20260801 Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor

[그리움하나]

(Jer 26:11–16, 24; Mt 14:1–12): Ensuring Our Cry Does Not Become Hypocrisy

Today, we commemorate the holy life of Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, who dedicated his entire life to proclaiming God’s infinite mercy and love, especially by reaching out to the poor and marginalized. Saint Alphonsus was once a promising lawyer, but after feeling disillusioned by the falsehoods and injustices of the secular court, he left behind a guaranteed life of worldly success to be reborn as a priest of God. He founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists) for the poor, focusing on sharing God’s warm mercy and consolation rather than rigid legalism. The deep theological legacy and moral teachings he left behind continue to serve as a warm beacon of light for many lost souls even today.

The Word of the Lord today also invites us to ponder deeply on what it truly means to proclaim God’s truth and justice to the world.

The Prophet Jeremiah faced the threat of a death sentence from the priests, prophets, and all the people simply because he proclaimed God’s true word—that the Temple and the city would be destroyed if they did not repent. Yet, he did not back down and spoke courageously: "It was the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and city all that you have heard. Now, therefore, reform your ways and your deeds; listen to the voice of the LORD, your God." (Jer 26:12–13)

Similarly, Saint John the Baptist in today’s Gospel could not stand by and ignore King Herod’s injustice and sin. He boldly proclaimed God’s righteousness, which ultimately led to his tragic end—beheaded due to the schemes of those in power.

In the lives of Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and Saint Alphonsus, whom we remember today, there is a clear common thread: they never hesitated to proclaim God’s truth and justice, even in the face of worldly compromise, personal disadvantage, or threat to their own lives.

We, too, are sometimes tempted to compromise with the world. We look away from uncomfortable truths, remain silent out of a mindset of "what difference can I make?", or hesitate to share God’s will out of fear of worldly disapproval or losing our own advantages.

However, God has called each and every one of us to be a "little prophet" of our time. A prophet’s role is not to throw grand, harsh criticisms.

• It is to speak words of love and solidarity when the world is filled with selfishness and cynicism.
• It is to stand on the side of justice and truth when falsehood and injustice are disguised as profit.
• It is to show God’s warm mercy and hope through action to those in despair.

Just as Saint Alphonsus chose to reach out to impoverished souls with God’s mercy rather than hold onto a glamorous position in the world, we, too, must find the courage to live out the Lord’s truth in our daily lives. A true prophet today is someone who builds bridges when the world builds walls, and someone who extends a hand first when the world turns away.

A prophet's cry is never a cold or angry condemnation. As Saint Alphonsus emphasized, true truth and justice begin with God’s boundless love. The reason Jeremiah proclaimed repentance at the risk of his life, and the reason John the Baptist gave his life to witness to righteousness, was all because of God's earnest love to save those souls.

My dear brothers and sisters, through worldly eyes, it may seem that Jeremiah was persecuted and John the Baptist met a tragic end. But just as God saved Jeremiah through the hand of Ahikam, and just as He fulfilled His salvation history through the blood of John, God never leaves those who live for the truth alone.

Through this Mass today, let us pray together with one heart: may the Lord grant us the courage not to collapse before the darkness or injustice of the world, and may He make us faithful children of God who boldly proclaim His true truth and justice with warm love, even amidst the rough waves of the world. Amen.