Yesterday
we celebrated the birth in time of our eternal King. Today we
celebrate the triumphant suffering of his soldier. Yesterday our
king, clothed in his robe of flesh, left his place in the virgin’s
womb and graciously visited the world. Today his soldier leaves the
tabernacle of his body and goes triumphantly to heaven.
Our king,
despite his exalted majesty, came in humility for our sake; yet he
did not come empty-handed. He gave of his bounty, yet without any
loss to himself. In a marvelous way he changed into wealth the
poverty of his faithful followers while remaining in full possession
of his own inexhaustible riches. And so the love that brought Christ
from heaven to earth raised Stephen from earth to heaven; shown first
in the king, it later shone forth in his soldier. His love of God
kept him from yielding to the ferocious mob; his love for his
neighbor made him pray for those who were stoning him. Love inspired
him to reprove those who erred, to make them amend; love led him to
pray for those who stoned him, to save them from punishment.
Love,
indeed, is the source of all good things; it is an impregnable
defense, and the way that leads to heaven. He who walks in love can
neither go astray nor be afraid: love guides him, protects him, and
brings him to his journey’s end.
My
brothers, Christ made love the stairway that would enable all
Christians to climb to heaven. Hold fast to it, therefore, in all
sincerity, give one another practical proof of it, and by your
progress in it, make your ascent together.
-- Saint
Fulgentius of Ruspe from a sermon
