Dear Holy Trinity Family,

Someone recently sent me a text message of new year wishes as we began our new year. The text message struck me so hard that I totally agreed with it very much; moreover, I felt some urgency that I must do something to change my life now. I came to realize that there got to be more on my parts because I felt that I have not done enough. Perhaps you now wonder about what sort of message it was that I got. It says in the message, “When you were born you were crying and everyone else was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you’re the one who is smiling and everyone else is crying” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).

I am sure when I was born, I was a source of joy to my parents and family. My question is that am I still the source of joy to my parents and family? I hope so! Then, what about my new family in faith? Through the Sacrament of Baptism, I became a member of the Catholic Church and I consider all people, regardless their faith and religion, are my brothers and sisters in which this new relationship is based on teachings of the Church and my relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ in the presence of Holy Spirit in my life. Am I a source of joy to my parishioners, my brother priests, my friends and anyone? I hope so! Now then, let me have you all ask this question to yourselves. Are you a source of joy to your family, your friends and everyone? What is your answer to this question?

The biblical verse “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) is the teaching of Jesus on love of enemies. Interestingly, looking into the same teaching of Jesus on this matter of loving enemies, the Gospel of Luke states, “Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) Based on these biblical verses, we may say that being perfect is being merciful. So, when we all are merciful to others, I believe that we all can become a source of joy to all and everyone. My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, let us try our best to be merciful one another this week so that we may accumulate and store our good deeds in heaven.

May the spirit of God’s wisdom continue to guide all of us throughout our lives!

Blessings,

Fr. Brian