--St. John the Evangelist. (I can't give Peter all the spot light. It's bad for his eyes.)
