A  Message From Father Martin

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today is Easter Sunday, but do you remember Good Friday? The story of the suffering and death of Jesus on Good Friday is the story of the triumph of falsity over truth, of injustice over justice, of evil over goodness. Jesus was falsely charged of crimes he did not commit, and unjustly sentenced to a death he did not deserve. His good friend betrayed him, his trusted companions deserted him and his number one man denied him. The people he loved demanded his crucifixion and chose to have the bandit Barabbas released in his place. It is a story of betrayal and lies, dishonesty and meanness, unfaithfulness and wicked violence directed against an innocent and apparently helpless victim. All this comes to a head on Good Friday when we see Jesus scourged, mocked, led on the death march, nailed to the cross where he dies after a few hours and hastily buried in a tomb. If that were the end of the story that would be a bad story, a tragedy. But glory be to God it is not.

Death is not the end of the story. There is one more chapter. This is the most important chapter because, as the saying goes, they who laugh last laugh best. And in the last chapter of the story of Jesus we see him rise from the dead in all glory and majesty. He is vindicated. His enemies are shamed and confused. Jesus regains his eternal glory with the Father. He is the Lord who will prevail over all humankind. For us his embattled followers, this is good news.

It is good news to know that truth is immortal. We can take comfort in that. This is why our religion gives us the most comforting truth. We can suppress Truth, accuse it of being a lie, condemn it, torture it, kill it, bury it in the grave but on the third day Truth will rise again. Remember this and do not give up on Truth even when everybody seems to give up on it. Do not give up on Truth; do not give up on Justice. Do not give up on doing what is right. True will always be true. Just will always be just. Right will always be right even when the world around us would have it otherwise. We must learn to believe in the sun even when it is not shining, knowing that for sure it will shine again. It is the end of the story that counts. That is why the Church asks us today to rejoice and be glad. Even when we are going through very difficult times: the pandemic, through betrayal, unjust discrimination, lies, misrepresentations, death of a loved one; even when the enemy seems to be winning the battle in our lives. Today Christ has won. And we know that in Christ we shall overcome. He did it, and will do it again for us. Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!  Happy Easter.

Father Martin

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we come to the celebration of Palm Sunday, the readings today give us a clear view of God’s plan of salvation for us. Jesus, the son of God, is coming to the end of his ministry here on earth. As he approaches his entrance to Jerusalem and sends his disciples to prepare his way, we get the feeling that everything is already set by God, and nothing will stop the Lamb of God from fulfilling all the prophesies that we read in the Old Testament. As Jesus said to the Pharisees, even if his disciples would keep silent, the stones would cry out praising the Lord’s entrance to Jerusalem.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the faithful, obedient, and humble servant that is presented in the first reading from Isaiah. Throughout his ministry, Jesus reflected the face of God, the word of God and the love of God, always attending the most needed, the most rejected, showing compassion and seeking justice. He endured rejection and suffering, but he always remained obedient and loyal to the will of the Father.

St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians, encourages us to follow the example of Jesus who is humble and obedient to the point of giving his life to God. 

The gospel of Luke gives us so many beautiful messages to follow on our journey to God. 

We are called to follow Jesus’ way. To pray to the Lord our Father, to serve and not be served, to forgive and ask for forgiveness, to love each other, and to follow the will of the Father. He left us his example in the Gospels and has given us the sacraments to receive his graces.  

The passion of the Lord reminds us of the infinite love that God feels for us. He sent his only son to redeem us from our sins by his own death and to show us the way to salvation.

It is not an easy way, but Jesus proved to us that it is possible to follow it with God’s help and his mercy.

As we approach the Easter season, let us reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice for us and what it means to us in our own lives. 

God Bless, 

Deacon Carlos Pineda