26th December 2017
Feast of St Stephen, the First Martyr
It is no coincidence that the feast of the Martyrdom of St Stephen is celebrated the day after the great Feast of Christmas. In fact, the very choice of the day is rich in symbolism. We must also bear in mind that almost for the whole octave following Christmas, we have an entire list of the closest followers of Christ, traditionally called the "Comites Christi" or the dearest companions of Jesus. Today it is St Stephen, the first Martyr, tomorrow St John the Evangelist known for the Gospel centred on love, which he composed. The day after tomorrow, the Blessed Innocent Martyrs. The feast of St Peter and St Paul was also celebrated in this octave before later being transferred to the 29th of June.
Therefore what is the significance of St Stephen's feast falling on the day after Christmas? First of all, he was the first one ever to give witness to Jesus to the point of death not long after Jesus's own death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. He realised that Jesus's coming into the world is the commemoration of a new life which is beyond this one here. He realised that this life only has value in function of everlasting life. In other words, Jesus's birth also spells out for us a new birth: that into everlasting life. So much so that day of the death of the martyrs is known as the "Dies natalis", the day of birth, obviously referring to their birth into everlasting life.
This brings us to our first point of reflection: how - if at all - does Jesus's birth change my outlook on life? What reordering of values and priorities do I need to do to make sure that his coming into the world is not wasted and missed by me?
Another thing that we observe in Stephen is his readiness to testify and give witness to the truth. He was able to do so because he experienced it in his own flesh although he never actually met Jesus. But he was open to the Spirit, and was able to make an experience that cannot be denied. It was his testimony to the truth that earned him his death.
How open to the Spirit am I to make an authentic encounter with Christ such that nothing can deny or hinder my faith? It is not a question of not having doubts or difficulties but of not going back on the word given, the experience received.
Today, on the feast of St Stephen let us ask the Lord for these two graces: first, that we may reorder our values and priorities as a result of Jesus being born into our lives. Secondly, that we may be ever open to the Spirit to make an authentic encounter with Christ, one which can never be denied, neither the harshest of persecutions.
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