The commemoration of St. Stephen, the first martyr on the Day after Christmas always seems out of place. There is a legend that December 26 was the day when the relics of St. Stephen were discovered in 415. Maybe so. The first celebration of the Birth of Christ on December 25 was in 336, but for a long time the more important festival was the Epiphany on January 6. Nobody in the fourth or fifth century conceived of a Christmas Season lasting from December 25 to January 6 so the observation of St. Stephen’s Martyrdom on December 26 didn’t seem out of place in those days.

In our own day St. Stephen’s Day has acquired an overlay of the Christmas celebration. The English celebrate Boxing Day today when they give presents to people who have served them through the years. European Lutherans tend to celebrate today as Second Christmas Day. One of the happy results was J. S. Bach’s second cantata from the Christmas Oratorio.

My guilty pleasure for today is John Mason Neale’s song “Good King Wenceslas.” It tells the legend of the Bohemian king who sets out with his page on St. Stephen’s day to bring food to a poor man. On the way, the page nearly freezes, but recovers when he follows in King Wenceslas’ foot prints. It’s great fun to sing.

Celebrate today as you wish, but above all treasure the gift of the Word made Flesh, Jesus Christ our Savior.

Read John 1:14 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne