The Feast of Stephen

Friday, December 26, 2014 

 



Stephen, Deacon and Martyr 

Today on the second day of Christmastide we commemorate Stephen, the first deacon and also the first martyr of the church. The Feast of Stephen recounted in the Christmas Carol "Good King Wenceslas:”

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel

"Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather

"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing 

The words to the first stanza along with other four stanzas of "Good King Wenceslas" were written by English hymn writer, John Mason Neale and then were published in 1853. But the music for the carol actually originated in Finland 300 years before. This song, often considered a Christmas carol is unusual as there is no reference in the lyrics to Christ’s nativity. “Good King Wenceslas,” the subject of the lyrics was the king of Bohemia in the 10th century. Wenceslas was concerned about the plight of the poor and was martyred when his ambitious brother Boleslaw along with conspirators assassinated Wenceslas. Wenceslas has his own Saint's Day which is September 28^th. Wenceslas is regarded as the Patron Saint of the Czech Republic. Since St. Stephen's feast day was celebrated today, December 26 the song is regarded as a Christmas carol appropriate for the second day of Christmastide.

St. Stephen who is leant his name to a whole community in Hickory along with schools and two Lutheran congregations is regarded as the first of the Comites Christi, (Christ-Companions) as the Twelve Days of Christmas unfold, leading to the Feast of Epiphany. Stephen was one of those seven upon whom the apostles laid hands that they might serve widows and others in need. Later, Stephen's preaching angered the temple authorities, and they ordered him to be put to death by stoning.

Stephen’s Feast on the second day of Christmastide serves to remind us that throughout the last two millennia, many of been called to offer witness to the Christian Gospel, suffering under torment and too often leading to their deaths. Those who are witnesses, who suffer torture, the Church regards as Confessors. Those who witness unto death are called Martyrs from the Greek word for “witness.” Among the early Celtic Christians in Ireland and Scotland there were many who used the term “green martyrs.” “Green martyrs” are those who like many of us, who are not called upon to suffer or die for the faith, but rather who are called to faithfully share the story and live out and witness to the Christian faith in their lives. Regardless of whether one is called to be a Confessor or a Martyr we are all called by the Holy Spirt to be “green martyrs.” The Holy Spirit called one of the first seven deacons, a man named “Stephen, full of grace and power” to offer witness unto death, as the first such witness to suffer death for his faithful witness.   

Prayer of the Day We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of Stephen the first martyr, who looked to heaven and prayed for his persecutors. Grant that we also may pray for our enemies and seek forgiveness for those who hurt us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. First Reading 2 Chronicles 24:17–22 17Now after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and did obeisance to the king; then the king listened to them. 18They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and served the sacred poles and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. 19Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD; they testified against them, but they would not listen. 20Then the spirit of God took possession of Zechariah son of the priest Jehoiada; he stood above the people and said to them, "Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you." 21But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him to death in the court of the house of the LORD. 22King Joash did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son. As he was dying, he said, "May the LORD see and avenge!" Psalm (ELW)  Psalm 17:1–9, 15

¹Hear a just cause, O LORD; give heed ^| to my cry;

     listen to my prayer, which does not come from ^| lying lips.

²Let my vindication come forth ^| from your presence;

     let your eyes be ^| fixed on justice.   R

³Examine my heart, visit ^| me by night,

     melt me down; you will find no impurit- ^| y in me.

⁴I have not regarded what ^| others do;

     at the word of your lips I have avoided the ways ^| of the violent.

⁵My footsteps hold fast to your ^| well-worn path;

     and my feet ^| do not slip.

⁶I call upon you, O God, for you will ^| answer me;

     incline your ear to me and ^| hear my words.   R

⁷Show me your marvelous ^| lovingkindness,

     O Savior of those who take refuge at your right hand

     from those who ^| rise against them.

⁸Keep me as the apple ^| of your eye;

     hide me under the shadow ^| of your wings,

⁹from the wicked ^| who assault me,

     from my deadly enemies ^| who surround me.

¹⁵But at my vindication I shall ^| see your face;

     when I awake, I shall be satisfied, behold- ^| ing your likeness.   R

Second Reading

Acts 6:8—7:2a; 7:51–60

Chapter 6

⁸Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. ¹⁰But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. ¹¹Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." ¹²They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. ¹³They set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; ¹⁴for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us." ¹⁵And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Chapter 7

Then the high priest asked him, "Are these things so?" ²And Stephen replied:
"Brothers and fathers, listen to me. ⁵¹You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. ⁵²Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. ⁵³You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it."
⁵⁴When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. ⁵⁵But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶Look, he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" ⁵⁷But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. ⁵⁸Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." ⁶⁰Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.

Gospel

Matthew 23:34–39

³⁴Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, ³⁵so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. ³⁶Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.
³⁷Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! ³⁸See, your house is left to you, desolate. ³⁹For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"