2nd Day of Christmas: St Stephen's Day
What do you call the day after Christmas Day? Boxing Day? The 2nd day of Christmas? Or St Stephen’s Day? Christians have observed the Feast of Stephen, Deacon and Martyr on 26 December since before the church chose to celebrate Christ’s birth on 25 December. It is discomforting to remember the 1st known Christian martyr in the season of ‘comfort and joy’ that is Christmas. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of a baby named Jesus, born to Mary, born to save. But if we stick only with nativity stories, we might forget the baby in the manger grew up. When Jesus grew up and began his good-news mission, some people rejected and others welcomed and followed him. Stephen followed Jesus. You can read Stephen’s story in the New Testament, Acts Chapters 6 and 7 . That tells us Stephen was “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit”, “full of grace and power” who “did great wonders and signs among the people.” Stephen didn’t choose to die a hideous execution. He did choose to be one of Jesus’