With us in the struggle

Friar Jude Winkler asks why the Church begins the Octave of Christmas with a Gospel reading in the Roman Catholic Lectionary which tells of the first martyr of the Church, Stephen, who is commemorated in the liturgy today. AlexRoedlach of Creighton University hopes that the joy of Christmas motivates us to translate Christ’s teaching into policies and practices that are in line with Christ’s teachings, promoting a fair and just society that is respectful of the whole creation. St Stephen spoke about Jesus as Saviour as a Hellenistic Jew to the Aramaic Jews in Jerusalem and Friar Jude comments that his zeal in preaching angered the religious authorities who stoned him to death as is described in the passage from the Acts of the Apostles today. As we are filled with the Spirit of Christmas, we will identify more with the poor, outcast, oppressed and persecuted of the world. The pattern of standing up with and for those who suffer injustice at the hands of the powerful and privileged has created martyrs in our own time. Certainly the decision to live with compassion for those on the margins will draw the criticism and distain from people close to us which are referred to in Matthew’s Gospel today. Friar Jude reminds us that the disciple of Christ accepts both the joy and peace of the Christmas message of God is with us and the difficulties, hardships and suffering which is part of carrying our cross to make Him visible as Love for all.