Feast of Saint Stephen
Scripture:
Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Matthew 10:17-22
Reflection:
When shepherds return to their fields,
When angel voices are silent,
When the star leaves the sky,
When the wise men journey home,
This is when Christmas begins.
With all that goes into preparing for Christmas, sometimes we forget the difficult journey that led Jesus to be born of Mary in a manger in a way-out-of-the-way place. It was a rough entry into this world of ours, full of brokenness and division. It’s true that we’ve cleaned up the Nativity with beautiful crèches and Christmas carols, with gift-giving and holiday parties. But the work of Christmas truly begins after we pack up the ornaments and take down the tree.
That journey-God becoming one with us-was rough indeed, and it promised to get rougher. Today’s feast of St. Stephen the Martyr is a quick reminder of how rough it can get, how resistant the world can be to the Newborn King. Being born in Bethlehem is just the first step. Being born in our hearts is a whole lot harder. Like the world around us, we too resist making a place for him in our lives. Celebrating Christmas is more fun than living Christmas the rest of the year.
Mary’s disturbing visit by an angel, Joseph’s initial reaction and fear, the humble barn and manger, strange visitors from afar, a jealous king…all disconcerting experiences leading to the birth of Jesus who needs be born again and again in our hearts and in our world. He will be born in us in much the same way as then – at a time and place we least expect it to happen and when we are most humbled and afraid. He comes to bring comfort, assurance, reconciliation and peace to those hearts-our hearts-that are divided and broken.
When we return to our work,
When holiday carols cease,
When cold nights give way to spring,
When families journey home,
This is when Christmas begins.
Robert Hotz is a consultant with American City Bureau, Inc. and is the Director of The Passion of Christ: The Love That Compels Campaign for Holy Cross Province.