The Blood of the Martyrs is the Cement of the Church"

Today's Mass Readings

It often comes as a shock to Christians to discover that the first readings of the Christmas season after the feast celebrating the birth of Christ are in honor of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. However, the readings for December 26 celebrate Stephen, whom Scripture teaches was also among the first seven deacons of the Church in Jerusalem, for the simple reason that his life is a faithful reminder of the truth that the Gospel calls each of us towards. St. Stephen is a stark reminder in this time of gift giving, food, family, and friends, that the Gospel message of Christ is often far removed from the materialistic excess celebrated during the holiday season. Indeed, the Gospel is a call to sacrifice and death to the desires of the flesh. In his Christmas homily Pope Benedict reminds us of the sobering truth that though a great light enters the world through Christ, great humility is needed to accept the truth that the light of Christ brings.

In today's world, the life of Stephen is particularly pertinent. The twentieth century saw a disturbing rise in the number of Christian martyrdoms. The trend towards an increase in the number of martyrdoms seems to be continuing in the twenty-first century. From the comforts and relative safety of suburban America, it is sometimes difficult to imagine the possibility that we may one day be called to offer our lives for Christ. Yet, in October Pope Benedict reminded those attending the beatification ceremony of 498 Spanish martyrs from the 20th century (the largest beatification ceremony in Church history) that "the supreme witness of giving blood is not an exception reserved only to some individuals, but a realistic possibility for all Christian people. It includes men and women of different ages, vocations and social conditions, who pay with their lives in fidelity to Christ and his Church" (Zenit.org). The pope continued, "baptism commits Christians to participate boldly in the spread of the Kingdom of God, cooperating if necessary with the sacrifice of one's own life" (Zenit.org).

From Scripture, the witness of the martyrs, the lives of the saints, and the teachings of the popes, the message of our faith is clear: martyrdom is a real possibility for all Christians, and is an eventuality all Christians must prepare for from the moment of baptism. Indeed, from childhood we are taught that our baptism in Christ is a dying to the self that we might rise again in Christ.

Let us look to St. Stephen for courage and inspiration, and to the Blessed Mother for continual intercession during the season of Christmas.

- Michael Lombardo