The day after Christmas, the birth of our Savior, we recognize the first martyr of the early Church, St Stephen. Even though Stephen’s martyrdom is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, we don’t really know much more about him other than what is recorded there. Stephen was an important martyr in the early Church. Scripture scholars believe that he was probably a Jew who had lived outside of Israel and who was greatly influenced by the Greek culture. We do not know the circumstances of how Stephen converted to the Way of Jesus or how he became a leader in the early Church, but Sacred Scripture states that he worked great wonders and signs amongst the people. He died by being stoned by an angry mob. It is not clear as to whether the mob was acting outside the auspices of Jewish law or was acting upon the results a trial by the Sanhedrin. As we still have those in our modern world who are persecuted for their faith, both in our country and in other places, as we see our own religious liberties here in the United States curtailed and limited, perhaps the story of Stephen has even more resonance and meaning. As we journey during the Octave of Christmas, may we unite our prayers with the prayers of Stephen and the other martyrs of the faith.
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