After December 25th, most Americans move on to New Year’s resolutions and taking down Christmas trees. But Catholics and other Christians acknowledge that the Christmas season has only just begun. And the Church reminds us of the awesomeness of God’s grace, the sacrifice that may be required of His followers, and what faith in God truly means. 

Mary and Joseph

National Review’s Kevin Williamson recently highlighted just how much trust it took for the Miracle of Christ’s birth to come about:

[Mary] knew that she was a virgin and that she had not become a wife to the man to whom she was engaged. She also knew what being pregnant and unmarried was likely to mean to her — socially, religiously, economically, physically — in first-century Palestine. She’d probably witnessed her share of stonings. …

“Do not be afraid,” the angel said. Easy for you to say, Gabriel. …

Another angel, another command attached to an inconceivable promise: “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” …

[The wise men’s] gifts were heavy with symbolism: gold for the child who was hailed as a king, frankincense in honor of his priestly mission, and myrrh, which was used in funeral preparations. That last must have startled Mary, who knew the story of Abraham and his son Isaac, willingly offered up as a human sacrifice at the demand of a God with a sense of justice that at times seems radically at odds with our own. …

Step away for a moment from the manger scene at the Christmas pageant, which surely does not smell like a real barn smells, and dwell for a moment in the world of real people: the terrified young woman, her uncertain husband-to-be, the worried politician, the simple shepherds and great holy men alike …

In his sardonic fashion, Williamson points out that many of us respond to the hardships faced by Mary with one of the following:

• From Christians: “Well, they had faith … They believed.”
• And from non-Christians: “All that stuff must be very comforting. I wish I could believe it.”

“Yes, it is comforting to believe, but it isn’t always easy given what life throws at us,” I thought from the comfort of my heated home. As my wife and I prepared to host a small group for dinner. With food purchased from one of the nearby grocery stores.

Moments later, I was shamed by Williamson’s reminder. Like so many others, I was dismissing the difficulties of 2,000 years ago. Yes, Mary and Joseph had faith. But faith meant more to them than I can comprehend. I’m 32, with a good job and the conveniences of modern life. Mary was perhaps 14 and pregnant out of wedlock, laying in cold, dirty barn.

The First Martyr

On December 26th, a priest’s homily reminded me that the joy of Christmas Day is followed by the sacrifice of the first Christian martyr. He pointed out the Church’s wisdom in this ordering. We are presented with the joy of God sending His Son. Then we are confronted by the harsh reality that keeping this joy may require serious sacrifice.

Like Mary and Joseph’s struggles, St. Stephen’s stoning contrasts with the challenges I face as an American Christian. Derision, criticism, and other social risks are not the same as those faced by early Christians, or modern Christians in the Middle East.

Some Christian Americans do face serious challenges. Like the bakers and florists who lose their businesses for their faith. Or the Massachusetts religious leaders who briefly faced the risk of jail over gender identity issues. Or the parents challenging schools for the right to raise their own children.

But for most of us, these are just stories we read in the newspaper.

The consequences of St. Stephen’s public testimony reminded me that the risks I face today are nothing to what he, and those in the Middle East today, face. Their stories challenge me to trust God more, and to not let minor challenges block me from being open to His grace.

True Faith and Joy

I originally headlined this piece, “The Christmas Season: A Reminder of God’s Joy … And His Pain”

My goal was to focus on the pain and sacrifice that Mary and Joseph dealt with prior to the joy of Christ’s birth, and the pain and sacrifice of St. Stephen prior to the joy of being received into Heaven. I wanted to remind myself and readers that sometimes God’s path is painful, as Christ warned his apostles.

But as I began writing, I realized that faith and joy don’t merely give people the strength to push past pain and sacrifice. Rather, faith and joy mean always looking at God with full knowledge that if we trust Him, and open ourselves to everything He offers, then He will offer us His grace both here and after death. Just like He did with Mary and Joseph. Just like He did with St. Stephen.

I have a long way to go.