Homily for the Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions

Throughout His ministry, Jesus stressed that He came not to be served but to serve. While Jesus lived on this earth as God and as human, He still needed the help of others to perform His mission. Today’s Gospel calls us to focus on how He was helped by several women who followed Him and supported His mission. St. Luke says that as Jesus made His way preaching throughout many towns and villages, several women provided for Him out of their own resources. Their service to Him enabled Him to serve others.

If Jesus needed the help of others to complete His mission, then we also need such help. By our Baptism, we are called to serve others and accept their service because we really need their help; we cannot answer God’s call relying solely on our own resources.

Serving others embodies a spirit of generosity and humility that recognizes our need for interdependence. In his teachings, St. Paul reminds us that we are all interdependent within the Church, the Body of Christ on earth. The Spirit is at work in all our lives, guiding and supporting us in our service. We need others, and others need us. We all have something valuable to give and something valuable to receive. Let us recognize our need for, and be deeply grateful for, those who journey with us and help us through life.