Christ Was Born to Die a Cruel Death

David Martin | The Daily Knight

The Church’s first martyr St. Stephen being stoned by the Jews

On December 26^th we celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr of the Catholic Church. His feast falls just one day after Christmas, which is a clear signal that the Octave of Christmas is really a time to embrace the Cross.

Christians, even traditional Catholics, take exception to this since they tend to see the Christmas season as a time to continue with the drinks, cookies, and presents, forgetting that the feast of St. Stephen is a providential reminder that Christ was born to die a cruel death in order to redeem the world. His Passion overshadows his Nativity since his birth is what opened the door to three years of malicious persecution capped by his eventual Passion that reopened the Gates of Heaven. The feast of St. Stephen encourages us to not flee the cross but to follow the way of the cross that we might enter those pearly gates.  

Jesus was put to death because he went against the Jews and exposed their hypocrisy before the people, for which reason Jews to this day say that Jesus is boiling in his own excrement in hell (Talmud, Gittin, 57a). The infamous Talmud that they published in 400 AD (not 500 BC) is the foundation of all Judaism AD. This “Judaism” has no connection with the Old Testament.

St. Stephen is Stoned by the Jews

Stephen was the first Christian disciple to be murdered for his allegiance to Christ. In keeping with Christ’s example, he followed in the Lord’s footsteps by laying aside his own life for the benefit of others. In the 7^th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, Stephen addressed the Jews with a long discourse about the infidelity of their fathers who had made a golden calf to adore, after which he said to them:

“You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you also.  Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them who foretold of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. And they crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with one accord ran violently upon him. And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him.” (Acts 7:51-57)

To this very day the Jewish synagogue violently runs upon Christ with one accord. As it was in Stephen’s time so it is today that they murmur against Christ, saying, “He’s not the Messiah!” For obvious reasons God has no continuing covenant with the Jews. They are not his chosen people as they imagine for the chosen people of the Old Testament merely prefigured the chosen people of the New Testament who adore the infant Jesus at Christmas.

This isn’t to say that there aren’t good hearted Jews who truly aspire after good but they are not truly Jews by conviction but by blood only. These are good hearted people made in the image of God but who don’t really know God. Like anyone else, they stand in need of conversion to God, who is Christ, their Maker (John 1:1-3).

Zionized Clergy

Some may see this as “antisemitic” but that term is just a defense mechanism invented by the Synagogue to cover guilt. Was the Church of the past 2000-years antisemitic because it prayed for the conversion of Jews? Were the priests antisemitic for bringing the knowledge of God to them through the centuries? The Jews are called to partake of the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist) yet today’s Zionized bishops behave like the Nazis who refused to dine with them but who forced them to remain in their own prison camp and starve. So much for their love of “inclusion.” 

No Dialoguing in Christ   

It is wrong that priests allow themselves to be influenced by Jewish rabbis through “dialogue” since this deprives souls of their salvation. In imitation of St. Stephen, the faithful are called to place Christ first without respect to persons. The way of Christ is a one-way street with no dialogue. Christ never dialogued with the people but instructed them, which is what his priestly representatives are called to do. Did we ever once see Christ bend with the Jews or respect their ideas? Most certainly not, but he made every attempt to convert them in true charity.

Like Stephen, the clergy are called to do the same because charity is all about bringing Christ to man even if it means getting buffeted for it. Yea, even if it means getting murdered for it!  Stephen was the first Christian to lose his life for the Faith in keeping with Christ’s words, “Greater love than this no man has, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) 

The Church highlights Stephen’s martyrdom the day after Christmas so that the adorers of the Christ child can be more encouraged to defend Christ under siege. This is particularly important today when we are approaching that time when many will be tempted sell out their faith to keep their life, which if they do they will lose their salvation (Apocalypse 14:9-11).

Christ was born on Christmas to die on the cross that we might also die to self and walk the way of the cross with him. As St. Paul says, “With Christ I am nailed to the cross.” (Galatians 2:19) The Octave of Christmas is an appropriate time to reflect on this holy path, only let us make sure we are truly following this royal path for what good does Christ’s Passion do us if he is walking one way and we walk another?