January 18 is the saddest day for me

Sun Myung Moon
March 17, 2012
Hoon Dok Hae
Cheon Jeong Gung on 2. 25 by the H.C.

Note: These notes are taken from a Peace TV video clip. They cannot be published as definitive texts and should never be used in the future as an "official" publication of True Father's words. However, they do provide a good idea of the "spirit" of the message. -- Rev. Katsumi Kambashi

Mrs. McDevitt read Father's speech from the Sermons of the Rev. Moon #45, titled "Hometown We Miss." In his speech, Father spoke about his life in the labor camp in North Korea and his journey to the South. The following are some of his words in the speech.

"Before I went to the US, I told you to pray and find out what kind of day January 18 is. Do you recall it? Do you know what kind of day it is? It is the saddest day for me. Not because I did not have money nor people. It is one day that I cannot forget. I had blessed and promised with them (Father's followers in North Korea) in front of Heaven after I had offered Jeong Seong, but all of them betrayed me. However, I wrote a long letter expressing heavenly love and tried to get contact with them three times. But they returned my third letter to me. I left North Korea carrying that letter with me. There is a bridge in Yeong Cheon city in Gyeongsangbuk-Do. On the bridge that day, I tore the letter after having read it. You do not know what I wrote in that letter. Young Cheon is a really significant name, but you do not know such a thing.

I am living with a smile so I seem like a good person. But I tell you, I am not boneless. The time hasn't come for me yet. You must know I am the person who has been looking and waiting for the time. When you substantially indemnify my 한 (han) that I came to have when I was insulted and tortured by communists, you can stand in front of Heavenly Father."

The following are some of Father's words after the reading.

"Today, I came to the meeting being embarrassed by thinking 'What can I say at the meeting as someone who is here alone, after losing my hometown and leaving my parents and relatives there?'" I came here with such doubt and hesitation. This morning we heard a very important speech."

"When I was 17 years old in February, Jesus, without solving the problem of the God of Night and the God of Day, came to me and said 'Mr. Yong Myung Moon.' He knew my name.'

"You say 'Heavenly Father!' Then where is Heavenly Mother? What about the marriage of God? What do you think of the blood lineage, tradition and resemblance?"