Apr 08 2018 English

The highlight of Holy Week was obviously the Easter Vigil. I felt such an overwhelming and tremendous joy celebrating the Liturgy. We began with the blessing of fire, the Easter Candle chant, and heard magnificent scriptural readings describing God’s marvelous works of creation, redemption, and completion. In addition to ringing bells at the Gloria and singing alleluia again, the core of the Liturgy is Baptism and Confirmation, completed by the First Communion of the newly baptized.
 
This Easter we welcomed thirty new members in our parish. For me, the newly baptized made my Easter. It is for such new births that I as a priest crave. The sheer joy of the parents with their new born sons and daughters is similar to what I felt at the celebration. That’s what we are about, spreading the good news of God’s immeasurable mercies among those who are unaware of them and dedicating these souls to God as the fruits of our labor. Of course, it is the Holy Spirit who should take all the credit, but we are most delighted to be the instruments of the Holy Spirit in initiating them, encouraging them, and accompanying them in their journey to God.

We conducted RCIA (Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults) in three languages: English, Spanish, and Korean. Jane Thornton, Ross Twele, Carmencita Fiesta, Alex Lopez, Fredes Pham, Pedro Esteban, Fr. Foggo, and myself taught and guided the candidates in their journey of faith. They have taken different journeys to the reach this point while they appreciate the Catholic Church’s respect for free will and intellect, as well as its all comprehensiveness that embraces every human longing and every culture.

Although Thomas the apostle is stuck with the un-complimentary nickname ‘Doubting Thomas’, he speaks for us when he expresses his desire to probe his finger in the wounds of Jesus and see whether he is the one. There is nothing wrong with our inquisitiveness and probing questions. As someone said, “A thousand questions do not amount to a doubt.” What matters is the conclusion that Thomas declares, when he confesses “My Lord and my God!” to the risen Christ.
    
Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB, observes that “the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday does not compete with, nor endanger the integrity of the Easter Season, nor does it take away from Thomas' awesome encounter with the Risen Lord. Divine Mercy Sunday is the Octave Day of Easter, celebrating the merciful love of God shining through the whole Easter Triduum and the whole Easter mystery.” At St. Faustina's canonization, Pope John Paul II said in his homily: "Jesus shows his hands and his side [to the Apostles]. He points, that is, to the wounds of the Passion, especially the wound in his heart, the source from which flows the great wave of mercy poured out on humanity."
    
The Lord does not leave us in the prison of our doubt and ignorance, but He always guides us like a beacon so that we may not go astray like a stranded child. Even if we may traverse in the bitter valley of life, we are confident because the Lord in His mercy is ever near us and before us to guide and encourage us. Let us continue to celebrate God’s mercy, our new birth, our confidence, and our joy in this Easter season.

Joyfully in the risen Lord,
Fr. Paul D. Lee