On December 26th Church celebrates the feast of Saint Stephen. While the festivities are still on going, the Church shifts its focus from the manger to a totally different scene of stoning a person to death. Saint Stephen is the first martyr of the Catholic Church and his life and death remind us that the Child born in Bethlehem would one day ask His disciples for everything.
Stephen was not a member of the Twelve Apostles. He was an ordinary believer. The early Christian community in Jerusalem was fast expanding, and with it came the tension, particularly between Hebrew and Greek-speaking Jews. To guarantee that no one was overlooked, the Apostles appointed seven men with wisdom and the guidance of the spirit to serve the community. Stephen stood out amongst them.
He was praised for his kindness, clarity of thought and strong faith. He served the needy, cared for widows and talked about Jesus with unwavering conviction. The Scripture says he was full of grace and power and performed tremendous works and wonders to direct others to Christ.
Many people were afraid of Stephen’s words. He spoke freely in synagogues of how Jesus fulfilled the promises made to Israel. Unable to silence him in the debates, his opponents turned to falsely accuse him. Stephen was brought before the same court where Jesus was convicted.
Standing in front of strong leaders, Stephen traced Israel’s history, from Abraham to Moses to the prophets, demonstrating how God had always called His people forward and how they had frequently refused. His words were straightforward, courageous and full of truth. He concluded by accusing the Council of executing the Righteous One, Jesus Christ. The council reacted with wrath and violence.
As Stephen was condemned, he glanced up and said “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” The council considered this blasphemous. So he was dragged outside the city, where he was stoned. Each blow was meant to silence him, yet his final words echoed those spoken by Jesus on the cross. “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” he prayed. And then, astonishingly, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
Saying this Stephen died as a witness of God. Saint Stephen’s feast is placed so close to Christmas, to remind us that the joy of Christ’s birth is inseparable from the cost of following Him. The manger points to the cross, and the newborn King calls us to live our lives with courage, truth and forgiveness.
Stephen’s life teaches us that holiness is not reserved for the famous or powerful. It belongs to those who serve faithfully, speak truthfully, and forgive generously even when the cost is high. On 26 December, we remember Saint Stephen not only as the first martyr, but as a man who lived—and died—so closely united to Christ that, in his final breath, he loved as Christ loved.
