Memorial - St. Andrew Kim Taegon, priest
and martyr
Paul Chong Hasang, and companions, martyrs
Today we remember the Korean martyrs -- St. Andrew Kim Taegon,
priest; St. Paul Chong Hasang,, lay leader; and more than 100 companions,
who died for their faith in a persecution of Christians that lasted for 30
years in the middle of the 19th century. They remind me -- Korea reminds
me -- of the words of Jesus in today's Gospel when he refers to the seed that
fell on rich soil: "They are the ones who, when they have heard the word,
embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance."
The Word of God planted in Korea has indeed borne abundant fruit!
So what do the words of the single sentence from the first pastoral
letter to Timothy and the explanation of Jesus of his own parable of the sower
call us to think and pray about today? Well, Jesus tells his disciples,
"To you has been granted knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God."
Knowledge of a mystery. That almost sounds like a contradiction!
Indeed, it is a paradox. I invite us to explore that paradox in our
reflections today.
The divine mystery hidden in the hearts of each one of us is like a seed
buried in the ground: so tiny, so fragile, so tentative; but filled with the
promise of greatness, containing eternal life, rich with the stirrings of
our future glory. It needs to be in darkness, silence, hiddenness (in the
rich soil of our openness to God in prayer) for it to germinate, sprout, prosper,
and grow. That takes a lot of waiting, a lot of trusting, a lot of
longing, a lot of perseverance. Our truest self has not yet been revealed;
it is like a seed waiting to be broken open, given new life, and watered
and "sunned" into maturity. What is important now is for us to pay
attention, to be attuned to our deepest desires, our fondest dreams,
our wildest and strongest hopes. This secret part of ourselves, which
is the hidden mystery of God's call, will survive all the troubles,
worries, and trials of our lives. It will outlast the problems of each
day ("sufficient for the day is the evil thereof"), and will be the source
of our new existence, the new creation, "the appearance of our Lord Jesus
Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time,
the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells
in unapproachable light."
So today, as we keep festival in honor of Andrew and Paul and their companions,
let us join with the angels in joyful praise to the Son of God. Let us not
allow ourselves to be choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of
life; but let us embrace the marvelously joyful promise of the word of God
with a generous and good heart. Then we will flourish and be fruitful
beyond our wildest dreams, bringing life, peace and joy in abundance to ourselves
and all our companions.
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