Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs

 Lectionary: 449

The Lord has done marvels for us. When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing.

Today's first reading from the Book of Ezra recounts the Persian Emperor Cyrus's decision to allow Jewish exiles to return from Babylon to Judea, their homeland. They should rebuild Jerusalem, their former capital, and the temple where they might properly worship God. 

The author highlights the similarities to the Exodus from Egypt as 

"All their neighbors gave them help in every way, with silver, gold, goods, and cattle, and with many precious gifts besides all their free-will offerings." Ezra 1:6

And the Israelites did as Moses had commanded: they asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. Indeed the LORD had made the Egyptians so well-disposed toward the people that they let them have whatever they asked for. And so they despoiled the Egyptians. Exodus 12:35-36

There were probably political and economic reasons for Cyrus's odd ruling. Rulers don't often act without reasons of self-interests; even their most benevolent impulses will be supported by the prospect of political, military, or economic gain. 

But the Divine Authors can ignore that dimension for they see the hand of God in the new policy. The return from exile is a Mighty Work of God, like the escape from Egypt and the settlement of Canaan -- and the Resurrection of Jesus. 

Our Salvation comes to us through a long series of historical events. Some might not be accessible to the historians who look for corroborating evidence. They have found, for instance, no secondary accounts of the catastrophic loss of a pharaoh and his army in ancient Egypt. And, although we know of such biblical characters as Herod the Great, Pontius Pilate, and Gamaliel, no secular source can verify the Resurrection of Jesus. If Cyrus sent the Jews back to Jerusalem, we can doubt that he did it out of reverence for the God of the Jews. 

But our faith, a tradition with prehistoric origins, remembers these incidents and celebrates the Mighty Works of God. Our eyes see what others cannot recognize. 

We also see God's mighty work in the Church and her sacraments. We're still here because God wills it. It's not because of our clever adaptability, our readiness to adapt our beliefs, customs, and prayers to the current market, or pigheaded clinging to an ancient human tradition. People half my age have already seen traditions appear and disappear.  

The forgiveness of sins and reconciliation of sinners to the Church is a mighty work. The reconciliation of husband and wives is a great display of God's mercy. The Baptism of infants surpasses the wonder of their birth for those who see with the eyes of faith. 

Faith is also the practice of seeing God's works. It's a habit to be cultivated in our daily prayer and conversation. Reeling from the daily impact of shocking news -- and here I invoke the hypocrisy of Captain Renault -- we look for reassurance in the continuous history of our Church. If we are deeply saddened by news from within the United States or abroad, we find reassurance in God's mighty works. 

On this twentieth day of September we also remember the spectacular faith of the martyrs Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and their Companions. We pray that we are keeping the faith in this nation and at this time as they did in Korea in the 19th century.