Across the pastor's Desk - December 21, 2007

It is somewhat surprising to many people that the day after the celebration of Christmas the Church commemorates the first martyr, Stephen, the Deacon. Two days later the Church remembers the Holy Innocents, the children of Bethlehem, whom the Gospel writer Matthew tells us were killed because of the fear held by the powers and the forces of this world at the time of Jesus' birth. It the midst of the celebration of the gift of life, the Church recalls the price for faithfulness that is always extracted by a fallen and broken world.

Most of us will never face the tests that early martyrs faced. Most of us face no formal opposition to our faith or its expression. More often than not there is apathy in the world around us. Perhaps ministering through that apathy will be the greatest challenge of our time. To do so we will need some of the same zeal and commitment of those who have gone before us in the faith. It will be our willingness to walk a different path than the paths of this world that will ultimately make a difference.

Stephen was among those first chosen to help serve the poor and needy in the community of faith. However, he did not miss any opportunity to witness to the reason for his service and it was that witnessing that lead to his death. On his day we are invited to serve others in need as well. In England this is Boxing Day, a day for gathering items to help feed the hungry and care for those who are without the necessities of life. It is not the day to hurry to exchange something we received as a gift that we do not want. Rather it is a time to be thankful for what we have and to share our abundance with others near and far.

To remember the Holy Innocents of ages past is to recall the innocents of this day and age who continue to die because rulers and leaders of nations are more concerned about themselves than the people they are called to serve. As we celebrate the Savior's birth, we seek for concrete, immediate ways in which we might witness to the kingdom of God in the lives of others who suffer injustice, poverty, and oppression yet today. We are encouraged to be the voice of the voiceless.

The days of Christmas become an opportunity to truly share the message of God's gift with the world. In celebration and in action, God's people proclaim the Savior's birth, a gift without condition and truly a gift for all. Despite our misgivings about the wisdom of the Church, the celebration of Christmas and the remembrance of Stephen and the Holy Innocents really do go very well together for the people of God.