In 415 the bones of St. Stephen were miraculously discovered on December 26. St. Augustine commented on how wonderful it was to receive a relic of the first martyr in his African city. So in one sense it is sheer coincidence that the feast of St. Stephen, protomartyr, is celebrated on the day after Christmas. However, you can recognize a special providence in the liturgical sequence. Christmas can easily become a nostalgic holiday filled with frivolity. St. Stephen reminds us that the birth of Jesus challenges each one of us to a life shaped by God’s justice. For example, remembering this as “boxing day” has nothing to do with shopping but with “alms boxes,” giving to the poor since that’s what the coming of Jesus requires.