Monday, September 20, 1999
> >St. Andrew Kim Taegon,
St. Paul Chong Hasang,
and the Korean Martyrs
despite failures
"He puts it on a lampstand so that whoever comes in can see it." —Luke 8:16
Jesus said there were four groups of people in this world. He compared these groups to a footpath, rocky ground, ground that produces briers, and good ground (Lk 8:5ff). Only one of the four groups receives God's word so as to bear fruit. This means that we who share God's word can expect a lot of failure. This makes us feel like keeping God's word to ourselves. Nevertheless, the Lord commands us to put the light of God's word on the lampstand of our lives so as to give light to all (Lk 8:16). The Lord also warns us that, if we don't share His word, we will lose it (Lk 8:18). If we hear and act on His word by sharing it, Jesus promises He will consider us to be His mother, brothers, and sisters (Lk 8:21; Mk 3:35). The Lord gives us encouragement to share His word despite the failure of many to accept it.
Do you love the Lord? Do you love people? Do you know that every person needs to believe in Jesus Christ? Do you also know that "ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ"? (St. Jerome, Catechism, 133) People need to hear the word of the Lord to believe in the Lord. For God's sake and for love's sake, share His word.
Prayer: Father, may love impel me to share Your word under any circumstances (2 Cor 5:14).
Promise: "Everyone...whom God had inspired to do so...prepared to go up to build the house of the Lord." —Ezr 1:5
Praise: In his final exhortation, St. Andrew said, "The Lord is like a farmer and we are the field of rice that He fertilizes with His grace and...irrigates with His blood, in order that we will grow and reach maturity."
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, February 22, 1999
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 24, 1999