Pastor’s Weekly Reflection – Jan. 19, 2025

Jan. 19, 2025

Dear Parishioners,

“Life is a banquet in which the wine always runs out.” Just in case you think that the
phrase “Life is a banquet” is made up by some party animal, I want to assure you that it comes from the Bible. In the Scriptures, the relationship between God and his people is described in the image of a bridegroom and his bride. And in describing the joy God finds among his people, the joy of the kingdom of God, the Bible uses the image of a wedding feast. It’s no wonder that Jesus started his public ministry at a wedding feast.

It doesn’t matter which path of life one is in: marriage, religious vocation, or singlehood.
Neither does it matter what profession one pursues. Sooner or later, the initial excitement, the bursting joy, once thought of as unlimited, starts running out. All that remains is the “water” of routine, dullness, and even disillusionment. Not just for the ordinary folks like you and me, but also for the rich and famous.

Earnest Hemmingway, winner of many prestigious awards, including the Pulitzer and
Nobel Prize, always lived his life to the fullest. A newspaper reporter, ambulance driver during WWII, involved in the Spanish Civil War, friend to bullfighters as well as authors – he did it all. But there came a day when his wine ran out. He took his shotgun, pressed the barrels to his forehead, and pulled the trigger.

It happens in everyone’s life. The wine runs out. The crucial question is, “What should I
do?” Many married couples are tempted to run out with the wine, “There is nothing in it for me anymore.” Sounds familar, doesn’t it? Well, that attitude reveals a terrible selfishness. For such people, marriage is only a passing alliance between two selfish human beings. So, when they have taken all they can from each other, they look elsewhere for more fruit that can be picked and eaten without pain or effort, an illusion that is bound to repeat.

The old wine must run out for the new wine to come in. First love, however romantically
beautiful, cannot last. It is bound to wear out. Really not a bad thing. In fact, it has to wear out if a new and deeper love is to be born. The new love consists in putting the other person before oneself. One has to forget oneself and find joy in loving rather than being loved, in giving rather than in receiving. When both are giving, both are also receiving. The new wine has formed, much better than the old wine.

The key element in making the new wine is to invite the Winemaker, Jesus Christ, into
our banquet, our home, our life, our heart. Some time ago a woman wrote a fascinating article about redecorating her family’s home. Things went well until her husband overruled the interior decorator and hung a 16- by 20-inch picture of Jesus in the most prominent place in the home. The woman tried to get her husband to reconsider, but he absolutely refused. Then, during a discussion with him, she recalled these words of Jesus: “If anyone declares publicly that he belongs to me, I will do the same for him before my Father in heaven.” (Mt 10:32)

That settled it. Her husband won. Now she says she’s glad her husband won, because she
thinks that picture of Jesus has had a remarkable effect on her family – and on visitors. For
example, one day a stranger kept glancing at the picture. Finally, he turned to the woman and said, “You know, that Jesus doesn’t look at you; he looks right through you.’’ And one night a friend sitting across from the picture said, “I always feel so peaceful in your home.’’

The picture’s most striking impact, however, is on conversations, says the woman. It
inevitably draws them to a higher level. The woman ends her article by saying she knows people will smile at her remarks and even ridicule them, but she doesn’t care. “This much I know,’’ she says. “When you invite Jesus into your home, you’re never the same again.’’

Life is a banquet in which the wine always runs out. But with Jesus as our guest, we will
enjoy a new wine, thousand times more uplifting and exciting. What are we waiting for?

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all,


Fr. Duc

Pastor’s Weekly Reflection – Jan. 12, 2025

January 12, 2025

Dear Parishioners,

This week we commemorate the baptism of Jesus. This Sunday is also the last day of the Advent-Christmas season. On Monday, we will begin the first week of the Ordinary Time. All these decorations will be gone. The Church wants us to prepare ourselves for the new season by embracing our identity as followers of Jesus. Our Christian identity derives all its meanings and implications from the very identity of Jesus. In the event of the baptism of Jesus, God reveals to us who Jesus is: the Messiah, the Son of God.

As the Son of the Most High, who is sinless, why did Jesus want to receive baptism? Isn’t baptism for the cleansing of sins, especially, of the original sin? This is a good question, and our ancestors in faith did ask the same question. To answer it, we need to understand the full meaning of baptism.

In the ancient world, water is a symbol of both life and death. When a gentile converts to Judaism, he goes through the ritual of Tebilah, which is a rite of passage. There are three stages in such a rite: the separation from a previous state, an in-between state called liminal period, and the reception into a new state. The gentile wishing to become an Israelite must be separated first from his old gentile state. And the way to separate him from his old state is to return him to the primal womb, the water of chaotic nothingness. So, he is immersed in water. While being immersed in water, the convert is symbolically severed from his gentile state; he undergoes a symbolic death, a death to the old self. In this liminal period, he is neither gentile nor Jew; he is returned to nothingness. Then he is called out of the water. Emerging from the water, he is given his new Israelite state. Yahweh has bestowed on him a new life, a life in God and with God’s people.

Baptism not only erases the old self, the self of sins and brokenness, but also brings about a new identity, a new life in God, a new fellowship with other believers. Therefore, Jesus accepted baptism by John the Baptist, not to be cleansed of sins, but to show his total solidarity with us in our sinfulness and to call us to share his identity as the beloved of God.

We were all baptized. In baptism, we were cleansed of previous sins, both original and
personal. In baptism, we also received a new identity. The cleansing of sin in baptism is a one-time shot, but the new identity as God’s beloved is a life-time process. Whether baptism has any impact on us depends on whether the new Christian identity is really taking shape in our lives. The issue for us, the baptized, then is, What has happened to this God-given identity?

We live in a world of multiple identities. Each one of us has many identities. I am a
Vietnamese, a Jesuit, a priest, an American citizen. To the media, I am an internet user, a
consumer, a shopper, a voter, etc. We are all surrounded by a great number of identity-forming influences. These influences not only compete against each other but also gang up to suffocate our Christian identity. If we are not careful, our identity as Catholics will be soon swallowed up by others.

However, all identities are temporary and fleeting, except for the identity of being a child
of God, the identity of a Christian. Whether we are a president or a pope, a CEO or a worker, all will be nothing when we close our eyes and die. When we stand before the Supreme Judge, Jesus Christ, only the identity of being a child of God will be judged. Therefore, we must cherish our Christian identity above all other identities.

Just as God said to Jesus in his baptism, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well
pleased,” God said to each one of us in our baptism, “You are my beloved; with you I am well
pleased.” Indeed, God said so not only on the day of our baptism, but he also continues to say so every day of our life, regardless of our behaviors. Do you hear that? I mean, Do you hear that, right now? If you and I really hear that and make it a reality, our life will change, for the better.

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all,

Fr. Duc

Pastor’s Weekly Reflection – Jan. 5, 2025

Jan. 5, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

Today we celebrate the feast of Epiphany. Epiphany means manisfestation of God’s
glory. St Matthew recounts the mysterious holiness of God that was revealed to the astrologers from the East. These astrologers or magi were Eastern scientists, specializing in astronomy, medicine and metallurgy. In their research, they certainly asked many important questions and sought exciting discoveries.

Similar for us, life is a long series of searches. And of course, no one searches for evil or unhappiness. We search for peace, prosperity, love, joy, success, etc. In general, we search for true happiness. When we have not found it, we continue to search. When we have found it, there are other things for us to keep pursuing. And so it goes until death, still searching and pursuing.

Our lives always seem to lack something, something so important that no matter how prosperous we are, we still feel lacking. The picture of each of our lives is never complete until death, whether we have high positions, a lot of money, or prestigious degrees. Realizing the shortcomings of our lives, we always search to make that picture more perfect and complete. 

This constant search is inherently good, but it can easily become suffering and a trap when we are not aware of what we are looking for or when we pursue a wrong or useless goal. When we do not know what we are looking for, we just reach out and grab everything, but nothing can fill us up. When we do not know what we lack, we just let life drift wherever it goes.

When we search for something useless or wrong, not only does our lack not decrease, but it becomes bigger; sometimes we even trade the good things we have. So on this Epiphany day, let us reflect on the question: what is the most noble and valuable quest worth pursuing for the rest of our lives?

What were the astrologers looking for? They had knowledge, wealth, and prestige. So what were they looking for? They were not looking for a star that would be the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe, an elixir of youth, nor a special metal that would turn everything into gold and silver.

The astrologers were looking for a person. Their question was, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews?” This question, though simple, contains a key that opens the door to all human searches for happiness. That key is: if we seek anything other than people, we will surely be disappointed. What does money, fame, education, or health mean when our hearts are lonely and withered? What is the meaning of success, prosperity or wealth if we have no one to share them with? On the contrary, having someone to love and share with, to comfort and caress, to support and protect, all other things will increase our happiness and enrich the meaning of our life. Therefore, in our own search, people must be the center of that search, if we want our lives to be more peaceful and complete each day.

We must seek people first. And of course, no human being can satisfy our deepest and most legitimate longings, except God. St. Augustine said, “Our heart will be restless until we find God.” The Gospel reminds us, “Seek God first, and all these things will be added to you.”After a lifetime of searching, the wise men finally concluded that only Jesus, the King of the Jews, could satisfy their longings. So, they left everything and set out. They set out without knowing where they were going, but they set out anyway. Life of faith is always a journey of adventure, with many trials and obstacles along the way. The wise men had to face the tyrant Herod. This king had killed his own sons because he suspected them of trying to usurp his throne. He did not even spare his own son, so what would he not dare to do? Yet, for their purposes, the three astrologers had to rely on the cruel king.

Accepting loss, hardship, and deception was not enough, the wise men also believed in the guidance of the star. The guiding star in our lives is the Bible, the teachings of the saints in the church, and the witness of the saints, among whom are the Vietnamese Martyrs. 

Every journey of faith is arduous, but the harvest is also very rich. The Gospel tells of the wise men being extremely happy when they saw the baby Jesus. Right before their eyes was the ultimate destination, the wonderful discovery, the perfect result of that journey of faith. Therefore, they looked, they worshiped, and especially they offered their most precious treasures to the baby Jesus. And when they returned to their homeland, they were still the same Magi, but their minds were brighter because they had seen the truth, their hearts were more joyful because they had seen the beauty of God, and their steps were lighter because they had penetrated the holiness of the Most High.

May every Sunday Mass be a journey of faith for each of us. We come here to seek the person of Jesus. We overcome the difficulties of laziness, of work, of weariness and disappointment. We are touched by the truth of God’s Word. We witness the beauty of the Eucharist. We offer a part of our precious inheritance. We receive the holiness of salvation. At some point, God will give us the last piece of the wonderful picture of life that we have been searching for.

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all,

Fr. Duc

Pastor’s Weekly Reflection – Dec. 29, 2024

Dec. 29, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

On the Feast of the Holy Family, let us reflect on the role of parents in raising children
under the guidance of the Word of God. The ways Hannah and Elkanah cared for Samuel in the first reading and the ways Mary and Joseph raised and taught Jesus in the Gospel give us good models for parenting.

Samuel was the God-given child of Hannah and Elkanah. Before Samuel’s birth, Hannah
was miserable because of her barrenness. She was the first wife of Elkanah with no child, but the second wife, Peninnah, had many children. This wicked Peninnah found every opportunity to humiliate Hannah. Once, after Elkanah offered a sacrifice at the temple in Shiloh, he brought a portion of the offering home for his family to eat. As soon as she sat at the table, Peninnah mocked Hannah sitting alone while Peninnah was surrounded by children. Hannah was so angry that she couldn’t stand it, burst into tears and refused to eat. The husband comforted her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why are you not eating? Why are you so miserable? Am I not better for you than ten sons?”

I wonder if the husbands now are as gentle, kind and loving as Elkanah was.
After that meal, Hannah entered the temple of God in Shiloh and prayed all night. Her
lips kept imploring with God silently, making Eli, the overseer of the temple, think that she was drunk, because he could only see her lips move but did not hear a word. He questioned her andshe replied, “No, sir, I’m just an unhappy woman. I had neither wine nor liquor; I was only pouring out my heart to the Lord. Do not think your servant a worthless woman; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.”

Surely God heard that humble broken heart and granted her request. After giving birth to
Samuel, instead of keeping the child to ward off her rival, Hannah presented Samuel to the
temple of God in Shiloh and made him a disciple of Eli, so that he might learn to serve God as a prophet.

Although the son Samuel was more precious than gold and silver, Elkanah and Hannah
did not keep him for themselves, but wanted Samuel to find the vocation that God had for him. They knew that when Samuel lived in the temple, he would have the opportunity to listen to God’s call and must freely choose to respond to it. In the end, both parents, and especially Samuel, did not lose what they had, but earn their place forever in the history of salvation, just because they knew how to actively cooperate with God’s plan of salvation.

And just like Hannah and Elkanah, Mary and Joseph also help Jesus their son to listen to
God’s call and respond freely. Like many other parents, of course, they also had their own wishes about their child’s future: they wanted him to succeed and bring honor to the family, and especially to take care of them when they became old and sick. But no matter how much they wished, these two couples still put the vocation that their child would receive from God above the own wishes. Remember that what’s best for the child is also what’s best for the parents. Later it was Samuel who crowned the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. When the Jews chose King David as their most worthy leader, they also recognized Samuel as their nation’s great prophet. Until now the flag of Israel is still the star of David.

For the parents who are worried about who would take care of them in their old age, let
me tell you this parable. There was a mother eagle with a young baby that she loved very much. Every year the birds take refuge in a place far away in search of a good climate. Loving the young child, the mother bird carried the baby on her back and flew away. The flock of birds crossed the mountains, rivers, and seas. However, the farther the bird flew, the more the mother felt that the baby on her back seemed to be getting heavier and heavier.

At the top of a tree, the mother bird sat down to rest; she was panting because she was
exhausted. Looking at the baby bird, the mother bird said, “My dear, please tell me honestly,
later when I’m old and weak and can’t fly, can you carry me on your shoulder during our
migration?

“The baby bird replied, “I can’t promise it, Mom.”
The mother bird was sad. She said as if she was about to cry, “I have cared for you all your life and you won’t even help me once?”
“Mom, I can’t promise you, only because at that time I will have to carry my baby on my back, just like you are carrying me now.”
That’s right, as long as the children take care of their own children as well as the parents have taken care of their own, that’s good enough.

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all,

Fr. Duc

Pastor’s Weekly Reflection – Dec. 22, 2024

Dec. 22, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

One of the basic principles in learning, studying, or enjoying a work is the attention to
detail. From scientists to artists, from technical designers to writers, the beauty or depth of an object of study or a work of art depends much on the little details. When we contemplate a flower or a painting, we often admire the subtlety of a petal or brushstroke. When we hear a song or music, the more sensitive and harmonious the vibration of the voice, the higher and lower the bass of the instruments, the more we can appreciate its richness. The closest and most specific example is how the ladies apply lipstick, makeup or draw their eyes, the more thorough and detailed they are, the more beautiful they are. No pore or wrinkled brow should be missed.

In the area of Bible study, the details in a text are all the more important. These details
may or may not be mentioned directly in the text, but as readers we must fill in the blanks with these details to make the story more complete and richer. In literature, when the details of an action or event that the author does not mention that we know must be present in the story are also the key points that invite the reader to enter the story so that the story permeates and transforms them.

In the Gospel of Luke, the first verse is, “At that time Mary set out on a journey, and
went in haste to the mountains, to a city of the tribe of Judah.” At a glance, we feel nothing
special or important, for we picture a woman eager to visit her cousin in another village. When we settle down a bit and let each inscription enter into our brains, we inevitably ask many questions. What made Maria eager? How far apart were these two cousins? Did Maria go with anyone, and by what means? These are familiar but necessary questions when we visit someone. We do it automatically in our heads, prepare many things, and then hit the road.

Mary lived in Nazareth and Elizabeth lived near Jerusalem, about 60 miles or 100
kilometers apart. And it’s not a highway, but a mountain pass that swings between the hot sands of the desert. Anyone who has made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land has witnessed the barren wilderness of Palestine. And then Maria had no oxen or donkeys to ride on, because Mary’s family was very poor. It takes a healthy man with a good walk four days to cross the 100kilometers of that trail. I remember well when I crossed the border by road from Cambodia to Thailand. The distance was only about 100 kilometers but it took us seven days.

What about Maria? How long and exhausted were the small legs of a country girl 15-16
years old be able to cross the high hills and dry, scorching land?

In life, there must have been difficult and terrifying journeys like the one Mary went to
visit Elizabeth for anyone. Who will protect us when the road is precarious? When the body is tired and the mind tells us to give up? When we are lost in a desert?

At those times, we can only follow Mary’s example. We need a moment of silence. We
must relive an encounter with God – through a retreat, through a prayer, through an encounter with God’s angel. Surely when I say this, many people will think to themselves, “Have I ever had the good fortune to meet an angel?” “Have I ever felt an encounter with God through a retreat or prayer?” “So, what do I have to reminisce about?”

To answer these questions, I assert that any of us have at least once met God. And that
encounter is not just a glance or a fleeting sentence, but a mysterious encounter from within, an encounter as mysterious and profound as Mary and the child in her womb. That is when we receive the Body and Blood of the Lord.

That encounter with God through the Eucharist is just as intense and magical as the
angel’s announcement to Mary, because when we accept the Body and Blood of Christ, we
receive God Himself into our hearts. That Holy Blood will dissolve in our blood. That Host will dissolve into our flesh and blood. Our flesh and blood are permeated by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit. When we receive Communion, the power of the Most High will envelop us as it enveloped Mary.

The only condition that allows that mystery to happen is that we must believe. Do I
believe that that simple little piece of bread contains the power of the Most High? Am I sure that this little wine is filled with infinite grace, and nothing can harm or overpower me?
That is the only thing that God requires is to believe the words of Jesus Christ: This is My
Body. This is My Blood. Whoever eats My Body and drinks My Blood receives me. Whoever
eats My Body and drinks My Blood will have eternal life.

Mary is called the Blessed One only because she believed in the angel. What about the
words that Jesus as God himself speaks to us? Do you and I believe it?

Convinced of the true value of the Eucharist, each of us will also be bold enough to
venture out eagerly. On the way to share the joy. On the way to our real homeland. Nothing can stop or hold us back. Only we have God within us. Maria believed and completed the journey beyond human strength. What about you and me?

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all,

Fr. Duc

Pastor’s Weekly Reflection – Dec. 15, 2024

December 15, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

I wonder if you have noticed that among the four candles symbolizing the four weeks of
Advent, there is a pink candle. And that pink candle is lit today, the Third Sunday of Advent.
Why is that?

Advent is a long-standing tradition of the Church. In the past, like Lent, Advent lasted 40
days, from the feast of St. Martin on November 12 to December 24. After a while, Advent was shortened to 4 weeks instead of 40 days. And like Lent, the faithful fast during Advent.

Fasting, praying, abstaining, and doing apostolic work are all actions to prepare for the
great feast of Christmas, but they do not speak of its meaning. Therefore, to remind the faithful of the main meaning of the Christmas event is the joy of salvation, in the middle of Advent, that is, the third Sunday, instead of purple, the Church uses pink, the color of joy and excitement, not only with the Advent candle but also the celebrant’s vestments are also pink. Nowadays, perhaps to save money, priests no longer wear pink vestments, because vestments are expensive and are only worn once a year. But the pink candle still remains, reminding us of the anxious waiting for the Savior of humanity. The Church also abolished fasting during Advent.

In addition, in the capital of the Church, Rome, four main basilicas are chosen as four
stations, symbolizing the four weeks of Advent. The third station, symbolizing the third Sunday, is always St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest and most important, to express the centrality of the third Sunday of Advent, Rejoice Sunday, Gaudete.

Of course, the most notable are the readings. The mood of the readings is carefully
chosen to express joyful anticipation. The prophet Zephaniah reminds us, “Shout for joy, O
daughter of Zion; shout for joy, O Israel! Rejoice, rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of
Jerusalem!” St. Paul repeats, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” The
Gospel speaks of some actions we should take to increase our joy, and what we should avoid so as not to lose it.

When we think of joy in these last months of the year, we tend to think of the attractive
gifts we will receive on Christmas Day. Psychoanalyst Erich Fromm said, “The joy of man today consists in the eagerness to look into the shops and buy things that he can afford, either in cash or in installments.” Joy is often identified with temporary excitement and comes from the outside world: a new ring, a new car, a new house, a new lover.

If joy is defined as an emotion caused by external stimuli, then it is certainly not the joy
that the prophet Zephaniah, Saint Paul, and John the Baptist spoke of on this Joyful Sunday. The daughters of Zion and the people of Israel to whom the prophet admonished them to “Shout for joy” were people in the shackles of foreign slavery and exile. As for Saint Paul, who reminded the Philippians to rejoice, he was in prison at the time. Who can rejoice in exile if joy only comes from the surroundings?

So what is the joy that the prophet and St. Paul want us to realize? The joy that the
prophet evokes is nothing other than the certainty of the faithfulness of Yahweh God, who made an everlasting covenant with Israel through the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. That covenant clearly stated that if they worshiped Yahweh alone, Yahweh would send a Savior to free them, to lead them to the Promised Land, where milk and honey would flow, and their children would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.

And the joy that St. Paul reminds us of is the peace of those who have God in their hearts,
a peace that comes from God himself, a peace that nothing can take away – not even prison,
sickness, poverty – a peace that surpasses the understanding of the intellect.

George Bernard Shaw, the great English writer, second only to William Shakespeare,
shared the same view as Zephaniah and Paul. He wrote, “The true joy of life is to find oneself
used for a noble purpose, to spend all one’s energies in that purpose before one becomes useless, to be a force of the earth and not a selfish, irritable fool, full of ills and irritability, complaining that the world does not make one happy.”

There is a superficial joy that passes quickly. But there is also a deep, overflowing joy.
For those who live in union with God, true joy strengthens us in suffering, and urges us to give in happiness. For them, nothing is unconquerable.

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all,

Fr. Duc

Pastor’s Weekly Reflection – Dec. 8, 2024

December 8, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

In this week’s Gospel, John the Baptist used the image of a road to describe the preparation to welcome the King: “Every valley shall be filled, every mountain and hill shall be made low. The widning road shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth.” When we understand that the road to welcome the Lord is our own soul, then valleys, mountains, widing roads, and rough places are what prevent God’s love and grace from touching our hearts and transforming them. To recognize these obstacles, we must examine ourselves carefully and regularly.

Another rich image that helps us reflect on the preparation of our souls is the image of a gutter. This season, there is a lot of rain, so we must also clean the trash in the gutters of our roofs so that the water does not clog and overflow to other parts, causing damage to the house. When we use the symbol of God as the source of love and grace, we also compare our hearts to gutters that receive the saving water from God’s heart.

So, in order for God’s love and grace to flow abundantly in our souls, what are the wastes that block the flow of God’s grace?

One of the things that often clogs the gutters is the branches from the trees around the house that fall into the gutters. What are the branches that clog the gutters of the soul? It could be a deep pain caused by someone, and even now, when touched, that wound still stings. It could be a mistake from the past that makes my heart sink every time I think about it. It could also be a disordered passion that has the ability to destroy terribly, and that I have tried many times but still cannot escape.

Besides those bulky branches, there are many withered leaves that will cling to the branches, blocking the flow of the water of grace. There are leaves of greed, although small, but accumulated over time, they can form a dense wall that blocks the flow of water. The more we possess, the more we want to collect, and the more we collect, the thicker and stronger the wall becomes. There are fallen leaves of jealousy and envy, although not revealed on the outside, they silently pile up over the years into clusters, then into a clump, covering the gutter.

Smaller are hairs, feathers, which when mixed with branches and withered leaves, create walls that the water cannot penetrate. Untrue rumors are spread to belittle the reputation of others or to sow bad doubts in the hearts of listeners, thought to be harmless but slowly forming into a bunch, a roll, not easy to remove. Petty lies that are considered insignificant or hidden continue to be done day after day, month after month, until they become a habit; by then the gutter has long been clogged.

And we not only block the flow of grace, but we also make holes in our gutters, allowing the water of grace to dry up over the years. Every time we miss a Sunday Mass, we refuse grace. Every time we are lazy and do not confess or receive communion, we make a big hole in the

gutter of our soul. Every time we have the opportunity to do good deeds and ignore it, we make a hole so that grace is not received. When we have the opportunity to serve, we find all kinds of reasons to refuse, then we close the gutter of our soul.

God’s grace is boundless and endless, constantly flowing into the human soul. It is only a pity that humans keep creating so much debris and garbage that chokes the flow of grace. It is truly a sadness that humans keep making holes that empty out the water of salvation.

Without silently examining ourselves and humbly accepting God’s sanctifying grace, human life will only consist of a series of hopeless and uncertain days, and death will strike at any moment.

Meanwhile, happily, there are still many open and free souls who not only imbibe grace into themselves, but also spread it to their families, friends, communities, and sometimes even influence society and the nation. They become messengers of the Good News, the John the Baptist of the new era. Living near them, others feel peaceful and confident, because they have become effective instruments of the Prince of Peace.

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all,

Fr. Duc

Pastor’s Weekly Reflection – Dec. 1, 20, 2024

December 1, 2024

Dear Parishioners, 

Advent means arrival. During Advent, we prepare for Christmas, the commemoration of the first arrival of Jesus, and for the second coming of Jesus in glory. The preparation is also called waiting for the Lord. 

But when we pause and think carefully, we realize that our entire life is a series of waiting. Parents wait for their children’s graduation, marriage, and for grandchildren. When we get a job, we wait for salary increase or promotion. When we achieve one goal or one milestone, we wait for the next. We cannot wait until we own a home, and then when that is accomplished, we start looking for a larger one. It goes on forever, for one thing arrives, many more are on the horizon. 

So, the question is: How is the waiting of Advent different from all other waiting? All non-Advent waiting is for the purpose of relieving some burden or acquiring some desirables. We wait to get something off our back or to possess something we want. But when we get rid of something from our back, something else will jump on, and when we get something we desire, we start seeing something better that we also want. Thus, non-Advent waiting is relentless, endless, and unsatisfactory. It is a perpetual chase after something. 

Advent waiting is different. We do not wait for Jesus to get rid of some problem or to possess him or anything else. Advent waiting is not a chase but a pause. During Advent, we pause to be found by God. 

In the Gospel, remember the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son? It is always God who actively looks for us, seeks us out to bring us home, and embraces us to restore us to wholeness. 

It is no wonder why Christmas night is called Silent Night. All noises, external and internal, must be silenced for us to hear God’s voice. We must pause everything else to wait for God’s arrival. Even gifts, music, and food can distract us from our pause for God. Worries, anxieties, and fears easily block our sensitivity, anticipation, and hunger for God. 

Teresa was a single mother whose husband died a few years earlier, leaving her with an autistic son. Since he left her with enough money to live, Teresa decided to quit her job to take care of her son. Then her elderly widowed father had a stroke and became bedridden. The family wanted to put him in a nursing home, except for her. She was close to him, and she believed that a home would be much better for him. So, she agreed to have him stay with her and her son. 

In the first few months, she was able to handle things well. But the burdens of caring for an ADHD boy with an eating disorder and an invalid father became harder and harder. Though a devout Catholic, Teresa began to question: what serious sins she had committed to be punished with these unbearable burdens. So, sometimes she lost her temper not just with the boy but also with her father. 

One evening, after placing a plate of macaroni cheese in front of the boy, she went to clean up her dad. She frowned as the odor of urine reached her nose. Then she heard “Bang!” The boy slammed his fist on the plate, scattering the macaroni all over the floor. He kept shaking his head and banging on the table. Quickly resting her father down, she rushed over, her shin hitting a stand on her way, throwing her father’s Bible to the floor. She cried in pain, crawling to reach for the Bible. 

Her fingers grabbed on a page, and they ripped it off. She burst into tears, “God, when will you free me from this hellish place? Why does it take you so long to come again?” 

As if to answer her question, through her tears, she still could make out the text, “‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’” 

A chill ran along her spine. She darted a shocked glance at the boy and then the old man – one being fed, and one being clothed. Had she ever considered feeding her son and cleaning her dad as caring for Jesus himself? No, her home is not a hellish place, it has already been part of God’s kingdom. 

Tears streamed down her face. She found herself babbling, “Jesus, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that you have come to me for a long time!” 

Sometimes God hit us on our shin, or on our face, to wake us up from our slumber and our numbness, to help us pause and recognize that God is waiting for us. Indeed, God never stops seeking us and waiting for us. 

So, during this Advent, let us pause now and then. Let us be still and know that God is near, nearer to us than we are to ourselves. 

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all, 

Fr. Duc 

Pastor’s Weekly Reflection – Nov. 24, 2024

November 24, 2024

Dear Parishioners,


On the feast of Christ the King, I invite you to reflect on the story of a king. It is the story
of The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. Prince Edward was the first son of the King of
England, so he was also the crown prince who succeeded his father. When Edward was born, the whole country was filled with joy after many years of waiting. The King declared Edward’s


birthday a national holiday, and ordered all places to hold banquets to celebrate. People danced and prayed to God for Prince Edward. On the same day, a boy named Tom was born in a dilapidated house in the slums of London. When Tom was born, his mother cried like rain, because she did not know how to feed him. His father cursed him as an unfortunate, redundant son. When his alcoholism took hold, he abused his wife and children mercilessly. Although Tom was taught to read and write by a loving priest, he eventually had to beg.


One day, while wandering around begging, Tom approached the royal palace. He kept
staring at the splendid palace. He was so fascinated by the magnificence of the palace that when the guard shouted to chase him away, he still did not hear. The angry guard was about to raise his hand to grab the boy’s neck and beat him up. Coincidentally, Prince Edward was walking inside, and saw this and stopped the guard. Seeing a boy of the same age, Edward invited Tom to visit the palace.


Of course, before taking the beggar boy to visit the palace, the prince had to let him
bathe and change his clothes to suit the palace. Because they were the same age and stature, Edward lent Tom his royal robe. When standing in front of the large mirror, both were amazed because they looked exactly the same. The only difference was the beggar boy’s skinny body and messy hair. That could change very easily, the prince chuckled.


After Tom had been groomed and fed for a while, no one could tell who was Edward and
who was Tom. Then a bold idea came to the prince’s mind. Tom would stay in the palace and
play the prince, while Edward would leave the palace and wear the ragged clothes of a beggar. When he got bored, he would change back.


Of course, the courtiers all thought there was something wrong with the prince, because
his behavior had changed so much. But when they let the prince judge a problem, his mind was still clear. So they thought it was just a change of puberty. As for the beggar boy, oh my, he suffered all kinds of mistreatment and ostracism. At home, he was scolded like a dog, and when he went out, he was bullied and humiliated. Wherever he went, he was either bullied or shunned. When he was hungry, he begged and no one gave him anything. When he was so hungry that he stole, he was beaten up.


Then Edward heard that the courtiers were preparing to crown Tom king, so he decided
to return to the palace. As soon as he reached the gate, the guard grabbed him by the neck and pushed him to the ground. The more he argued that he was Prince Edward, the harder the guard stepped on his head. Finally, Edward had to use the prince’s seal as proof before the guard believed him.

After restoring the crown prince’s throne and becoming king, Edward rewarded Tom with
the position of manager in the royal palace. After that life-changing event, both Edward and Tom had profound changes. But the greatest and most wonderful change was in the king’s personality. King Edward understood what it was like to be poor and unjust, what it was like to have a broken family, what it was like to be humiliated and ostrasized. Thanks to that, Edward became a kind, just, and wise king like never before.


Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe, took on our sinful and beggarly condition and
gave us His glorious royal robe. Do we trust that: God understands all our suffering and
weakness? And most of all, do we believe God wants us to fully enjoy His most precious gifts?

Christ’s kingly role is not expressed through power and money, position and talent, but through boundless mercy, ultimate sacrifice, boundless trust in the will of the Father. If we want to live in the style of the King of the Universe, we should not rely on power, rush to grab money or to seek fame, consider talent as lasting value, and especially put ourselves above others. If we keep pursuing ambition, at the end of our lives, we will discover that it is all just an empty illusion. The more we cling to it, the more suffering and pain we will have. Then when we have to stand before the Supreme Judge, who is also the King of the Universe, our beggarly identity will be completely bare.

When we reject the kingly identity that Jesus came down to teach and exemplify, we continue to take on the identity of a beggar, no matter how much silk and velvet we are covered with on the outside, no matter how many people around us are praising and flattering us. The kingly identity is linked to the truth. The beggarly identity is hidden in darkness. Christ the King of the Universe wants to give each of us the kingly identity. Do we want to exchange with Him?

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all,

Fr. Duc

Pastor’s Weekly Reflection – Nov. 17, 2024

November 17, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

The movie Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is the story of a man about to be hanged. Enemy
soldiers march him out to a bridge across Owl Creek. They take a board and place it so that half if it rests on the bridge and the other half extends over the edge of the bridge.

Then one of the soldiers stands on the half that rests on the bridge, and the condemned man is made to walk out and stand on the half that extends over the edge of the bridge. Next, the man’s hands and legs are tied, and a rope is dropped from the top of the bridge and put around the man’s neck.

When everything is ready, the commanding officer barks the order. The soldier steps off the
board and the condemned man plunges downward with the rope around his neck.

Then something strange happens. The rope breaks, and the man goes plummeting into the river far below. Down, down into the water he sinks. As he does, he’s aware that he’s alive and struggles to free his hands and feet. Miraculously, he manages to untie himself.

Realizing he has a second chance at life, the man begins to swim down the river. As he does, he passes a tree branch floating in the water. He is struck by the beauty of the leaves on the branch. He marvels at the intricate pattern of veins in the leaves. Then the man sees a spider spinning a web. He is struck by the beauty of the web and the tiny drops of water clinging to it like sparkling diamonds.

He feels the wetness of the water on his body. He looks up and sees the blue sky. Never has the world looked so beautiful to him. Suddenly the soldiers on the bridge begin to fire at the man. He fights his way through a hail of bullets, past a water snake, and over a waterfall.

Finally, he swims ashore totally exhausted. He drops to the sand and rolls over and over. He
looks up and sees a flower. He crawls over to it and smells it. Everything is so beautiful; it’s so great to be alive.

Then a bullet whistles through the trees, and he leaps to his feet and begins to run. He runs and runs until he comes to a house with a white fence around it. The gate swings open mysteriously. The man can’t believe his eyes. He is back home safe. He calls his wife’s name, and she comes running out of the house, arms outstretched to greet him.

Just as they embrace, the camera takes us back to Owl Creek Bridge. This time, we can’t believe our eyes. We see the body of the same man plunge downward with the rope around his neck. Then we see his body swinging back and forth, back and forth. The man is dead.

We are left stunned. All the effort, the running, the second chance were pure make-believe. The man had not escaped after all. He merely imagined that he had in the split second as he fell to his death.

He merely imagined that he had gotten a second chance at life — a life he suddenly saw in a
different way, a life he suddenly saw through new eyes. For the first time, the man saw the world for what it is — a beautiful place. For the first time, the man saw life for what it is— a precious gift to be shared with those we love. How differently the man would have lived his new life if he had really escaped and had really been given a second chance!

Today’s gospel invites us to reflect on the moment when we will meet Jesus at the end of our lives or at the end of the world — whichever comes first. It invites us to ask ourselves: How satisfied will we be at that moment with the quality of our life? Unlike the man in the story, we have a second chance to prepare for that hour — beginning right now.

What will we do with our second chance? Will we sincerely try to make an effort to love, as
Jesus did? Will we sincerely try to make an effort to serve, as Jesus did? This second chance is also the last chance, and it can end any moment.

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all,

Fr. Duc