[ Today's Readings ]
On its face, the martyrdom of Saint Stephen can seem like an abrupt change from the feast of Christmas. For Christmas we celebrate the birth of God in the flesh. The Eternal Words becomes a human baby. For the Feast of Saint Stephen we celebrate Stephen's willingness to leave the flesh to offer himself back to God. These two might not seem obviously connected. In some ways the seem like opposites. One is God taking on flesh. The other is a man leaving life in the flesh.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
Yet it is precisely the gift of Christmas that Saint Stephen manifests today. It is not just any flesh that can give itself for the sake of love and truth. Only because of the birth of Jesus as man as human flesh renewed and this possibility made available. It is only by his union with Jesus himself that life can be freely and selflessly offered back to God.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
By the union of Stephen and Jesus Stephen receives words from the Holy Spirit. He speaks to his persecutors with an eloquence that belies his young age. And they are not words without effect. They plant a seed in one named Saul that the LORD will eventually bring to fruition. But Stephen doesn't get to see that effect. He must surrender himself without knowledge of just how God is using him. But Jesus himself gives Stephen the power to offer his life in this way, out of love. Because Jesus goes to the cross first, and then unites himself to Stephen, Stephen is able to surrender himself just as Jesus does first.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
The birth of Jesus is already touched by the shadow of the cross. He is born to give himself. And he gives himself in order that we may be transformed. Martyrs really are a Christmas gift from Jesus to his Church. Saint Stephen, pray for us!
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
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