"We have received baptism, entrance into the Church and the honor

                                                of being called Christians. Yet what good will this do us,                      

                                                 if we are Christians in name only and not in fact?"

                                                                                ◆◆◆  ST. ANDREW KIM TAEGON  ◆◆◆

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13

In the hands of Yahweh,                                                                            

The heart of the king is like running water; he directs it wherever he wishes.

 To the eyes of man all his ways are honest but it is Yahweh who weighs the heart.

 To do what is upright and just pleases Yah­weh more than sacrifice.

 Haughty looks, proud heart, the light of the wicked is sin.

 The plans of a hardworking man result in earnings; poverty is for those who act too hastily.

 To make a fortune by means of deceit is like running after the wind; the end is death.

 The soul of the wicked desires nothing but evil; not even his friend is treated with compassion.

 When the mocker is punished the ignorant man grows wise; when the wise man is instructed he grows in knowledge.

The Just One watches the house of the evildoer and hurls the wicked into misfortune.

 He who is deaf to the poor man’s cry will not be heard when he himself calls out.

 

Ps 119:1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44

Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.

  

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊  

Luke 8:19-21

Then his mother and his relatives came to him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing out­­side and wish to meet you.” Then Jesus answered, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

 

 Gospel Reflection：

Mothering the Word

Jesus’ words in today’ gospel – would they have offended Mary who was waiting outside to meet him? Hardly! Those words of Jesus were great compliment to her, actually. For among human beings, who has listened to the word of God and surrendered to it better than Mary? Who else has so treasured the word of God i

n heart that it became flesh, other than Mary? The words of Jesus were an affirmation of Mary as truly his mother in flesh and spirit, as well as an invitation for us to imitate her in listening to the word and doing it.

It is such listening and doing that makes us members of his family, across space and time-as is evidenced in the martyrdom of Andrew kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang, and companions whose memory we honor today: So far away from the historical Jesus’ space and time, they became members of his family.