“Then to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?” (Luke 7:31). of Wednesday September 20, 2023

Today, Jesus might ask the same question of us: To what can we be compared? We often behave like the children in the marketplace, pitting ourselves one against the other, name-calling and deriding the beliefs of others. Jealousy, insecurity, a sense of not belonging, or fear can cause people to lash out.

The story of Sts. Andrew Kim, Paul Chŏng, and their companions illustrates the summit of Christian behavior. These martyrs relentlessly fought strict government prohibition to bring Christ to the people of an isolated country. The Christian message threatened the security of those in power. They spoke about Christ anyway, and the people of Korea opened their hearts. The Church in Korea survived and brought about change.