HOMILY OF MOST REV. RICHARD F. SPENCER
AUXILIARY BISHOP FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA

HOLY MASS & PRESENTATION OF CHARTERS
TO THE FIRST TWO KOREAN COUNCILS
OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

APRIL 18, 2015
CATHEDRAL OF THE KOREAN MILITARY ORDINARIATE

Every four years as the date of the Olympic Games draw near, selected runners carry a flame torch from the site of the old games to the site of the new games. As privileged as these selected torch-bearers are, we as Christians, have a much greater privilege. We, you and I as the selected Baptized, carry the resurrection torch to all people's, giving them fullness of life.

The first and second readings remind us that if we are to be good torch-bearers, we must be closely united to each other. This is the beauty and the reality of what it means to be members of the Knights of Columbus Family in Christ.

As Luke puts it in the Acts of Apostles, "The community of believers was of one heart and mind." Tonight, we gather as Knights of Columbus family to be that one heart and one mind of Christ even though we are from different cultures, languages but yet, of one faith.

In tonight's Gospel, it is not surprising that the disciples were pretty afraid and hesitant. They had really been through a lot. And their futures seemed rather uncertain, to understand the obvious. If I was in their situation, I would probably be hiding behind a locked door too. But then Something happened, the Lord broke through the barrier they had encountered--- and for the disciples, everything changed for them from that moment on.

Today is a historic moment in the life of the Catholic Church in Korea as the Knights of Columbus expands it's membership and passes the Torch of the Catholic Faith with the formal chartering of a new Council of Korean members. The barriers have been broken down and from this moment on, new beginnings, new life awaits the Catholic Faithful in Korea as The Risen Christ stands in our midst and says to all of us: "Peace be with you!"