Sunday, April 6, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

In the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus reveals the transformative power of compassion and forgiveness as a radical alternative to the prevailing culture of judgment and punishment. In a world often marked by chaos, hatred, deceit, and discrimination, He challenges us to recognize our own brokenness as fallen individuals, to accept others as we are accepted, and to extend mercy rather than condemnation. By confronting the accusers and refusing to participate in an unjust execution, Jesus calls us to build a sympa-thetic community where the law becomes a foundation for acceptance, compassion, and support, rather than fostering jealousy, condemnation, and revenge. In addition, Jesus does not simply forgive the woman and allow her to return unchanged to her former life. Rather, He invites her to transformation and to live faith-fully. His command, "Go and sin no more," reminds us that forgiveness is not just about absolution, but about a renewed opportunity for the conversion of the heart. It is a call to commit to a life of faith, to live according to His example, and to strive continually for holiness.

In the three Masses with the Rite of Scrutiny, the Gospel passage from Cycle A presents the powerful and deeply moving story of the resurrection of Lazarus. This story calls us to reflect on the nature of God's per-fect timing, the compassion of Christ, the transformative power of the resurrection, and the call to deepen our faith. Through the resurrection of Lazarus, Jesus reveals His divine power and redemptive mission, showing that He holds authority over life and death. In the midst of suffering, uncertainty, sorrow, and loss, this passage reminds us that God is always with us, even in our darkest and most hopeless moments. Ulti-mately, the story points us toward the hope we have in Christ, who has achieved the ultimate victory over death. As we journey in faith, we are called to believe in Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, both now and forever.

On the Fifth Sunday of Lent, also known as "Passion Week" or "Pre-Holy Week," all statues and images in our church will be covered. This practice dates back to the Byzantine tradition around the 9th century and becomes more widely formalized in the 11th century. The purpose of this powerful tradition is to remove distractions and invite the faithful into a more contemplative space, where we can embrace the grief, sor-row, and sense of abandonment that the disciples felt during Christ’s Passion. By veiling the sacred statues and images, we fast from their tangible beauty, shift our intention to the profound mysteries of the Cross and prepare our hearts for the solemnity of Holy Week.

Sincerely yours in Jesus Christ and Our Lady of La Vang!

Reverend Kiet Anh Ta.