On the day after Christmas Day, it would be easier to talk about those things that are associated with the birth of Christ.
After all the images of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the sheep, the Star and the wise men, and even the ox and the donkey at the stable are fresh in our minds.
But on the second day of the Christmas season, it is about St. Stephen and his martyrdom, and we might wonder what it has to do with the birth of Jesus.
When we look beyond the Christmas carols and the festive celebrations that are often attached with Christmas, we will see the shades of rejection, hostility and violence that surrounded the birth of Jesus.
There was king Herod who wanted to track down the baby Jesus and do away with Him; there was no room at the inns in Bethlehem for Mary to give birth to Jesus; there were more important things happening, like the census, than the birth of the Saviour.
With these in mind, then we will be able to see the connection between the birth of Jesus and the martyrdom of St. Stephen.
St. Stephen witnessed to Jesus with his life, even though like Jesus, he did nothing that was wrong.
Yet his death would have an influence on Saul, who would later be converted and be St. Paul.
The birth of Jesus and the rejection, violence and hostility He faced were indications of His future death for the salvation of sinners.
Let us pray that like St. Stephen, we too will witness to Jesus and be instruments of His salvation for others.