Wednesday of the 24th week in ordinary time year A
1 Tim. 3:14-16 Luke 7:31-35
Theme: The blood of the Martyrs
Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Andrew Kim Tae-Gon a priest and his companions from Korea, who shed their blood because of their faith in God. The Martyrs whose memorial is celebrated today were 103 in number. It comprises of priests, bishops, and lay people. These were great men and women of faith, whose blood has continued to bear fruit in the world. Interestingly, this group comprises of all the groups we have in the church. Their faith in God should continue to encourage all of us in the practice of our faith, especially in times of temptation and trials in our life. The assertion that says that the blood of the Martyrs is the fruit of Christianity is very true. When it comes to the issue of our faith and belief system in the church, it is not limited to any group in the church, rather we all collectively make up the body of Christ. The lives of the saints we celebrate today is an invitation to all of us, as children of God and followers of Christ.
The challenge and persecution faced by those who have opted for Christ, will never come to an end. It will always be there in every generation, though it may come in different ways. It is for us to pray for the grace and wisdom of God at such moments to handle the situation with faith, in a way it will be good and pleasing to God. This is very important, especially when we are faced with situations that truly challenge our faith in God. The Korean Martyrs remained resolute in their faith in God until the end. It takes grace and courage to remain steadfast until the end. Like a friend once said, we take solace from the words of the scripture which says that “Those who lose their life for my sake will find it”. Let this be a source of great strength for you when you experience persecution because you have declared for God.
The admonition of St. Paul in the 1st reading of today is also relevant to us. He encourages us to be mindful of the way we comport ourselves as children of God, as we await his coming. This will go a long way towards helping us to be conscious of our way of life, knowing fully well that some day we would have to give account of how we have lived. Let us continue to do our best to live a good life and trust in Gods grace to support us. May the Lord bless his words in our hearts in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit. Amen. Peace be with you.