Yesterday we celebrated the birth in time of our eternal King. Today we celebrate the triumphant martyrdom of His soldier.

Yesterday our King, clothed in gala with the robe of our flesh, left the palace of the virginal womb and deigned to visit the world. Today His soldier, abandoning the tent of his body, has triumphantly entered Heaven.

Our King, despite His most High condition, comes to us humbly, yet not with empty hands. He brings for His soldiers a most splendid gift, since He only brings them copious riches, but also gives them an invincible fortitude in combat. In effect, He brings with Himself the gift of charity, which elevates man up to the participation of divine nature.

And, by sharing these gifts, He is not impoverished in any way, but rather, in a most admirable way He enriches the poverty of His faithful without any decrease in His inexhaustible treasures.

The same charity that made God descend from Heaven to earth has made Stephen rise from earth to Heaven. The same charity that had come before in the persona of the King shone brilliantly afterwards in His soldier.

Stephen, to deserve the crown that means his name, had charity as his weapon, and this weapon always gave him victory. For his love for God he did not cave in before the fury of the Jews of that time; for his love to neighbor he interceded for those who were stoning him. For this charity he refuted those who were in error, so that they repair themselves from said errors; for this charity he prayed for those who stoned him, so that they would not be punished.

Supported by the strength of this charity, he overcame and won over the fury and cruelty of Saul and, having had him as a persecutor on earth, he achieved having Saul as a companion in Heaven. Moved by this holy and unbreakable charity, he desired to conquer with his prayer those who he was not able to convert with his words.

And now Paul rejoices with Stephen, enjoying with him the glory of Christ. With Stephen he overflows with happiness; with him he reigns. Where Stephen first entered, crushed by the stones of Paul, later Paul entered also, assisted by the prayers of Stephen.

This, surely, is the true life, my brothers and sisters; a life in which Paul is not ashamed because of Stephens death; where Stephen is most pleased by Pauls companionship, because in both is found the charity that is the font of their happiness. The charity of Stephen, in effect, surpassed the fury of the Jews; the charity of Paul covered the multitude of his sins; the charity of both made them jointly deserve the possession of the Kingdom of the Heavens.

Charity, therefore, is the source and origin of all Good; the best defense, the path that leads to Heaven. The one who walks in charity cannot err nor fear, because charity is their guide and protection: charity is the sure path.

For this, my brothers and sisters, Christ has placed for us the stairway of charity, by which all Christians may ascend to Heaven: hold firmly to this pure charity, practice it among one another and arise through it, ascending more and more to the Highest.

PRAYER

Grant us, Lord, to imitate the virtues of Saint Stephen, whose entry into glory we celebrate; and, just like he knew how to plead for his own persecutors, may we also know how to love our own enemies. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the Unity of the Holy Spirit and is God, for ever and ever. Amen.