St. Stephen, Christmas Martyrdom, and Trying Something New
jeffyoung.substack.com
Today is the Feast of St. Stephen, deacon and first martyr. In his homily this morning, Fr. Robert (at St. Peter’s in Covington) noted the echoes of Jesus’ death that we find in the story of St. Stephen’s martyrdom. “Father forgive them...” “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” In the gospel we hear Jesus telling us not to worry about what we are to say when we are given over to our persecutors... the Spirit himself will give us the words to speak in that moment. At first glance, it might seem strange to find talk of persecution and martyrdom right here at the beginning of the Christmas Season, but it is thoroughly appropriate. It is no accident the we celebrate the first martyr on this 2nd Day of Christmas. The birth of the Christ Child was surrounded by death and violence... both in the oppression of the Holy People of God and in the coming Slaughter of the Innocents (that we celebrate on December 28). If violence and death surrounded Jesus, how can we expect anything different? St. Paul refers to Jesus as the head of his body, the Church. As the head is treated, so is his body.
St. Stephen, Christmas Martyrdom, and Trying Something New
St. Stephen, Christmas Martyrdom, and Trying…
St. Stephen, Christmas Martyrdom, and Trying Something New
Today is the Feast of St. Stephen, deacon and first martyr. In his homily this morning, Fr. Robert (at St. Peter’s in Covington) noted the echoes of Jesus’ death that we find in the story of St. Stephen’s martyrdom. “Father forgive them...” “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” In the gospel we hear Jesus telling us not to worry about what we are to say when we are given over to our persecutors... the Spirit himself will give us the words to speak in that moment. At first glance, it might seem strange to find talk of persecution and martyrdom right here at the beginning of the Christmas Season, but it is thoroughly appropriate. It is no accident the we celebrate the first martyr on this 2nd Day of Christmas. The birth of the Christ Child was surrounded by death and violence... both in the oppression of the Holy People of God and in the coming Slaughter of the Innocents (that we celebrate on December 28). If violence and death surrounded Jesus, how can we expect anything different? St. Paul refers to Jesus as the head of his body, the Church. As the head is treated, so is his body.