Even in this year, when we are talking about a “special Christmas”, much is still the same. Fir trees were put up; Gifts exchanged; Christmas cards written. And “sausages with potato salad” have also remained a German classic on Christmas Eve. After all, it is so remarkable that the press informs us about it and even uses statistics to enlighten us about the most popular recipes and salad variants and that, according to a current survey by the opinion research institute Yougov, a few days before Corona Christmas, 40 percent of adults eat the classic way Prefer mayonnaise, whereas the modern light version with yogurt is only 8 percent.
There are traditions that cannot be given up at Christmas, and they persist even in this strange year – even though they apparently have nothing to do with Christmas.
It is the same with the feast of St. Stefanus, which – also this year – determines the second day of Christmas, although it has nothing to do with the child in the manger, Mary and Joseph and the shepherds. Even the red color that is used in the liturgy today, and which may associate some with the Christmas red of our home festive decorations or even the Coca-Cola Santa, has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. It is used because it is the color of the blood that Stephen shed for Christ.
This answers the question why we celebrate Stephen on Boxing Day. Because he was the first to shed his blood for Christ as one of the believers who believed in Christ, and because it should not and never be forgotten that believing in the birth of the defenseless child also includes the testimony for this child. That, in other words, belief in redemption through Christ requires the blood of the heart and – if need be – bodily blood as well. Because there is only that a Truth that the world needs Christ and that salvation lies in Him alone. With the preaching of the angels in the fields of Bethlehem also begins the obligation for each of us Shepherds to live and bear witness to what we have touched with our hearts. In view of the fact that in our part of the world there is currently a noticeable turning away from basic Christian attitudes and privileges which, in addition to their aversion to our faith, often aggressively stylize Christians as dangerous enemies of society, we should think more and more about Stephen, about his faith, his consistency, his testimony and his priorities, which did not place his own life higher than the truth of Jesus Christ, whose birth in the manger not only wants to be admired and smiled at, but also to be believed with tears.
Dr. Guido Rodheudt is pastor of St. Gertrud in Herzogenrath and founder of the “Network of Catholic Priests“. Published by Pastor Rodheudt at CNA Deutsch.
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