The Scripture readings of Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time (Year II)(1 Peter 1:3-9; Mark 10:17-27) reflect the life of Bl. Ukon Just Takayama (1552, Osaka, Japan – 1615, Manila, Philippines).
Bl. Ukon Justo was a Catholic samurai, baptized when
he was 12, together with his father by a Japanese Jesuit, Lawrence Ryousai,
along with his father and the rest of his household. Lawrence Ryosai was
invited by the Takayama family’s castle to debate with a Buddhist priest. He
made an impressive argument against Buddhist priest’s skepticism to
Catholicism. This prompted the Takayama family to become Catholic. The Christian
name Ukon took to become Catholic was “Justo” , which means “a man of justice”.
Ukon Justo became provincial lord (daimyo) of Setts when he was 21,
inheriting his father’s service. The way he governed his province was
characterized with justice and mercy. He served the people of his province as
their idealistic daimyo. Though he was the ruler of his province, Ukon
Justo was humble and compassionate. He reduced taxes to farmers when their
harvests were small to make sure they would not suffer from hardship. He is
also believed to carry a casket of a deceased resident of his province. As daimyo is responsible for peace and
security of his province, Ukon Justo was a skillful samurai at battle. After
governing the province of Settsu, he also governed the province of Akashi.
It has been known that Ukon Justo was also passionate
to evangelize and made a significant contribution for the growth of the church
in Japan. He worked with the Jesuits and established the first seminary in Azuchi.
This is where St. Paul Miki, who is one of the 26 martyrs of Nagasaki, studied
for priesthood. Influenced by him, many other samurais, including those who
served for him, became Catholic.
While keeping his fervent Christian faith, Ukon Justo
was also one of the top seven disciples of Sen no Rikyu, a Japanese tea master.
He excelled in the way of tea.
But, all in his life changed upside down when
Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who ruled a vast part of Japan as regent, on behalf of
emperor, banned Christianity with the 1587 decree. Hideyoshi asked Ukon Justo
to denounce his Christian faith so that he could continue to serve him. Hideyoshi
even tempted Ukon Justo with a promise for promotion. Yet, Ukon Justo firmly
declined Hideyoshi’s offer and refused to give up on his faith, though it could
mean not only losing his title as daimyo but execution. Because he chose
his faith, Ukon Justo lost every earthly things, except his life, his family,
and some loyal servants. Afterward, he and his family and servants wondered from
place to place. But his friend, Toshiie Maeda, daimyo of Kaga province,
welcomed them to his castle. And they lived there for 25 years. During these
years, Ukon Justo helped Toshiie.
When Ieyasu Tokugawa became Shogun, persecution
to Christians in Japan further intensified. Upon the 1614 anti-Christian decree,
Ukon Justo and his companions were expelled from Japan and landed in Manila, Philippines.
So, what does the life of Bl. Ukon Justo Takayama have anything to do with the readings (1 Peter 1:3-9; Mark 10:17-27)?
The First Reading (1 Peter 1:3-9) reflects Ukon Justo’s
endurance of suffering for keeping his faith over his earthly status and
wealth. He was able to keep his faith even facing a possibility of execution
all the time because the faith kept his living hope, which was validated by
Christ’s resurrection. The genuineness of his faith has been proven through the
way he persevered through trials by faith. Now, having been beatified since
2017 and being on his way to be canonized for Sainthood.
The Gospel Reading (Mark 10:17-27) is about Jesus’
teaching to make sure we do not let earthly wealth and status become obstacle
to enter Christ’s Kingdom on the heel of a self-righteous rich young man forfeiting
eternal life in the Kingdom for clinging to his earthly wealth. In contrast to
this rich young man, Ukon Justo chose his ticket to eternal life, eternal
blessing, eternal joy, in the Kingdom, at the cost of enduring suffering for
the sake of faith. For him, his earthly status as daimyo and wealth did not
become an obstacle to enter the Kingdom.
Perhaps, his commitment to the way of tea may have
helped him to make sure that his status and wealth become a stumbling block to
his faith. It is because the way of tea, as taught by Sen no Rikyo, really
emphasize on humility and simplicity. To enter a tea house for tea ceremony, it
is require to enter through a small and narrow opening space, called, “nijiriguchi”,
which can be translated as “an entrance only by bending yourself”. Even a samurai had to leave his sword behind
to enter as it would become an obstacle to enter through nijiriguchi. Inside the tea house can be symbolical
metaphor of the Kingdom, where peace and tranquility prevail. It is where all
guests are brother and sisters, enjoying tea with the host or master.
In the First Reading (1 Peter 1:3-9), Peter calls us,
especially, those who face trials after trials because of faith, but keeping living
hope because of faith, to persevere like Ukon Justo. In the Gospel Reading
(Mark 10:17-27), Jesus is calling us not to be attached to our earthly wealth
and status so that these will not block our way to enter the Kingdom. And the
way Ukon Takayama lived his life and kept his faith gives a good example for
this teaching of Jesus.
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