Feast of Sts Andrew Kim Taegon & Paul Chong and Companion Martyrs.
"Beloved: I am writing you, although I hope to visit you soon.
"But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.
"Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion,
"Who was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed to the Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3: 14 - 16).
Wednesday 20th September 2023 of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Andrew Kim Taegon, priest and martyr and Paul Chong Hasang, catechist and 130 Korean martyrs. They all gave their lives for Christ between 1839 and 1867. Among the martyrs were priests and laity and a full representative of the Church in Korea from all backgrounds.
We celebrate today the witness of the martyrs of Korea to the truth that the message of Jesus: of mercy, peace and promise of eternal life can resound in every heart in the world. A Korean traveler in China heard the Good News in that country. He returned home to Korea with tracts of the Catechism. He brought the light of the faith to Korea.
Our key Scripture for today makes a huge claim for the body we call the Church. We know the Church as the Temple of the Holy Spirit, the People of God, the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ.
Do you know the Church as the Pillar and Foundation of truth? The Church in fact claims authority to know and teach the truth. Only the Catholic Church claims this authority. Below is how the Church stakes its claim:
"The Church, the "pillar and bulwark of the truth," "has received this solemn command of Christ from the apostles to announce the saving truth." "To the Church belongs the right always and everywhere to announce moral principles, including those pertaining to the social order, and to make judgments on any human affairs to the extent that they are required by the fundamental rights of the human person or the salvation of souls." (CCC 2032).
Why would God give such sweeping authority to the Church made up of sinful men like the Apostle Peter or Pope Francis? To understand the mind of Christ, let us see the authority that God gave to sin-prone human beings at the first creation:
"God blessed them [humans] and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that crawl on the earth." (Genesis 1: 28).
In the first creation, God gave humans dominion over the earth. Men went ahead and built the Tower of Babel, went to the moon and experimented with eugenics. Today, man's stewardship of the earth is highly compromised.
All things are created twice. The Church is the Baby of the second creation. Here is the charge from Jesus:
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 18 - 20).
The Church therefore has the authority to teach all nations what Jesus Christ taught the Apostles.
Could the Church have lasted for decades without this authority?
"Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is very deep indeed." (1 Timothy 3: 14).
"How great are the works of the Lord." (Responsorial Psalm 111 Refrain).
In September, the Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of Mary. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows obtain for us mercies from her Son Jesus.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/06/immaculate-heart-of-mary-consecration.html?m=10
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