In the steps of the King

Most of us by now have celebrated the birth of Jesus the Christ child. Some may wait to hear about the arrival of the wise men and their gifts for the Christ child. In either case it is a time of great joy and celebration. The Christmas carols remind us of this event.

As I look out today, on the feast of St Stephen, my mind goes to the famous carol of “Good King Wenceslaus”. It tells a story of a Bohemian king, modern-day Czech Republic, who goes on a journey, braving harsh winter weather, to give alms to a poor peasant on the feast of St Stephen.

During the journey, his page is about to give up the struggle against the cold weather, but is enabled to continue by following the king's footprints, step for step, through the deep snow. The legend is based on the life of Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia who lived around 925.

The Saint thought nothing of going out into the frost and the darkness, remembering Christ Who came into the cold night of this world of ours. He felt nothing was wrong for a King, to go to the beggar, for the King of Kings had visited slaves to sin. He did not complain to carry the logs on his shoulder, for the Lord of all things had carried the Cross for our sake. But the servant had difficulty in the cold in following his master. He told his servant to follow in his footsteps. “Only tread in my footsteps, and you will proceed more easily." he said.

Wenceslas took Jesus’ second great commandment seriously “To love your neighbour as yourself,” by caring for the poor around him. Wenceslas was practicing the attitude of Christ as a part of his Christmas Celebration. This is what he was contemplating when saw the poor man near his home that day. But this does not seem to be an isolated incident.

In readings about him, it shows this behaviour of his was a regular occurrence. No one doubts thatWenceslas, rising every night from his noble bed, went around to God's churches and gave alms generously to widows, orphans, those in prison and afflicted by every difficulty, so much so that he was considered, not a prince, but the father of all the wretched.

Wenceslaus had the attitude of Christ in his heart. Let us follow his example and his instruction. “Only tread in my footsteps, and you will proceed more easily."



Deacon John Girolami DTS
SSVP Spiritual Advisor ONRC