Sept 20 2018 - St. Andrew Kim and companions - Making known the message of Mercy

Saint Andrew Kim was the first native-born Korean priest, and he was beheaded for the faith. He, and St. Paul Chong Hasang with their 111 companions were martyred over the course of many years, but were canonized together by Saint John Paul II in 1984.

For centuries, Catholicism was seen as a threat to Korean customs and traditions, so Christianity took root in Korea only after much struggle and effort. But when it did begin to take root, those roots were strong.

St. Andrew Kim risked his life smuggling missionaries into Korea, so that his native countrymen might have the Word of God preached to them. For this he was arrested, tortured and killed. What gave St. Andrew and his martyr companions such courage, such willingness to suffer for the Gospel? Their love and care for souls comes no doubt from their love of Christ.

It is the same love that is on display in the sinful woman, from our Gospel today, who falls to the feet of Jesus, who bathes his feet with her tears. Though she had lived a life of ill-repute, she recognized that Jesus could give her the forgiveness she longed for. Her life would no doubt be forever changed by this encounter with mercy that began with recognizing herself as a sinner in need of mercy.

So too, each of the courageous martyrs was once a sinner who recognized Jesus to be the salvation of their souls, and once encountering that mercy, their lives were changed forever. They knew that the good news of his mercy needed to be proclaimed to everyone, even at the cost of their own lives.

Whenever we come to the sacraments, especially the sacraments of Confession and Eucharist, we are coming to the Lord, like the sinful, yet repentant woman. We lavish the Lord with our gratitude and adoration, and receive something which cannot be obtained anywhere else in this world: the knowledge of being forgiven, and the courage to make that forgiveness known to others, even at the cost of everything else, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Our Savior’s faithfulness is mirrored in the fidelity of his witnesses who shed their blood for the Word of God. Let us praise Him in remembrance of them:

The martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood, may we have a faith that is constant and pure.

The martyrs followed in Christ’s footsteps by carrying the cross, may we endure courageously our earthly trials and all the misfortunes of life.

The martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb, may we be helped by their prayers to avoid the weaknesses of the flesh and all worldly allurements.

That all Christian missionaries may have courage and strength in their witness to the Gospel, for an increase in priestly and religious vocations, and for increased willingness among Christians to answer the missionary call.

That anyone who suffers any type of affliction, illness, or suffering, may know the comfort of the mercy of Christ.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord