Boxing Day move away

Boxing Day is also the feast of the first Christian martyr, St. Stephen. The Roman Catholic Lectionary takes us to texts about the reaction of some in the world to those who live guided by the indwelling Spirit. This seems a rapid change of pace and direction from the peace and joy of Christmas. However, when the texts are examined more closely, the indwelling Spirit is the source of peace and joy for the persecuted. We endure persecution. It is a characteristic of this world that many resort to conflict and violence when they perceive forces, concepts and actions which challenge their assumptions and world view. The ‘Word made flesh’ celebrated at Christmas time is the source and solution to the challenges we perceive to our life styles.