Friday, September 20, 2024

Memorial of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon, priest and martyr, and St. Paul Chong Ha-sang, martyr and companions, martyrs

(I Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 8:1-3)

St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon was the first native Korean to be ordained a priest.  After formation he returned to his native country where Christianity was forbidden.  He ministered to his people for a while but eventually was taken into custody.  He was tortured and beheaded at the age of twenty-five.  His dying testimony reflects the spirit of Mary Magdalene in today’s gospel.  Andrew said as he was being put to death: “My immortal life is on the point of beginning.”

No doubt, Mary Magdalene felt her life beginning anew when she met Jesus.  She had been possessed by “seven demons.”  Whether or not she had the traumatic experiences of those claiming to be possessed today, she likely underwent severe harassment.  Jesus relieved the condition and gave her new purpose.  Of course, she wanted to stay close to him.  That is what eternal life is about.

We should want the same.  Jesus delivers us from the roads that ultimately lead us nowhere: pleasure, power, and prestige.  He gives us not just the promise of immortal life but meaning and goodness every day.  Even if it means martyrdom like St. Andrew Kim’s, we stand in the best good company with Jesus.

 

Friday, September 20, 2019

Memorial of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon, priest and martyr, and St. Paul Chong Ha-sang, martyr and companions, martyrs

(I Timothy 2c-12; Luke 8:1-3)

St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon was the first native Korean to be ordained a priest.  After formation he returned to his native country where Christianity was forbidden.  He ministered to his people a while but eventually was taken into custody.  He was tortured and beheaded at the age of twenty-five.  His dying testimony reflects the spirit of Mary Magdalene in today’s gospel.  Andrew said as he was being put to death: “My immortal life is on the point of beginning.”

No doubt, Mary Magdalene felt her life beginning anew when she met Jesus.  She had been possessed by “seven demons.”  Whether or not she had the traumatic experiences of those claiming to be possessed today, she underwent severe harassment.  Jesus relieved the condition and gave her new purpose.  Of course, she wanted to stay close to him.  That is what eternal life is about.

We should want the same.  Jesus delivers us from the roads that lead nowhere: pleasure, power, and prestige.  He gives us not just the promise of “immortal life” but meaning and goodness every day.  Even if it means martyrdom like St. Andrew Kim’s, we stand in the best good company with Jesus.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gon, priest and martyr; Paul Chong Ha-sang, martyr; and companions, martyrs

(I Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 7:36-50)

In this time of execution in the name of religion we are reminded today that Christians have suffered martyrdom in every age and throughout the earth. Saints Andrew Kim, Paul Chong, and many companions were killed for being Catholic Christians in Korea less than two hundred years ago. Their story includes a tribute to lay people who evidently had brought Christianity to Korea at least a generation before. When French missionaries arrived in 1836, they found the faith rooted in several communities.

Andrew Kim’s father was a Korean official who converted to Christianity. Eventually he too died a martyr for practicing his faith in a land where it was forbidden. Andrew became the first native Korean to be ordained a priest. In his early twenties when he returned to Korea to minister to his people, he was tortured and beheaded at the age of twenty-five. His dying testimony reflects the hope of the resurrection that St. Paul proclaims in the first reading today. Andrew said: “My immortal life is on the point of beginning. Become Christians if you wish to be happy after death.”

Living in western societies, we cannot accept tranquilly the news that Muslims would execute innocent people because of the flimsiest of relations to the producer of a libel movie. Both actions are regrettable although the first deserves greater condemnation than the second. Still Christ compels us to pray for and not to damn the perpetrators. His innocent suffering brought him to the resurrection and won for us the grace to love our enemies.