The church was very careful in how it structured the period immediately after Christmas. Using Christmas mindfulness, we can meditate on three stories of faith amid evil. This keeps us grounded in the true meaning of Christmas.

The Feast of Stephen

The first day after Christmas, Dec. 26, is the feast of Stephen, the first person killed for being a Christian. Stephen was a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem, respected for his holiness. Like Jesus, he was accused of blasphemy.

In his trial before the Sanhedrin, he glowed like an angel. And he gave an eloquent speech that ended with his accusation that the Jewish leaders had just betrayed and murdered the Messiah.

He was sentenced to death. As the stones fell on him, he saw a vision of Jesus in Heaven, welcoming him.

We can meditate on our own commitment to Jesus. Is it strong enough to take us through this kind of trial?

The Feast of St. John

Next, on Dec. 27, is the feast of St. John, the apostle I most look forward to meeting in Heaven.

John identified himself completely through his relationship with Jesus. He was “the one that Jesus loved.” That’s not bragging. It’s saying that he is who he is because Jesus loved him.

That love drove a life of evangelism and suffering. He was one of Jesus’ inner circle of three close friends. He went to Jesus’ trial. He stood at the foot of the cross with the Virgin Mary. The dying Jesus asked him to take his place as Mary’s son. He took Mary home to live under his care. He entered the empty tomb. He wrote five books of the New Testament: a biography of Jesus, three letters and Revelation. As an old man, the last living disciple, he was sentenced to hard labor at Patmos.

John is, to me, an icon of faithfulness. His understanding of Jesus was unparalleled.

The Feast of the Holy Innocents

The next day in Christmas week, Dec. 28, is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, in memory of the Bethlehem babies that Herod executed. Joseph got his family out of Bethlehem just in time.

Jesus came into the fallen world as an infant to start the process of ending suffering. The world was filled with evil then, and it’s filled with evil now. On this day, we can meditate on the suffering of the innocent in our own time. Think of Ukraine. Gaza. Sudan. The unborn and the born who are hungry and cold in wealthy nations.

On this day, we think about how we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to suffering children.

This prayer, from the Catholic Household Blessing and Prayers, is a good one to contemplate:

Heavenly Father,
your holiness revealed in Jesus
challenges us to renounce violence,
to forsake revenge,
and to love without discrimination, without measure.

Teach us the surpassing truth of the Gospel,
which puts worldly wisdom to shame,
that we may recognize as one with us
even our enemies and persecutors
and see all people as your children.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen

Enjoy this precious time after Christmas. It tells a story of faith in the midst of countless evil deeds.