Rejoice Always

Gospel: Matthew 10: 17-22

For an age that sees grievance in all things, it might seem odd that we celebrate the feast of the first martyr the day after celebrating the birth of Jesus.  But note that both days are called feasts, both are causes for rejoicing in the understanding of the Church, in the understanding Jesus himself gave us in the beatitudes: Blessed are you when you are persecuted and suffer for my sake, rejoice, for your names are written in heaven."  

Throughout Advent we were exhorted to rejoice in the Lord always.  Always.  Not just when we feel warm and fuzzy as we do on Christmas, but also in suffering and persecution as on St. Stephen's day.  He rejoiced in his suffering, as all the martyrs do.  We should not claim grievance or appeal to religious liberty or such when persecution and suffering comes.  We are to rejoice.  

Even in Christmas we are reminded that opposition to Jesus existed from the very beginning with Herod's attempt to kill Jesus.  This opposition will lie dormant but return at the very beginning of Jesus' public ministry and run throughout until his execution.  But we are reminded that that hatred continues on. The extension of mercy and love to all is a threat to the powers of the world who live by a privilege built on inequality.  But we insist in our belief: God's love is for all people, no exceptions.