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There’s a beautiful, sometimes overlooked, detail in today’s Gospel. 

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After Jesus rose from the dead, he tossed his burial cloths aside – much like we’d toss aside dirty laundry; he had no further use for them.

However, he took the time to roll up the cloth once covering his head, placing it in a separate area.

Why??

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There was a custom in ancient Israel where a master would drop his napkin on the table when he was finished eating, signaling for his servants to clean the table.

The napkin was used, much like dirty laundry.

But if he folded it, then it signaled he wasn’t finished eating; he was coming back.

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Jesus folded his napkin. 

As the Gospel tell us, he “rolled it up in a separate place,” meaning:

“I’m not finished. I’m coming back.”

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I find it fascinating that yesterday we celebrated the birth of Christ – and today we’re celebrating the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Why is that?

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Stephen’s death is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, which describes the life of the early Church.

From the beginning, we see the faith of the Church is strong, but they still have their share of struggle.

Like us, these first Christians had to persevere.

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Most of us won’t find ourselves in Stephen’s position, being stoned to death because of our preaching.

But we still must deal with our share of struggle. 

Maybe the holidays left us a little bruised – we gained a grudge or lost our temper.

Maybe Christmas brought an unexpected bout of loneliness. Maybe we were pressured to ignore our faith in some way.

Stephen reminds us that no matter how strong our faith is, at times it will be tested.

It’s not a matter of if, but when.

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We, too, can cling to Christ and persevere. Doing so will lead to eternal life.

Saint Stephen, pray for us.

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By a show of hands, how many parents took their children to see Santa this year? 

And how many of us remember what it was like seeing Santa ourselves as a child?

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It never ceases to amaze me just how spellbound children are when they first see Santa. 

It’s as if they’re in the presence of the divine.

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Eventually, some of them begin questioning:

“How can Santa be in more than one place at a time? How does he know my name? How does he know if I’ve been good or bad? Why is his beard longer than when I last saw him?” 

Still, when they see him, they’re awestruck.

Every time.

It’s amazing to watch children approach Santa, gently hand him their handwritten letters, whisper in his ear exactly what they want, and walk away with a sparkle in their eyes, knowing Santa has the power to give it.

Ask any child – Santa can do the impossible.

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The way children approach Santa reminds me of the innocence that once was within all of us. 

Maybe it still is.

It’s the innocence of belief.

It’s the ability to believe that someone else is listening to us… that someone else is for us… that someone else wants to give us good things… and this special someone has the power to give us what we want.

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We know, above all, this “special someone” is God himself. He is the giver of every good gift, the one who has the power to give us what we want.

That should be at the heart of our Christmas spirit, our belief in Emmanuel, God with us.

God for us.

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Imagine sitting on your heavenly Father’s lap this Christmas. Put yourself in the presence of the divine. Gaze into your Father’s eyes like children gaze at Santa, and tell him exactly what you want. 

Maybe it’s deeper faith in his Son, Jesus – a faith that can move mountains, a faith that is never shaken. 

Maybe it’s more joy in your heart – a continuous pep in your step. 

Maybe it’s peace. Or a firm hope that 2020 will be better than 2019. 

What is it? What do you want from God this Christmas?

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“Ask and you shall receive,” Jesus says. “Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.” 

My brothers and sisters in Christ, may every blessing you seek be yours in 2020, for Jesus is more than Santa; he is Emmanuel, God with us.

Merry Christmas!