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sstephen04
The Faithful Witness
Text:
Luke 23:34-39
Date: Christmas I / St. Stephen, the First Martyr
12/26/04 PCTV Vision MPEG2
The
commemorating of the apostles, saints and martyrs predates the establishment
of the 25 th December celebration of Christmas in the Western Catholic
Church. So the question of today's commemoration is not “why does
the church calendar throw such cold water on our Christmas celebration
talking about murders and martyrs?” as it is “how can the memory
of the martyrs for the faith deepen our understanding and faith
in the God who became flesh for us and for our salvation?” In fact
this commemoration of Saint Stephen the first martyr for Christ
in will and deed can help us to focus on the true depth of the love
of God celebrated at Christmas. How different are we, after all,
than the many folks for whom Christmas has been nothing more than
a mad scramble for the right gift, filling the house with enough
booze for all the parties, trying to celebrate something, they know
not what? For we know what we are celebrating during the twelve
days of Christmas, don't we? In the words of the old hymn,
Good
Christian men, rejoice…
Christ
has opened the heavenly door,
and
man is blest forevermore.
Christ
was born for this! Christ was born for this!
A
little background: December 26 th is known in the British world
as “Boxing Day,” the day that Christmas boxes were traditionally
given. The traditional carol “Good King Wenceslas looked out on
the Feast of Stephen” was written by John Mason Neale in 1853 in
an attempt to tie this feast with the good will exemplified by Duke
Vaclav of Bohemia noted for his piety and devotion to the strengthening
of Christianity in that region. Even he could be called a martyr
as he was assassinated by his brother in the year 929 a.d. It's
funny how a carol so empty of anything particularly Christian should
have become lodged in our minds as a popular so-called Christmas
Carol, a song so many can sing but have little idea what it means!
[At least the wonderful old tune has been saved for us, set to the
text by Joseph Simpson Cook, “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child,” LW 57].
This
Stephen was one of the original Greek-speaking disciples chosen
by the apostles to supervise the distribution of food and support
to the widows of the early Christian community. More than a “deacon”
or a mere waiter on tables, however, we read that he was “full of
grace and power [and] was doing great wonders and signs among the
people” [Acts 6:8 (ESV)], and that he was a powerful preacher. His
faith and zeal, however, soon brought him into conflict with the
same folks and in much the same way that led to the crucifixion
of Jesus. He was brought to trial and convicted. His death by stoning,
however, was not sanctioned by the proper authorities but was the
result of the sheer rage and fury of the synagogue leaders who,
as we read, “cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears
and rushed together at him” [Acts 7:57 (ESV)]. His martyrdom is
notable because of its imitation of the death of our Lord, his parting
prayer that the Lord not hold this sin against them.
The
appointed Gospel for today is all about the rejection of God and
the prophets and wise men and scribes and even his own Son who he
has sent. It is a sobering message meant to give us strength and
courage to live out the faith of Christmas in the face of everything
that seeks to contradict and silence it.
It
is a long and tragic story, man's rejection of the God who created
him, who sustains him, who provides for his life and salvation.
The Old Testament is the record of God sending prophets and wise
men and scribes, “some of whom,” Jesus said, “you will kill and
crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute
from town to town.” That man's rejection of Christ will result in
God's rejection of him Jesus implies by calling them “your” synagogues.
The entire record of the rejection of God by his own people is recalled
as beginning with the first murder in the Bible, “the blood of innocent
Abel,” and the last murder, “the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah,”
the book of Second Chronicles being the last book in the Hebrew
Bible.
It
seems so strange that when someone wants only the very best for
us, only the greatest of gifts, only the most blessed of futures,
namely God, that his offer should be so roundly rejected. And yet,
when we look within our own hearts we find the same seeds of rebellion
and rejection. It is the way of our sinful nature that seeks only
its own way and its own will that we do not want to be told what
is best for us, even by God.
But
what is even more mystifying is the everlasting patience of God.
One wonders why God hasn't given up on rebellious mankind long ago.
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