God's Family

When told his mother and family had come to see him, Jesus, responded that those who hear the word of God and act on it are his mother, brothers and sister. (Cf. Lk 8:21). This is a wonderful opening for us to join his family, but a challenging one as well. The Gospel is not all peaches and cream, sweet though it is; the cross always finds a place on the dish.
Today we honor Sts. Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Ha-sang and their companions, a group of 101, who were tortured and martyred in 19th century Korea for hearing the word and acting on it. Their steadfast adherence to the faith remains a model for us, as we witness Christian martyrdom in our own time, and as we struggle personally against enormous forces in our ever-increasing secular world.  Finding a supportive Christian community these days, conducting a Catholic school, standing up for our beliefs in the face of criticism or ridicule is not easy; the temptation to "cave" stands on our threshold awaiting the moment of weakness that is sometimes nearer than we like to admit.
The love and welcome that Jesus offers us to become his family and the grace that goes with it are sufficient for us.  St. Paul faced the same "enemies" as we, and could declare in no uncertain terms:
: I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loos of all things and consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him."  (Phil 38-9a).  May we join Paul and the other family members who have chosen to hear the word of God and act on it.
Bro. Rene