Dear Holy Trinity Family,

Happy Easter! We are in the 6th week of Easter, just a couple of weeks away from the Solemnity of

Pentecost. It definitely is a long season which continues to highlight the importance of this season as we

celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Last week, we were invited to remain in the Lord as Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. This theme

continues again today as we are asked to remain in the love of Jesus. Our world today sometimes has list

the understanding of what "love" is. People use the word love interchangeably in relation to one's favorite

food, or movie, or clothes or even in regards to people. Some couples say "I love you" but the love refers

more to companionship or a limited to terms set forth by one of the people involved. The love that Jesus

refers to if the love that is sacrificial and self-giving. To remain in Jesus' love is sacrifice one's self for the

other, including our own wants and desires. To remain in Jesus' love is to give of oneself as a gift to the

other, a gift freely given without expecting anything else in return. It is hard at times to do this, but the

more we remain, staying close to him in our life of the Sacraments and prayer, then we will be able to do

what the Lord asks of us.

Jesus goes further as he invites us into a relationship with him as "friends." "I no longer call you slaves, I

call you friends." This is a beautiful image of how Jesus sees us. He is not here to control us, or make us do

things or forcing us to love and follow him. Rather, he calls us friends who have the freedom to be in

relationship with him or not, have the freedom total to him or not, and have the freedom to follow him or

not. Hopefully as we look at all the great things Jesus has done for us and continues to do for us, we are

able to accept his friendship and do as he asks of us: "Love one another."

On Wednesday, May 1st, Archbishop Gomez appointed Fr. Brian Chung as the 17th Pastor of Holy Trinity.

He will begin this position on July 1, 2024. More info about Fr. Brian will be in next week's bulletin. Let us

pray for Fr. Brian as he prepares to come to our parish and lead our parish community.

Mary, Seat of Wisdom... pray for us.

-Fr. Mike