Let Your Light Shine Forth

1 Timothy 3:14-16
Luke 7:31-35

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn and Companions. St. Andrew is tied closely to the foundation of Christianity in Korea. He was the first priest Korean to become a priest. It is believed that Christianity had been brought into Korea by some Christian Japanese soldiers in the latter part of the 18th century.   The Christian Japanese soldiers baptized the first Korean Christians and the Christian community began to grow quickly.  By the time the first foreign priest arrived in Korea in 1836, there was already a substantial Christian community flourishing there. The rulers in Korea were not at all pleased to have this foreign religion thriving in their country.  At first, they just discouraged it but soon enough outlawed this practice and began to actively persecute anyone who took it up.  Christians were arrested, tortured, and put to death. From 1839 to 1867 over a hundred Christians were martyred for their faith. We celebrate therefore these heroic martyrs on this day.

Dearly beloved in Christ, we were created from the Eternal Light and the essence of being a Christian, is to be what God is, the Eternal Light that grants us Eternal life. By implication, we are to order our life according to his plan. Therefore, those who ought to become the light of the world must share in Christ’s peaceful light and must continue to burn brightly; and as they burn they become lesser and lesser until they give everything for the sake of Him who is the light from light.
Such were the cases of the martyrs now living with Christ in Heaven, they shared their knowledge everywhere like a candle sharing its light with other candles with the same properties, density, and degree. Our way of life as Christians must confront the darkness and shadow that lingers within and around us so the name of God is praised. Let us, therefore, do all we can to shine forth the light of Christ so that others will recognize and see him clearly. May God continue to light up our way as we go out daily activities. Amen.

Fr Joseph Osho