Patrick Comerford
Next Sunday, 26 December 2021, is the First Sunday of Christmas, and may also be celebrated as the Feast of Saint Stephen.
Liturgical and preaching resources for Sunday next as the First Sunday of Christmas are available in a separate pack posted earlier this morning HERE.
The readings for Saint Stephen, which the Book of Common Prayer says may be used when this festival falls on this Sunday,’ are:
The Readings: II Chronicles 24: 20-22; Psalm 119: 161-168; Acts 7: 51-60; Matthew 10: 17-22.
Introducing Saint Stephen:
I find it hard to call 26 December ‘Boxing Day.’ For me, 26 December is always going to be Saint Stephen’s Day.
It is theologically important to remind ourselves on the day after Christmas Day of the important link between the Incarnation and bearing witness to the Resurrection faith.
Saint Stephen the Deacon is the Protomartyr of Christianity. The Greek word name Στέφανος (Stéphanos) means ‘crown’ or ‘wreath,’ and the Acts of the Apostles tell us that Saint Stephen earned his crown at his martyrdom when he was stoned to death around the year AD 34 or 35 by an angry mob encouraged by Saul of Tarsus, the future Apostle Paul.
Saint Stephen was the first of the seven deacons chosen in the Apostolic Church in Jerusalem. While he was on trial, he experienced a theophany: But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ (Acts 7: 55-56).
The Lion’s Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem is also known as Saint Stephen’s Gate because of the tradition that Saint Stephen was stoned there. In AD 415, a church was built Saint Stephen’s honour in Jerusalem to hold his relics. The relics were later moved to Constantinople. Today, those relics are said to be buried under the altar of the Church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura in Rome.
The ‘Feast of Stephen’ is inextricably linked with Christmas through the English carol ‘Good King Wenceslas,’ although during a recent visit to Prague, I was aware that the Czechs have a far better claim than the English to Good King Wenceslas.
King Wenceslas has become a symbol of resurgent Czech nationalism and his statue dominates the main square in the centre of Prague. It is said in Prague that if the Czech Republic is in danger his statue in Wenceslas Square will come to life, Good King Wenceslas will raise a sleeping army and he will reveal a legendary sword to bring peace to the land.
But when it comes to legends about the feast of Saint Stephen and legends about Good King Wenceslas, I prefer John Mason Neale’s ending to this carol:
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.
Saint Stephen’s witness to the faith and King Wenceslas’s care for the poor are reminders that the Christmas Spirit should not be confined or limited to Christmas Day.
This day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom as Boxing Day. But as Saint Stephen’s Day, it is still a public holiday in Ireland and in many other countries, including Australia, Austria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, and parts of France, the Philippines and Spain. In the Orthodox Church, Saint Stephen’s Day is celebrated on 27 December, and is known the ‘Third Day of the Nativity.’
Saint Stephen Walbrook is a Wren church in the heart of the City of London, Saint Stephen’s Church in Mount Street Crescent, Dublin – popularly known as the ‘Pepper Canister Church’ – is one of the last churches built in the classical style in Dublin, and Saint Stephen’s House is a theological college in Oxford, popularly known as ‘Staggers’ and firmly rooted in the Anglo-Catholic tradition.
Perhaps the most impressive church named after the first martyr is the Stephansdom, the Cathedral of Saint Stephen, in Vienna, which dates back to 1147. This was also Mozart’s parish church when he lived at the ‘Figaro House,’ and he was married there and two of his children were baptised there. Mozart was named an adjunct music director there shortly before his death, and his funeral was held in the Chapel of the Cross in the cathedral in 1791. It is said Beethoven realised the full extent of his deafness when he saw birds flying from the bell tower of the Stephansdom and realised he could not hear the bells toll.
It is said that when the German martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer visited Saint Stephen’s House in Oxford he decided to return to Germany where he met with martyrdom.
Bonhoeffer’s martyrdom illustrates how none of this architecture or grandeur, and the extension to the Christmas holiday provided by this saint’s day would have any meaning today without the faithful witness of Saint Stephen, the first deacon and first martyr, who links our faith in the Incarnation with our faith in the Resurrection.
II Chronicles 24: 20-22:
After the death of the king Jehoiada in his old age, the people Jerusalem and Judah turn against ‘the God of their ancestors’ and begin to worship idols. In response, God raises up prophets, including the priest Zechariah.
Zechariah challenges the people for forsaking God and God’s ways. But the people turn against him, and at the command of King Joash they stone him to death. As he is dying, he cries out, ‘May the Lord see and avenge!’ (verse 22).
The trial, speech of the priest Zechariah and his stoning to death can be compared with the trial, speech and death of the deacon Stephen. But his dying words are in sharp contrast to Saint Stephen’s dying words, ‘‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit … Lord do not hold this sin against them’ (Acts 7: 59-60).
Psalm 119: 161-168:
Psalm 119, which is 176 verses long, is the longest psalm among the Psalms, and the also the longest chapter in the Bible. This is an acrostic poem, in which each set of eight verses begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is divided into 22 stanzas, one for each of the 22 characters that make up the Hebrew alphabet. In the Hebrew text, each of the eight verses of each stanza begins with the same Hebrew letter.
Unlike most other psalms, the author does not include his name in the text. But there is a tradition that King David used this psalm to teach his young son Solomon the alphabet – but not just the alphabet for writing letters: the alphabet of the spiritual life.
The theme of the verses is the prayer of one who delights in and lives by the Torah, God’s law. Almost every line contains the word ‘law’ or a synonym such as ‘testimonies,’ ‘ways’ or ‘precepts.’
This section (verses 161-168) contrasts the piety of the psalmist with the unjust actions of his persecutors.
Acts 7: 51-60:
As the early Church begins to grow, the need for leaders in addition to the apostles is recognised (Acts 6: 1). The Greek-speaking Christians complain that the Hebrew-speaking Christians are discriminating against them and neglecting their widows in the daily distribution of bread.
Seven deacons, all with Greek names, were chosen to attend to social service and administrative needs of the Church, the ‘daily distribution of food.’ These seven included Stephen, ‘a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 6: 5) who Stephen ‘did great wonders and signs among the people’ (verse 8).
When Stephen became involved in a dispute with some Diaspora Jews, from Cyrenia, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia Minor (Acts 6: 9-11), he was brought before the Sanhedrin to face charges of blasphemy (Acts 7: 2-53).
Stephen is accused of plotting to destroy the Temple and of advocating practices contrary to Jewish law (Acts 6: 8-15). His defence at his trial shows he was also a great teacher with charismatic and rhetorical skills. His speech in the longest in the Acts of the Apostles, and rehearses major events in Biblical history.
This reading brings us to the conclusion of Stephen’s defence at his trial. He has said that God repeatedly sent prophets to correct people, but the prophets were rejected, betrayed, exiled and murdered, and now ‘the Son of Man’ (verse 56) has been betrayed and murdered too (verse 52).
Saint Stephen enrages those who hear him. But his insights are confirmed when he has a vision in which the heavens are opened and he sees ‘Jesus standing at the right hand of God … the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God’ (verses 55-56).
However, those who have brought the charges against him refuse to listen to him. They cover their ears, drag him out of the city and push him over a ledge, to be crushed and buried by heavy stones hurled down upon them (verse 57-58).
Stephen’s last words echo Christ’s words of forgiveness on the cross: ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit … Lord do not hold this sin against them’ (verses 59-60).
As this episode draws to close, we also meet Saint Paul for the first time, ‘a young man named Saul’ (verse 58), who takes care of the coats and possessions of those engaged in executing Stephen, and who ‘approved of their killing him’ (Acts 8: 1). Yet this young Saul is about to become the great missionary and apostle Paul.
Matthew 10: 17-22:
After telling the disciples that they are being sent out ‘like sheep into the midst of wolves’ and that they need to be ‘wise as serpents and innocent as doves,’ Christ goes on to warn them of the dangers and trials that they face.
Being an emissary for Christ will not be easy. They will be brought before religious and civil courts and suffer physical punishments.
The predicted divisions within families echoes the rabbinical teaching that violence and divisions within families are a precursor to the Messianic age (see Mishnah tractate Sotah 9: 15).
Their endurance will show them and show the world the truth of the Gospel. At such times, the Holy Spirit will prompt them to witness to the good news (verse 20).
The era of the Church is the era of the end times; as prophesied by Micah, these will be times of betrayal and hatred, particularly for the followers of Christ. However, persistent patience in the face of suffering will lead to salvation, to a place in the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 10: 17-22 (NRSVA):
[Jesus said:] 17 ‘Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.’
Liturgical resources:
Liturgical Colour: Red or White
Penitential Kyries:
Lord, you are gracious and compassionate.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
You are loving to all,
and your mercy is over all your creation.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Your faithful servants bless your name,
and speak of the glory of your kingdom.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The Collect of the Day:
Gracious Father,
who gave the first martyr Stephen
grace to pray for those who stoned him:
Grant that in all our sufferings for the truth
we may learn to love even our enemies
and to seek forgiveness for those who desire our hurt,
looking up to heaven to him who was crucified for us,
Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Advocate,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Introduction to the Peace:
We are fellow citizens with the saints
and of the household of God,
through Christ our Lord,
who came and preached peace to those who were far off
and those who were near. (Ephesians 2: 19, 17)
Preface:
In the saints
you have given us an example of godly living,
that, rejoicing in their fellowship,
we may run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
and with them receive the unfading crown of glory:
The Post Communion Prayer:
Merciful Lord,
we thank you for these signs of your mercy,
we praise you for feeding us at your table
and giving us joy in honouring Stephen,
first martyr of the new Israel;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing:
God give you grace
to share the inheritance of Stephen and of his saints in glory:
Suggested Hymns:
The carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’ traditionally associated with the Feast of Saint Stephen opens with these well-known and oft-sung lines:
Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
However, it is not included in either the Irish Church Hymnal or the New English Hymnal. Perhaps the editors agreed with Percy Dearmer, Martin Shaw, Ralph Vaughan Williams and other critics that the carol is ‘ponderous moral doggerel.’ But it may also have been rejected, despite its popularity, because this carol makes no mention of Christ, even though it provides an exemplary model of discipleship:
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor,
Shall yourselves find blessing.
Instead, these hymns are suggested to accompany the Lectionary readings on Saint Stephen’s Day:
II Chronicles 24: 20-22:
381, God hath spoken – by his prophets
Psalm 119: 161-168:
382, Help us, O Lord, to learn
358, King of glory, King of peace
16, Like a mighty river flowing
383, Lord, be thy word my rule
384, Lord, thy word abideth
Acts 7: 51-60:
460, For all your saints in glory
550, Forgive our sins as we forgive
693, Glory in the highest to the God of heaven!
696, God, we praise you! God, we bless you!
553, Jesus, lover of my soul
625, Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire
8, The Lord is king! Lift up your voice
Matthew 10: 17-22
589, Lord, speak to me, that I may speak
593, O Jesus, I have promised
597, Take my life, and let it be
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
The hymn suggestions are provided in Sing to the Word (2000), edited by Bishop Edward Darling. The hymn numbers refer to the Church of Ireland’s Church Hymnal (5th edition, Oxford: OUP, 2000)
Material from the Book of Common Prayer is copyright © 2004, Representative Body of the Church of Ireland.
No comments:
Post a Comment