PASTORAL MESSAGE – APRIL 4, 2021
Happy Easter! Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Blessings and peace be with you. May Almighty God continue to bless, guide and grant us good health and strong faith in the risen Lord.
As we are joyfully celebrating Easter, let us recall all the blessings that the Lord has bestowed on our families and us. We also remember Jesus’ sacrifice and give thanks to Him for bringing salvation to the world. Today, I will share a story which summarizes how much Jesus loves us.
One day, Pastor George Thomas was walking through town when he saw a young boy coming toward him swinging a birdcage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds. They were shivering from cold and fright. He stopped the boy and asked, “What do you have there son?” The boy replied: “Just some old birds.” “What are you going to do with them? ” he asked. “Take them home and have fun with them,” he answered. “I’m going tease them and pull out their feathers to make them fight. I’m going to have a real good time.” Pastor Thomas continued: “But you’ll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?” “Oh, I have some cats,” said the little boy. “They like birds. They will eat the birds.” The pastor was silent for a moment. “How much do you want for those birds, son?” “Huh? Why, you don’t want these birds, mister. They’re just plain old field birds. They don’t even sing. They are not even pretty!” “How much?” the pastor asked again. The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, “$10.” The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill and placed it in the boy’s hand. In a flash the boy was gone. The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy area. Setting the cage down, he opened the cage door and softly tapping the bars of the cage, he persuaded the birds to come out, setting them free.
By the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, God has freed us from the cage of doom. Like those birds we are caged in sin. The sin of immorality, such as pride, greed, revenge, and hatred are abuses of God’s creation, and we may not even take the time to reflect and realize it. Because we are more important to God than the birds of the air (Mt 6:26), God redeemed us from our captivity to sin. God sent his only begotten Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him (Jn 3:17). Through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ, God has rescued us from the darkness of sin. Today we remember all that the Father has done for us through, with, and in his Son, Jesus. God has freed us from the cage of sin. We are now set free. We are liberated to fly in the sky of God’s freedom in the Spirit and in newness of life.
The Lenten Season has strengthened and prepared us spiritually and physically. So, let us continue our journey of faith with love, peace, and thanksgiving. For EASTER is the special springtime for Christians. An occasion symbolized by hope, renewal, and growth. Let us rejoice by happily living our lives as joyful Christians who are going to proclaim the Good News of our RISEN LORD!
Happy Easter! Christ is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Fr. Thanh-Tai Nguyen
