Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Korea’s Liberation

Lectio – Reading the Word

“Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you…
My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food.
I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins…
But you, O Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.
You will arise and have compassion on Zion; for it is time to show favor to her…
The nations will fear the name of the Lord…
The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.”
— Psalm 102:1, 4, 6, 12–13, 15, 28

On the eve of Korea’s 80th Liberation Day, a broadcast echoed across the land:
“Korea Lives On! Daehan Has Risen! The Spirit of Korea Endures!”
Like the psalmist, our people once knew captivity, silence, and sorrow.
Yet the God who heard Zion’s cry is the same God who heard ours.

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Meditatio – Reflecting on the Word

Psalm 102 is both deeply personal and profoundly communal.
It is the cry of one whose life feels shattered—
and the plea of a nation longing for restoration.

The psalmist speaks of loneliness like a bird alone on the roof,
and of hope that God will rebuild what is broken.
In Korea’s own story, there were years when chains bound the body,
but never the spirit.
Like Israel in exile, our people dreamed of homecoming—
and God, in His time, brought renewal.

This is not just about political liberation.
It is about God’s faithfulness through generations—
a faithfulness that outlasts empires,
a mercy that spans centuries.

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Oratio – Responding in Prayer

Lord of all nations,
You have seen our tears in exile and our joy in freedom.
You have carried both our personal wounds
and the shared pain of our people.

Forgive our pride, our selfish gain, and our divisions.
Make our leaders servants of the whole, not the few.
Turn the walls within us into bridges of grace.

For those still in bondage—in spirit, in circumstance, in injustice—
hear their groans and set them free.
Let the flag of every nation wave not in arrogance,
but in gratitude for Your mercy.

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Contemplatio – Resting in God

Be still.
Remember that “You remain the same, and Your years will never end.”

On the cross, Christ wore the crown of thorns—
bearing the loneliness of the desert bird,
the shame of the broken heart,
the exile of the soul.

And yet, from the ruins,
He rose.
So too shall His people,
whether in Jerusalem,
in Seoul,
or in every place His name is honored.

Daehan lives—not only in the land, but in every heart made new in Christ.

© TaeHun Yoon, 8/15/2025