Bring the Church to You
Sep 20: Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs
The Church in Korea is unusual, because it didn’t come about through the efforts of outside missionaries; Korean laypeople brough the missionaries to Korea!
Yi Seung-hun was baptized in 1784, in Beijing. Returning to Korea with rosaries, statues, and catechisms, he brought the Church home. Desiring the sacraments, Paul Chŏng Ha-sang repeatedly risked his life to smuggle missionaries into the country. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn was the first Korean native to be ordained to the priesthood. He served only a year before he was arrested.
“My eternal life is beginning now,” he proclaimed in his last sermon, just before he was beheaded.
Reading 1
1 Tm 3:14-16
Beloved: I am writing you, although I hope to visit you soon. But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, Who was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed to the Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.
This letter is very appropriate for today’s memorial. Paul wants to remind Timothy, and the other readers of the letter, that they can still follow the Gospel without their official leader in their midst. Just like the Korean faithful, who continued as best they could, without the benefit of clergy.
We should be grateful, therefore, for our priest, bishops, deacons and religious sisters who are readily available in our parishes and communities. If that ever changes, we can take this reading to heart.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
He has given food to those who fear him;
he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
giving them the inheritance of the nations.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
This Psalm, by contrast, is for people like us. We should give thanks because we can assemble in a church.
The food he has given us is, obviously, the Eucharist. Not everyone has access, and we should praise God that we do.
Alleluia
See Jn 6:63c, 68c
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life,
you have the words of everlasting life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
There are places in the world where even the text of the Bible is banned! Again, thank God for the ability to read His words whenever we like.
Gospel
Lk 7:31-35
Jesus said to the crowds: "To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.'
For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by all her children."
Some people are always looking for fault in others.1 When John the Baptist fasted, they complained that he wouldn’t celebrate; when Jesus drank with his friends, they complained that he didn’t mourn.
The fact is, everyone honors and praises God in their own way, to some degree. Just like sin is personal,2 so is praise. If you’re an introvert, calm reflection comes naturally to you; group worship may be something you have to make an effort to do. For an extrovert, the opposite is true—you’re happy participating in mass and public ministries, but have trouble sitting quietly with God.
So, when we see someone worshipping in a way we’re not comfortable with, we shouldn’t judge. Instead, we should celebrate their participation in God’s work, and maybe even try to learn something from them.
Let’s be honest, it’s all of us, at least some of the time.
For example, it might be totally fine for you to have a couple of drinks after dinner, it’s imprudent for a serious alcoholic to even have a sip, if it tempts them to greater sin.