Dec 26 – Feast of St. Stephen, protomartyr
St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. A deacon and a preacher, all we know of him is related in the Acts of the Apostles. While preaching the gospel in the streets, angry Jews who believed his message to be blasphemy dragged him outside the city, and stoned him to death. In the crowd, on the side of the mob, was a man who would later be known as St. Paul.
- Patron Saint Index
Stephen is the first martyr. He was one of the deacons appointed by the Apostles to organize the distribution of food to the poor. He performed many miracles and confounded the Jews in disputation. They fabricated false charges against him. At his trial he preached the risen Christ to them, so they stoned him to death. He prayed for his persecutors as he was dying. One of them, Saul of Tarsus, who was looking after the cloaks of the stone-throwers, was later converted and became the great missionary St Paul.
– Universalis
Acts 6:8-10,7:54-59
Mt 7:17-22
They were infuriated when they heard this, and ground their teeth at him.
I had an ex-colleague who always spoke up in meetings on matters of principle. He always tried to share the point of view that we need to be consistent in our actions. There was once an opportunity for me to speak to him in an informal setting and I learnt that he came from a Christian background, which was very principled. This experience made me feel that the role of the Christian often serves as an aberration to the people of the world.
St Stephen’s message caused many people of his time to be upset. Perhaps it was due to pride or ego which motivated the people to speak against him. However, out of this heart of malice came evil. They found ways to end his physical life, as the thinking was that death would bring an end to his ideas. Christianity is not an idea but a belief driven by an encounter with the Lord Jesus. Once this encounter is experienced, there is no turning back because the touch of God is incredible and life-changing.
It may seem odd that we celebrate a martyr’s feast immediately after Christmas. The paradox is that Christ’s birth was to remind us of his purpose — to die for our sins — which is seen in today’s feast. St Stephen was prepared to die for his belief in Christ. This is a lesson for all of us Christians working in the world.
We face persecution in our daily lives; be it through the subtle disdain when we advocate for a point of view, or the lack of boundaries when we seek to observe the Sunday rest. These require us to take a stand and if need be, to accept that having a contrarian view will result in a lack of advancement in our careers or social standing.
In situations like these, we need to follow the attitude of St Stephen, who was willing to sacrifice his life for his faith. As we continue with the celebration of Christmas, let us remember that our faith demands much from us “but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
Prayer: St Stephen, pray for us.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all the people whom God has given to us to love in our lives.
OXYGEN 
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