Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The days immediately following Christmas are not an afterthought. The Church, in her wisdom, places before us three feasts that interpret the mystery we have just celebrated: the Feast of St. Stephen, the Feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, and the Feast of the Holy Family. Together, they remind us that the Word made flesh enters real human history, with all its beauty and cost.
On December 26, we honor St. Stephen, the first martyr. It can feel jarring to move so quickly from the joy of the Nativity to the violence of martyrdom. Yet this is precisely the point. The birth of Christ is not sentimental; it is consequential. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, bears witness to Christ not with anger or revenge, but with truth, courage, and forgiveness. As stones fall upon him, his final words echo those of Jesus on the Cross: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” The Child born in Bethlehem already casts a long shadow toward Calvary, and Stephen shows us that to follow Christ is to allow love to triumph even in suffering. Christmas faith is not protected from the world; it is lived within it.
The next day, December 27, we celebrate St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, the beloved disciple. John stands in striking contrast to Stephen. Stephen dies for Christ; John lives long for Christ. He is the one who reclines close to Jesus at the Last Supper, who stands at the foot of the Cross, and who runs to the empty tomb. John’s witness is not sealed with blood, but with fidelity. He reminds us that holiness is not only found in dramatic sacrifice, but in steady, lifelong love. His Gospel begins not with a manger, but with eternity: “In the beginning was the Word.” John teaches us that the Child of Christmas is the eternal Son of the Father, the Light no darkness can overcome. To remain close to Christ, as John did, is itself a profound act of discipleship.
Then, within this same octave, the Church invites us to contemplate the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Here the mystery becomes even more intimate. God chooses to dwell not only among humanity, but within a family. The Holy Family was not idealized or exempt from difficulty. They knew uncertainty, displacement, obedience, silence, and trust. Joseph leads his family into exile. Mary treasures mysteries she does not fully understand. Jesus grows in wisdom and stature through ordinary days of work, prayer, and love. In them we see that family life, with all its challenges, is a privileged place of God’s presence.
Taken together, these feasts form a pattern for Christian life. St. Stephen teaches us courage and forgiveness in the face of opposition. St. John teaches us intimacy with Christ and perseverance in love. The Holy Family teaches us that faith is lived out daily, in homes, relationships, and responsibilities. Christmas is not confined to December 25. It unfolds in witness, in fidelity, and in family life.
As we continue through these holy days, may we resist the temptation to rush past them. Let us ask for Stephen’s courage, John’s closeness to Christ, and the Holy Family’s trust in God’s providence. If the Word has truly become flesh among us, then our lives, too, are meant to become a living proclamation of the Gospel.
Blessed Christmas Season,
Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School