Vatican II & Fruitful Soil of Martyrs – Sep 20 – Homily – Dcn. Ed Walker

 

Dcn. Ed Walker gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Sep 20, 2025, for the retreat that he led on the Beauty of Vatican II, where he reflects on the Korean martyrs and the Council, urging us to be good soil for God’s Word, as illustrated by the parable of the sower in Luke 8:4-15.

He reflects on the profound connection between the Korean martyrs and the parable of the sower in Luke 8:4-15, emphasizing how St. Andrew Kim Taegon, St. Paul Chong Ha-Sang, and their companions exemplified "good soil" by nurturing God’s Word with unwavering faith despite persecution in the 19th century. He highlights their sacrifices, noting that over 10,000 Korean Catholics were martyred between 1791 and 1866, with 103 canonized in 1984, as witnesses to a faith rooted in Christ. He ties this to Vatican II’s teachings, particularly from Sacrosanctum Concilium in paragraph 52, which restored the homily’s role in connecting Scripture to daily life, and Dei Verbum, which encourages all Catholics to engage with God’s Word (Catechism of the Catholic Church in paragraph 131). He also references Lumen Gentium, which underscores the universal call to holiness (Catechism of the Catholic Church in paragraph 825), urging everyone to live out their vocation fruitfully. He challenges us to avoid being rocky or thorny soil, distracted by worldly concerns, and instead to let Scripture and the liturgy shape our choices, as the Korean martyrs did, ensuring our faith endures trials and bears fruit for the Church.

For Further Reading

Luke 8:4-15 - NAB - The Parable of the Sower - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/8?4
Sacrosanctum Concilium #52 - Vatican - Role of the Homily - https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html
Dei Verbum - Vatican - Scripture in Catholic Life - https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html
Lumen Gentium - Vatican - Universal Call to Holiness - https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html
Catechism of the Catholic Church #131 - Scripture’s Role in Faith - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s1c2a3.htm#131
Catechism of the Catholic Church #825 - Universal Call to Holiness - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p3.htm#825
Franciscan Media - St. Andrew Kim Taegon - Profile of Korean Martyr - https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-andrew-kim-taegon-paul-chong-hasang-and-companions/

00:00 – Introduction to Homily
00:30 – Vatican II Reflection
01:24 – Korean Martyrs’ Memorial
01:50 – Parable of the Sower
02:28 – St. Andrew Kim’s Story
03:31 – Korean Martyrs’ Legacy
05:03 – Challenges to Faith
07:20 – Vatican II’s Teachings

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Andrew Kim Taegon, & Comp. (Wis 3) - Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=20
Readings: Saturday 24th Week of Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092025.cfm
1st: 1ti 6:13-16
Resp: psa 100:2-5
Gsp: luk 8:4-15

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1158&r=1504

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