Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr

Today's Scripture

It’s always struck me as very profound that on the second day of the octave of Christmas, the second most important feast in the entire year, the Church has deemed it appropriate to celebrate the feast of St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr. Lest we get caught meditating too long on the pastoral beauty of the holy family in the stable, surrounded by barn animals, shepherds, and angels, we are immediately thrust into a graphic vision of the radical implications of the birth of Christ. 

In the first reading for today, we hear St. Stephen’s story. Stephen is on fire with the Holy Spirit; he is, therefore, able to preach and even perform miracles in Jesus’ name. This passage in Acts sounds very much like a description of Jesus that we might find in the gospels. If we were to substitute Jesus’ name for Stephen’s in verses 6:8 and 6:10, it would fit neatly into the gospel narrative. As Stephen follows Christ, he begins to look more and more like Jesus Himself.

Alas, as Jesus foretells in today’s gospel passage, Stephen’s imitation of Jesus doesn’t end with his miracles and preaching and the anger of others. Stephen follows the Lord unto death. The words of today’s psalm, “Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit” (Ps 31:6) are the same words that are on Jesus’ lips as He hangs on the cross in St. Luke’s gospel. They are the similar words to those on the lips of St. Stephen as he is being stoned, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). Thus, St. Stephen becomes the first martyr.

“Martyr” in an interesting word. In Greek it means “witness” and in the early Church it came to mean those who died for the sake of Christ. A martyr is, therefore, one who witnesses to Christ by paying the price of his/her life. Martyrs were revered as having a particular power for precisely that reason; they had so closely identified themselves with Christ.
 
As we continue to celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, let us mediate upon the example of St. Stephen as a radical disciple. In Jesus, God has become human—what a most beautiful act of God’s compassion! But compassion literally means “to suffer with.” As God became human to suffer with us, so our path to becoming divine involves suffering, perhaps suffering even unto death. So the example of St. Stephen reminds us to respond to God’s call with all of ourselves, withholding nothing. As we strive to become more radical disciples in imitation of Christ, let us remember that our Lord and master doesn’t stand on the sidelines, but suffers with us every step of the way.
 
 - Tim Gabrielli