The Festival of St. Stephen, Martyr

23:34 “Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!”

Christ is born! For many, Christmas is a day of giving presents, getting together with family, and eating big meals. It can feel quite “warm and fuzzy.” But in the second, third, and fourth days of Christmas the Church throws some ‘cold water’ on that. We remember St. Stephen (martyr in both will and deed), St. John the Apostle (martyr in will), and then the Holy Innocents (martyrs in deed, but not in will). We remember that people will suffer and die on account of the Newborn King.

Today we remember St. Stephen, the first martyr of the New Testament Church. He was martyred for telling the truth that throughout Israel’s history they had indeed killed the prophets and stoned those sent to them. For testifying to the truth of the holy, saving work of Jesus Christ, sure enough, they stoned Stephen, too. His last words confessed his faith: “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” May God grant us also to be such faithful witnesses to Christ Jesus, and to do so no matter what the cost.

Collect: Grant, O Lord, that, in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of Thy truth, we may steadfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors by the example of Thy first Martyr, Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to Thee, O Blessed Jesus, Who standest at the right hand of God to succor all those that suffer for Thee, our only Mediator and Advocate, Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the new Birth of Thine Only-Begotten Son in the flesh may set us free who are held in the old bondage under the yoke of sin; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.