Blessed are They Who Listen to God’s Word
Memorial of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon and St. Paul Hasang and companion martyrs
In the Gospel we heard that Jesus was informed that His mother and relatives were outside the place where He was preaching. His response may sound like a put down of His mother and relatives, yet it is a compliment to their willingness to listen to God and do whatever God asks of them. Jesus promises a share in the family of God to those who do likewise, that is, those who open themselves to hearing God’s Word and then acting upon what they hear. Jesus’ mother, Mary has already heard the Word of God in her life, obeyed it, and let it be accomplished. Her “yes” during the Annunciation was one of the many “yes-es” to God in her life.
When we end the meditation time, we usually acclaim, “Blessed are they who listen to God’s Word and live by it day after day.” This is an invitation for us to move from prayer and reflection to concrete action and living. A spiritual writer said, “The devil doesn’t care if you go to church or read the bible, as long as you don’t apply it to your life.”
Today we celebrate the memorial of Korean Christian martyrs. St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon was born in Seoul, Korea to converts to the faith. His father died as a martyr when he was young. Baptized at the age of 15, he travelled 1,300 miles to the nearest seminary in China and was ordained Korea’s first native priest. In 1846, he was tortured and beheaded along with his lay associate, St. Paul Chong Hasang. Between the years 1839 and 1867, 113 martyrs gave their lives for the faith in Korea.
Brothers and sisters, Jesus promises a share in the family of God to those who open themselves to hearing God’s Word and then acting upon what they hear. The example of these Korean martyrs is a witness of the Word of God being listened to and lived even to the point of offering their lives for Christ. It is also good to ask ourselves especially in this Eucharistic celebration, how is my following of Christ? Do I listen to His Word and strive daily to live it in my life?
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