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      It seems strange to some that we celebrate the Feast of the First Martyr of the Church on the day after Christmas. However, when we look at the life of Christ, the manger is not far from the Cross. Caryll Houselander wrote a wonderful book called, Wood of the Cradle, Wood of the Cross, to remind us of this fact. Calvary reminds us of the fact that the Word needed a human body to sacrifice on the cross, hence the importance of the Incarnation. St. Fulgentius of Ruspe speaks of Stephen’s martyrdom in way similar to what Pope Benedict said in his audience:

     And so the love that brought Christ from heaven to earth raised Stephen from earth to heaven; shown first in the king, it later shown forth in the soldier. Love was Stephen’s weapon by which he gained every battle, and so won the crown signified by his name. His love of God kept him from yielding to the ferocious mob; his love for his neighbor made him pray for those who were stoning him. Love inspired him to reprove those who erred, to make them amend; love led him to pray for those who stoned him, to save them from punishment. Strengthened by the power of his love, he overcome the raging cruelty of Saul and won his persecutor on earth as his companion in heaven. in his body and tireless love he longed to gain by prayer those whom he could not convert by admonition.

     Lord today we celebrate the entrance of St.Stephen into eternal glory. He died praying for those who killed him. Help us to imitate his goodness and to love our enemies. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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