Saving Lives by Listening

 

Korea Council of Religious Leaders: “Knocking on the Door of the Heart to Save Lives”

Catholic religious sisters listen to citizens’ stories at the “2026 National Heart Recovery and Life Preservation Campaign” held by the Korea Council of Religious Leaders at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul on June 14, as reported in the Korean Catholic Times.

The Korea Council of Religious Leaders, an incorporated association established to promote stability and harmony in Korean society, held the “2026 National Mental Health Recovery and Life Preservation Campaign” at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul on June 14.

Held under the theme “Open Your Heart, Speak of Life: Heart Knock, Life Talk,” this campaign was organized so that religious leaders could take the initiative in listening to citizens’ concerns, given the reality that South Korea ranked first among OECD countries in suicide rates in 2024 and that one in five adults experiences depression. 

Based on the shared value of respect for life across all religions, the campaign aims to foster a social atmosphere that does not take even a single person’s suffering lightly and to spread a culture of saving lives.

At Cheonggye Plaza, where the campaign took place, various booths were set up by seven religious groups, including Catholicism, Buddhism, Protestantism, Won Buddhism, Confucianism, Donghak (Cheondogyo), and indigenous religions. Features such as the “Story Zone,” where citizens could share their stories; the “Emptying Zone,” designed to help people find mental and emotional respite; and the “Heart Healing Zone,” dedicated to caring for emotional wounds and pain, were well-received by the public.

In particular, at the Story Zone, 70 religious leaders and monastics from various faiths served as “listeners,” attentively hearing the stories of citizens grappling with personal struggles and conflicts.

Sister Kim Mi-hyang (Teresa, Congregation of the Sisters of Jesus), who participated as a Catholic listener, said, “I saw people—believers and non-believers alike—who were suffering from pain they couldn’t share with others unburden themselves by telling their stories, and they left feeling greatly comforted simply by knowing there was someone there to listen.” She added, “It is a blessing to be able to listen to others’ stories.”

For everyone who has will be given more---

 The Matthew Effect 

There is an economic term called the “Matthew Effect.” It refers to the phenomenon in which the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. This was the subject of a column in the Catholic Times.

It originates from the Gospel passage: “For all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. (Matthew 25:29). 

In 1969, American sociologist Robert Merton first used this term to describe the reality where, even for the same research achievements, renowned scientists are rewarded far more than unknown scientists.

While reporting on a free meal program, the reporter witnessed the Matthew Effect unfolding today. After the war broke out between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, expectations for rising stock prices among defense contractors grew. In fact, the stock prices of major defense companies did surge immediately after the outbreak of war. On the other hand, the inflation caused by the war cost someone a single meal. It even took away that from those who make do with a single packet of instant noodles or a slice of bread for dinner. One patron the reporter met at the soup kitchen had scooped up a large portion of plain rice in anticipation of not being able to eat dinner.

At the same time, he witnessed hope. There were people who rolled up their sleeves to provide a meal for others. Some offered what they had, whether money or goods. Others carefully prepared and served meals. They were the ones bringing to life the miracle of Jesus Christ feeding the five thousand, as described in the Gospel of Matthew (see Matthew 14:13-21).

He dreams that the “Matthew Effect” might take on a different meaning. Just as the saying, “The last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16), implies that the standards of the Kingdom of God differ from those of the world. He hopes for a world where the term “the warmth of another person” is used naturally to describe how it generates greater benefits, not money or power.