Proper readings for the Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions
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“The Korean Martyrs”
Artist and date are unknown |
Readings for Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary: [3]
Ezra 1:1-6
In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia,
in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah,
the Lord inspired King Cyrus of Persia
to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom,
both by word of mouth and in writing:
“Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia:
‘All the kingdoms of the earth
the Lord, the God of heaven, has given to me,
and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem,
which is in Judah.
Therefore, whoever among you belongs to any part of his people,
let him go up, and may his God be with him!
Let everyone who has survived, in whatever place he may have dwelt,
be assisted by the people of that place
with silver, gold, goods, and cattle,
together with free-will offerings
for the house of God in Jerusalem.’”
Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin
and the priests and Levites–
everyone, that is, whom God had inspired to do so–
prepared to go up to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.
All their neighbors gave them help in every way,
with silver, gold, goods, and cattle,
and with many precious gifts
besides all their free-will offerings.
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Commentary on Ez 1:1-6
“The second book of Chronicles closed with an account of the fall of Jerusalem as a consequence of the city's repeated unfaithfulness to God (cf. 2 Chronicles 36:17-21), and with the news of Cyrus' calling, in God's name, for the rebuilding of the temple and the return of the exiles (cf. 2 Chronicles 36:22-23).” [4] The beginning of the Book of Ezra tells the story of the Hebrew return from exile and the instruction to build a temple in Jerusalem. From the beginning it is clear that this effort was communal. Along with Nehemiah, 1 and 2 Chronicles, this book is the first in the Hebrew canon.
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Psalm 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
R. (3) The Lord has done marvels for us.
When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
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Commentary on Ps 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
Psalm 126 is a lament. In this short psalm, the singer rejoices at the return of Israel following the Diaspora, the conquering of Israel and its enslavement. In this hymn, the people remember the greatness of God as he restores their nation and brings them back to their own land ("Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves"). The sense is one of being overflowing with thanksgiving.
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Luke 8:16-18
Jesus said to the crowd:
“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand
so that those who enter may see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,
and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Take care, then, how you hear.
To anyone who has, more will be given,
and from the one who has not,
even what he seems to have will be taken away.”
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Commentary on Lk 8:16-18
In this saying of Jesus from St. Luke’s Gospel, the disciples are enjoined once more to share their understanding of God's Kingdom, the Good News they are given, with the world. The metaphor, in this instance, sees the light of their understanding multiplying itself. The greater the understanding of the light, by the person so enlightened, the more responsibility the one to whom that gift is given has for passing it on. Luke concludes by contrasting the disciples with the unbelievers who will not accept the light.
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Reflection:
The image of light in darkness is one familiar to the practicing Christian. We pray constantly for the gift of illumination since it is the only way we can understand what we are called to do and be. It is our actions, the result of the interior illumination, that are shown to the world. It is our actions that flow from the light. The Lord speaks of it when he says, “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed.” Luke 8:16.
It was through the call of the disciples that the light (of Christ) was spread throughout the civilized world. Those who lived in darkness and hated the light tried to extinguish the light. They killed those disciples (except St. John) and on numerous occasions tried to kill all those who had inherited the light from them.
But the light continues. It burns brightly in those who receive it and enlightens others by their words and actions. It will not be denied an outlet. No matter how hard the one who carries the light tries to hide it, it will become visible. It is with great joy that we who love and live in the light see it arise in places unexpected, in people we thought were devoid of the light. It is with greater sorrow that we find darkness where we expected to find light, in those who speak the words but whose actions betray the darkness inside.
That is the true nature of the Light of Christ. It is not in the words alone. It is only revealed when it is acted upon. It only illuminates when it is handed on to others. Then the amazing thing happens. The light we offer to others comes back to us and we see yet more clearly. That was what the Lord meant when he said, “To anyone who has, more will be given.”
Each one of us is given the light of Christ in baptism. The flame of faith is lit from the Easter candle: the new fire, the light of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit. In some that candle is not encouraged to be kept burning. Through lack of care, it is snuffed out. Who would hold up an unlit candle in the darkness? It is only the candle lit with the flame of faith that lights the path. Let us pray today that we pass on that light faithfully and extend the flame where the fire has died.
Pax
[1] The picture is “The Korean Martyrs” Artist and date are unknown.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[4] The Navarre Bible: Chronicles-Maccabees, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003, p. 213.
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