(Opening) “The word of God becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.”

 

(Homily) “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” I want to stay with this urge from Jesus. Whoever wishes to come after Jesus must deny himself first. What does it mean to deny oneself? We hear all the time—promote yourself, develop your career, strengthen your relationship and etc. that is all about gaining oneself. Denying oneself seems countercultural.

 

There is a saying in Buddhism: if a Buddhist monk is comfortable in living in the temple, it is time for him to leave. I think denying oneself is similar to leaving oneself. To me there were several significant leaves in my life. In 1993, I had to leave home to enroll the obligatory military service for over two years. It was hard for me to leave the loved ones behind, pushing myself to the unknown. I was afraid. In 1998, I left home again, thinking that I would not be able to come home any more because my parents were not supportive of my idea of being a priest, especially the celibate life. I left home like the young Francis. In 2003, I left Korea by saying yes to the rector who asked me to go to Cleveland to finish the graduate study in the seminary. The Korean seminary was a safe and wonderful place for me to stay on. However, the truth is if a Buddhist monk is comfortable in living in the temple, it is time for him to leave. Looking back, the leaves I chose were not easy but worth and that was a preparation for a greater leave—denying oneself.

 

Have you had a time to visit the Vatican Splendors Exhibition taking place at the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland? It is really honor for us to host 2000 years of Vatican art and history because it is one of the largest Vatican collections ever to tour North America—Cleveland is one of only three […]

One of the most beloved prayers among Catholics would be the rosary. People say the rosary, sitting before the Blessed Sacrament, walking in the street, driving the car, and preparing food for the family. Why do we so love the rosary? Do we know the deep meaning of the prayer? When I was first year at the seminary, we were told that we needed to pray the rosary when we went to bed. If we fell asleep before finishing it, the church with the angels would complete for us. Sometimes, the beads were all over the bed in the morning. So I did it for years and then I loved saying the rosary after dinner, walking with my seminarian brothers. Saying the rosary has become a part of my prayer life like many of you. Today as we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I would like to go over the rosary especially in terms of the Luminous Mysteries introduced by John Paul 2 in 2002.

(Story about a spiritual teacher and his disciple who asks a puzzling question—“Is what makes the tree move either tree or wind?” The teacher answers, “It is neither the tree nor the wind. It is your heart!” Let anyone with ears listen!) Suppose you meet God who is willing to fulfill your three wishes whatever […]

“Everything is a choice.” This is a quote from Matthew Kelly. “This is life’s greatest truth and its hardest lesson. It is a great truth because it reminds us of our power. Not power over others, but the often untapped power to be ourselves and to live the life we have imagined. It is a […]