Finally,
it's the last Saturday in 2020. It has been a long, anxiety-producing,
isolating, fearful year, one that most of us are glad to see the end of. We don't
know yet what 2021 will bring, but we can only look forward and hope for better
things to come.
In addition to being the final
Saturday of the year, it is also the day after Christmas. It's usually a reasonably
laid-back day (except for those who insist on rushing out to grab up specials
on Christmas items to be put away for next year and to exchange the awful
sweater Aunt Louise gave us or the duplicate of something we already had).
Otherwise, it's a day to sit around, watching football, letting the kids play
with their new toys, eating leftovers, and perhaps wondering where the packages
are that were supposed to be delivered in time for Christmas. Although
Christmas Day is over, the Christmas season continues for another eleven days.
The day after Christmas is the
feast of St. Stephen. He was an early convert to the group of followers of
Jesus the Christ based in Jerusalem after the Ascension. The apostles who
headed the group were swamped with preaching, teaching, healing, traveling, and counseling. Those duties included arranging for the care of the widows and the elderly
by making sure they were adequately fed and clothed. The apostles finally
decided it was all too much, so they decided to create the office of deacon to
take over some of the more hand-on duties.
One of the first in the elected
group of deacons was a man named Stephen, who had been both caring for the poor
and elderly as well as preaching. His work came to the attention of Jerusalem's
hierarchy, thanks to Saul of Tarsus. Stephen was arrested and tried for being
Christian, which meant denying Caesar's divinity and following what the Jews
felt was heresy. With Saul overseeing the event, Stephen was stoned to death
and has been commemorated ever since as the first martyr for the faith.
Perhaps the first line of the
Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslaus" with its notation of "…on
the feast of Stephen" sets the stage for the story of the King who saw an
old person gathering wood on the day after Christmas. Wenceslaus, the Duke of
Bohemia (b. ca. 911, Duke 921-935), was known as a Christian who religiously
followed the teachings of Christ, especially through caring for the poor and
elderly. His piety and kindness won the hearts of his people. His brother and
his faction assassinated him because of envy, jealousy, and his Christian
faith. His legend and hagiography were such that the Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I, gave him the title and style of
King, which is why Wenceslaus is referred to as "King" in the 1835
carol by John Mason Neale.
The cult of Wenceslaus increased
after his death not only in Bohemia but also in England. Perhaps that is where
the British Commonwealth countries' custom began to celebrate December 26 as
Boxing Day, a national holiday. In the past, it was the custom for masters of
the households to give their servants the day off from work. The workers were
also given food and clothing boxes as thanks for their service during the year,
especially Christmastime. The custom of providing boxes has somewhat died out.
However, many still thank milkmen, postal workers, newspaper deliverers, and
the like with small gifts of money on Boxing Day. Thus the legacy of both
Stephen and Wenceslaus carries on.
We do a lot of giving at
Christmas and often at Epiphany, but what about the rest of the year? Stephen
and Wenceslaus gave not only during the winter holidays. Hunger, poverty, and
such are year-round problems. Jesus's teachings included the care for the less
fortunate whenever and wherever it was needed.
As we go through the Christmas
season and look forward to Epiphany, let us remember to give to others. It
doesn't necessarily have to be money or tangible things; it can be as simple as
a welcoming smile or hug, a period of listening, helping with rides to doctor's
appointments, or meeting whatever needs might present themselves. Opening a
door, giving a hand to steady someone on a curb or step, or maybe paying for a
cup of coffee for the person behind us in the queue might start a chain that
reaches others.
Happy St. Stephen's Day and a
continued blessed Christmas season. Even if the snow isn't deep or even if the
leaves on the trees are just now falling, be kind to one another, today and
every day. Love your neighbor – wear your mask
God bless.
P.S. Love your neighbor – wear your
mask!
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