Reflection for Wednesday September 20, Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs: Luke 7:31-35

Gospel: Luke 7:31-35

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon. The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.

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Reflection:

The  story is told about a Priest who was newly installed in his new parish of jurisdiction. Unlike his predecessor he was strict and conservative in his views and actions.

One of the many reforms that he instituted was during Mass he required the parishioners to quitely fall in line during Holy Communion. He instituted other reforms that shocked the rebellious minds of some of the parishioners.

They called him names that were very painful to hear, they even wrote a petition letter to their bishop asking him to replace the said priest. All of their actions failed to deter the priest from instituting further reforms.

When he was about to end his six-year tenure, all of the parishioners were asking him to stay longer for they saw the beautiful fruits of his labors: the orderly communion lines during Mass, the elegant church that he helped build and the many other positive transformations in the parish.

Jesus and John were unfairly labeled by the people of their time. Jesus was labelled as a glutton of food and wine, friend of tax collectors and sinners even evil. John was called possessed by a demon both of them were called names not fit for their stature. Yet, at the end they were vindicated by their steadfast commitment to their mission of salvation.

Often times we too are guilty of being presumptuous and judgmental because we often prejudge our fellowmen by how they look and act. But these simply are the external seen by the naked eye. It hides the beautiful, gentle and selfless interior. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas