The challenges of Neophytes/Missionaries

Homily – Saturday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Williams Onyilo, CSSp
Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Ching Hasang, James Kouen and other martyrs
Readings: I Timothy 6:13-16, Luke 8:4-15.

Neophyte is the name given by the early Christians, and still given by the Roman Catholics, to those who have recently embraced the Christian faith, and been admitted to baptism, especially those converts from heathenism or Judaism. Francis Libermann, happened to be one of the founders of the Holy Ghost Congregation. When he was a Jew like his father, Lazarus Liebermann, he was his father’s pride. His father gave him one of best Jewish education, hoping that Francis one day will be a great rabbi in the Jewish Talmud. However, the love the father had for him turned bitter immediately Francis got converted into Christianity. He was brutally treated and eventually rejected by his family. He also suffered as a new Christian convert in the sense his ambition to sent missionaries to the negroes in Africa met with a lot of delays. Be that as it may, he eventually succeeded and today we have the Holy Ghost Congregation courtesy of his efforts.

The saints we celebrate today; Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Ching Hasang, James Kouen and other martyrs from Korea faced more horrible torture as neophytes in bringing Christianity as a new religion to Korea. In fact the first French catholic priest sent to Korea was beheaded.
Still on the sufferings met by neophytes and missionaries,
Recently a great preacher and revivalist, Charlie Kirk was assassinated because he made a new and strong move to convert many of the American youth into true Christianity.

Today I want us to know that many neophytes/missionaries are facing a lot of challenges on account of their faith. Whatever we can possibly do to help them will go a long way in making the world a better place for us. I pray sends good people to protect, encourage and even support all the neophytes and missionaries in the world through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you all.