Dear Family of God,

Do you know what the meaning of the word parish is and where it came from?

It comes from the Greek word paroikias which means “exile” or “sojourn”. And it comes from two Greek words: par and oikoos; the word oikos just means “house.” And par means “next to” or “with.” Someone who is paroikos is literally someone dwelling beside the house—not inside the house, but beside the house, which would be the kind of thing that someone who was a sojourner or a traveler would do.

Peter says to his audience, in our Second Reading this weekend: “...conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile” (1Pet. 1:17). What exactly does that mean? This material world is not our true home; we are all on a journey towards heaven, our true and eternal home. As in every journey we need food and drink. Our true food for this journey is the Lamb of God, the risen and glorified Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Dear Family of God,

Our Catechism teaches that the Gospel is the revelation in Jesus Christ of God’s Mercy to sinners (CCC 1846). Today we celebrate the “Heart of the Gospel”, God’s mercy, His Divine Mercy. Benedict XVI said that “Divine Mercy is not a secondary devotion, but an integral dimension of Christian faith and prayer. Mercy is the nucleus of the Gospel Message.”

We will be celebrating this Feast because Jesus told Saint Faustina 14x during her vision in the 1930’s to make a Feast on the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday, He said, “My daughter, tell the whole world about my inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of my tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy. The soul that will go to confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment… Let no soul fear to draw near to me. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of my Mercy” (Diary 699).

Dear Family of God,

In the midst of this pandemic, Jesus assures us, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” This is the Good News for each one of us who believes. Jesus is risen, he conquered death for us. No need to be afraid of death, instead He wants us to trust in Him, trust in his love and mercy for each one of us.

Jesus’ passion death and resurrection recreated us anew to share in the Divine life of God which is eternal, but this eternal life with God starts now where we are. We strive to put to death our “old self” and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us to our “new self” imitating Saint Paul saying: “I have been crucified with Christ; It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). Therefore salvation is not about my self-realization, it is denying myself, taking up my cross and following Jesus. It is about being transformed into Christ, no longer living for ourselves, but for Jesus who loved us and gave himself for us.

Dear Beloved Family of God,

Why did Jesus, our merciful Lord and humble King have to suffer and die?

The introduction of this weekend’s celebration says: “Today we gather together to herald with the whole Church the beginning of the celebration of our Lord’s Paschal Mystery, that is to say, of his passion and resurrection. For it was to accomplish this mystery that he entered his own city of Jerusalem.”

God our Merciful Father, sent Jesus to reveal himself to us as Father. It is because of His great love for each one of us that Jesus suffered and died, to save us from our sin and to make us reclaim our status as beloved children of God our Father. He gave us Jesus so he can pay the debt that we cannot pay. Christ alone is our hope and salvation. “Jesus did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28).

Dear Family of God,

Over time many of us have taken for granted our relationship with God and one another. Sin and selfishness have divided us and have allowed our hearts to be cold; cold in our relationship with God and our neighbors. One thing I wish and pray that will come out of this trial is that we put God at the center of our lives. That we once again have warm and loving relationships with one another; united as one. Loving God above all and loving one another as Jesus loved us.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the lord and turn from evil” (Prov. 3: 5-7).

My Dear Parishioners,

Many of us never imagined being without Sunday Mass. The Lord says “Be not afraid, for I am with you always”. In God’s providence this trial is occurring during Lent – the Church’s season of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to give us the “peace that surpasses all understanding” which is the Lord’s promise.

Be assured that you remain in my daily prayers. I know these are difficult and uncertain times. Let us stay in touch with one another as best we can, using the means at our disposal. It is important that we still remain united as the mystical Body of Christ.