In our time, the Twelve Days of Christmas and other holy days are neglected by most people, even by loyal communicants of the Church. Few probably pause to think of St. Stephen on this date. The story of Stephen is told in Acts 7. He was one of seven pious believers selected to assist the apostles as deacons. Soon he became the first martyr of the Church because of his brave preaching of the Gospel.
Some people may not understand observing a martyrdom on the day after Christmas. However, since the early days of the church calendar in the fourth century, the feast of the Nativity and that of St. Stephen have been bound together. From a spiritual and theological point of view, this connection is profound and meaningful. As in humility, God the Son is born on earth, so in humility His servant Stephen has his heavenly birthday. The very birth of Jesus to be our Redeemer is inseparable from His life and work that lead Him and us to the Cross. The Christmas celebrating continues, but as much as we like holidays, the joy is not found in worldly indulgence. True joy is sublime and profound; it is to be found in the message of Christ from Incarnation to Sacrificial Death to Resurrection. And St. Stephen is part of that story. Glory be to God on high!.
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