January 21

Today is a feast day for several saints in the Roman Catholic tradition, including John Yi Yun-Il of Korea (1867), and Agnes of Rome (304). John Yi Yun-Il was one of thousands of Catholic Korean martyrs in the 19th century. One reason the Joseon kingdom targeted Christian communities was because their egalitarian nature was a threat to social hierarchy. As for Agnes, she was barely a teenager when she refused marriage and was outed as a Christian to the Roman authorities and executed.

Traditional hagiography (writings about saints) emphasize saints’ faithfulness in torture and abuse, and both Agnes and John Yi Yun-Il’s stories fit that genre. Unfortunately, the violence of these stories have often masked an implicit authoritarian message. Stories full of virginal heroines and sexual violence reinforced shame-based gendered ethics. Stories of martyrs in foreign lands reinforced a colonial worldview that Christianizing barbaric cultures would civilize them.

But John Yi Yun-Il and Agnes can also be read as stories of resistance to state religion and rapist politicians. Both seem very relevant right now. My aim in sharing both traditional and non-traditional “saints” with you in these devotionals is to give you inspiration during these apocalyptic times.

Other saints who died on this day include Vincent Lingiari, in 1988, and Eddi Mabo, in 1992, both of whom fought for indigenous land rights in Australia. Their education and protest work continues to inspire Land Back movements across the globe. 

New Testament theologian Marcus Borg also died on this day in 2015. Among his many other writings, his book Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time has enabled many Christians (including me) to reconcile critical biblical scholarship with faith in Jesus.

Today, is also the birthday of Edith Tolkein, in 1889, and Vahan Tekeyan, in 1878. Tekeyan was a poet of the Armenian Diaspora, who said, “What is left in life for me? Only what was given away.” The following is an excerpt from one of his most famous poems.

Reflection: 

Prayer: Grant us the vision, with our eyes closed, to see the communion of saints that surround us, from every diaspora, who have labored for our liberation and for the earth. Amen.