Sunday, May 4, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

Reflecting on the Gospel passage this weekend, we come to understand that mere participation in religious rituals and adhering to religion without compassion, commitment, and sincerely may be insufficient for us to truly comprehend, know, live, and embrace God completely and successfully. In fact, the disciples used to shadow Jesus in Galilee, lis-tened to His teachings, and witnessed His miracles, yet still struggled to grasp the depth of His divine nature. What Je-sus used to teach them, reveal to them, and explain to them may not be enough for them to understand everything. Even as Jesus walked alongside the disciples on the road to Emmaus, engaging them in conversation and expounding upon the Scriptures, they failed to recognize Him in their midst. Subsequently, during a profound moment of revelation when Jesus appeared to them, offering peace and revealing Himself in His resurrected form, they were confused and mistaken Him for “a ghost” (Lc 24:37). Then, Jesus patiently illuminated their minds and taught them to comprehend the Scrip-tures more fully. Yet this enlightenment was insufficient to dispel their lingering fears and doubts. Their faith remained fragile and they could not yet believe.

Likewise, we may convince ourselves that through the sacrament of Baptism, daily prayers, and weekly attendance at Mass, we possess all the necessary knowledge, faith, and spirit to navigate the journey of faith. However, despite our devout routines, we sometimes find ourselves merely skimming the surface of Catholic understanding. Though we duti-fully hear the Word of God proclaimed, His message often fails to truly penetrate our minds; though we frequently re-ceive the sacraments of the Church, the sacred grace in each sacrament does not sanctify our bodies; and though we re-peatedly offer prayers to God, our words failing to resonate with the depths of our souls. Consequently, our religious knowledge may not strong enough to grasp the full significance of Divine Mercy and Human Salvation; our Catholic faith may not strong enough to shield us from the allure of worldly temptations and desires; and our Christian spirit may not strong enough to unite us with God on the journey of life completely and successfully.

Hence, the profound symbolism of Jesus breaking bread serves as an important and necessary reminder, not only to re-call His presence but also to fortify and enrich our Catholic knowledge, faith, and spirit. Just as the disciples recognized their Master in the breaking of bread, so too can this image guide us to a clearer recognition of God’s presence, a deeper understanding of His teachings and a better experience of His grace in our daily lives. Through the theological meaning of the act of breaking bread, the preparation before receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to discern His will, to recognize His grace, and to experience His love completely and suc-cessfully.

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

Reverend Kiet Anh Ta.