The Christian faith was introduced in Korea during the 17th century through the zeal of a group of laypersons. From the very beginning these Christians suffered under terrible persecutions that, over the course of the 19th century, gave the Church many martyrs.
Outstanding among these were the first Korean priest, Andrew Kim, and the lay apostle, Paul Chong. Among the Korean martyrs who struggled valiantly for Christ were bishops and priests, but majority were laity: men and women, married and single, young and old.
Ref: Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ (Eds), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1646
Diverse opinions about Jesus in Jerusalem
Jesus so arranged his journey that he arrived at Jerusalem on the evening of the third day of the Feast of Tabernacles. He entered with his apostles unobserved, and did not go to the temple until the next day, the sabbath. He thus frustrated the plot against his life.
Still, everyone had been talking of him especially since the miraculous cure of the ten lepers. “The Jews asked, ‘Where is he?’ There was a lot of talk among the people. Some say, ‘He is a good man’; but others replied, ‘No, he deceives the people’.” (Jn 7:11-3)
It is not surprising that people should think very differently about Jesus. It always was, and always will be, the case with public benefactors. Some praise their zeal. Others, even well-meaning people, attribute bad motives to it. Thus, if people form diverse opinions of our fitness for an office we should not be surprised.
If we are humble, we will wonder instead why anyone must have a good opinion of us. So, let us not be offended or discouraged by criticisms against us or our conduct. We should strive to profit by them.
The day after his arrival, “Jesus went up to the temple and taught. The Jews marvelled, saying, ‘How did this man get such knowledge having never been taught?’ Jesus answered, ‘My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. He who speaks of himself seeks his own glory; but he who wants to give glory to him who sent him is true; there is no reason to doubt him.’” (Jn 7:14-8)
The doctrine we share is Christ’s who sends us, not our own. We must be most careful not to alter it by want of preparation, inaccuracy or human respect. Do we seek our own glory either against ‘justice’ or the ‘truth’?
The doctors and leaders of the nation, afraid of being ignored, had long tried to degrade Jesus in the eyes of the people; and even to cause a riot in which they might get him killed without suspecting a murder.
The people knew nothing of their intrigues, but Jesus did, and charged them openly: “Why do you want to kill me?” Pretending to be indignant they replied, “You have a devil. Who would want to kill you?” (Jn 7:20)
To this day, pride and wickedness conspire to arouse the people by lies against Christ, his Church, his Vicar, his priests. This should not surprise us. We must instead follow our Lord’s example. His only answer to insult and calumny was a greater enthusiasm to instruct and save the people.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp593-5
Working in the vineyard of the Lord
The outstanding problem facing the world is very few people really know Christ on a personal basis. Many live and die ignorant of the truth that Christ has brought salvation to the world. Many will or will not find Christ because of our example. How can we remain indifferent when so many people do not know the Lord?
“Each one should examine themselves to see how energetically they are working in the vineyard of the divine Sower. Perhaps we have not dedicated everything we have to the service of the Lord. The people who really work for him are those who are anxious to win souls and bring others to the vineyard.” (St Gregory the Great, “Homilies on the Gospels”, 19, 2)
Everyone is welcome in the Lord’s vineyard: young and old, rich and poor, men and women, in their prime or sunset years, with time or none to spare. “... children, too have an apostolate of their own. In their own measure they are true living witnesses of Christ among their companions.” (Second Vatican Council, “Apostolicam actuositatem”, 12)
The Lord is not interested in excuses which show a lack of faith. We must reject pessimism and sadness whenever we are disappointed in the apostolate.
“Take courage! Keep going against the tide, protected by Mary’s Immaculate and Motherly Heart: you are my refuge and my strength. Be calm ... God has very few friends on earth. Don’t shy away from the burden of the days, even though at times we find them very long.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way of the Cross”, 13th Station, 3)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, "In Conversation with God", 5:53-6
A continuing sign of contradiction
In a Lenten retreat which Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II, gave in 1976 to Pope Paul VI and members of the Vatican Curia, he reflected on Simeon’s prophecy on Christ being a ‘sign of contradiction’. Nearly two-thousand years have passed, he said, but the words then spoken have remained valid and relevant.
In the face of terrible experiences the human family has undergone and is still undergoing, Jesus Christ is once again revealing himself to men as the light of the world and at the same time that sign which, more than ever, men are resolved to oppose. He pointed out some forms of opposition to Christ, his gospel and his Church in the modern world; to what could be called “indirect contradiction” of Christ.
Then he said: “The great poverty of many peoples, first and foremost the poverty of the peoples of the Third World, hunger, economic exploitation, colonialism (which is not confined to the Third World) are all a form of opposition to Christ on the part of the powerful, irrespective of political regimes and cultural traditions.”
The contemporary plotters against religion have come up with a new strategy, widely different from that employed during those heroic times, now evoked by ruins of circuses and by the sites of the ancient catacombs. The enemies of religion have not learned the lessons taught by early Christianity.
Ref: Cf Fr M Guzman, “Encounters with Christ”, 1990, pp8-11
• Our Lady of the Silver Foot, at Toul, in Lorraine, where an image is seen, which according to an ancient tradition, informed a woman in the year 1284, of an act of treachery which was being planned against the city; and as a sign of it, the image put out its foot, which was found changed into silver. — Triple Couronne. n. 57. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of the Silver Foot, at Toul in Lorraine, France (1284). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of the Silver Foot. (France, 1284). (http://mariedenazareth.com)
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