Category Archives: Reflections

6th Easter Weekly Message

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6th Easter Weekly Message

Dear Parishioners,

I hope you are doing fine! Me too! I am good!

Last Sunday we heard that the Lord has promised, “I will not leave you orphans.” But what about our present trials? We cannot go to church, go to work, go to visit families or friends, etc. because of the pandemic. What about evil in the world? How can we be sure that He has not abandoned us? The more we think about this, the more we are disappointed! We ask, when will circumstances improve?

Here is the answer. Jesus is not only with you; He is within you by the power of the Holy Spirit. He never left your side because He is in your heart! No matter what your situation right now, you can take a few deep breaths, calm your mind, and begin to sense Him. He is there inside you, ready to give you His blessing, healing, peace, wisdom, and joy! (The Word Among Us, April – May 2014, p. 62)

Try not to be discouraged. Stay focused on the larger vision that God has for you. Trust that the Holy Spirit is leading you, guiding you, and protecting you, whether you understand the reasons for the twists and turns in your path or not. We cannot always comprehend the bigger picture that God has for us, but He is a good God, and so we can always trust that His plan for us is better than anything we could ever come up with ourselves! (The Word Among Us, April – May 2020, p. 54)

Nothing can stand against God’s promises. Lift up your heart to the Lord always!

May God bless you, straighten your faith in His wisdom and love!

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Reverend Quang Vinh Chu, Pastor

 

5th Easter Weekly Message

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5th Easter Weekly Message

Dear Parishioners,

Wishing you well! I am doing fine! May God always protect us and keep us in His love!

During these days, imagine what would happen if everything falls through.  Your transportation is limited. Your job is furloughed or laid off. Your freedom is so limited now. Your savings has drained down. These things have happened during the past six weeks and our patience is also drained down. We ask why would God put up so many obstacles?  It must have been hard for us to understand God’s plan.

Yes, sometimes we do not understand how God leads us. Of course, God wants us to use wisdom and good judgment as we make our plans, especially during this time.

First, our plan is to surrender to God. Last Thursday, May 7th, our President called us to observe this day as a “National Day of Prayer.” In this day, our President led the prayer first, and then each minister of each religious belief came forward and prayed and asked God to forgive our faults and asked Him to protect us and restore our life. (Act of FAITH)

Second, this pandemic could help us to understand how God works in our life, such as cutting, trimming, and nurturing, so that we too can become shining exemplars of His glory. He trains our thoughts and intentions so that we can think and act like Him. (Act of LOVE)

Jesus is now able to reach so many people, who are scattered throughout the world, who are far away from Church, who have no chance to build up a relationship with family, community, and others. Jesus is promising that you can make a difference. He is in you and He will work through your example, your works, your prayers. Remember, you are not doing it alone! By doing this, our lives will never be the same. We will keep getting better and better. (Act of HOPE)

Keep in mind, the U.S. currency always has its value throughout the world, in good times or bad times, in good hands or in bad hands, because it has a motto “In God We Trust.” God has Power; we value our Trust. Let us continue to trust in God’s providence because He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

So be encouraged. God is at work, He will form you so that His beauty can shine forth in your life!

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Reverend Quang Vinh Chu, Pastor

 

Happy Mother’s Day

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Dear Parishioners,

Happy Mother’s Day!

Thank you for your calls and emails and to let us know that you are doing fine! I am doing fine too! May God bless us all!

We are hoping that the light at the end of the tunnel will be bright soon. Each state will gradually reopen businesses and start to come back to normal. Some leaders are slow to reopen because of “fear.” What does it mean “essential or non-essential”? How about “Spiritual food”, is it essential for Christian lives? Are we afraid if God is for us? How easy it can be to let our hearts be “troubled” because of wars, famine, virus, fear, etc. Many things can concern us, but in the midst of it all, Jesus tells us to have faith in Him and not let all the bad news overshadow our joy and trust in Him.

Jesus also reminds us that He is the Good Shepherd and Sheep Gate. He knows each of us and we recognize His voice. Think about how much He cares for you. He is always mindful of you. He never leaves you defenseless before the predators of temptation or guilt or condemnation or pandemic.

Jesus says: I know you; I know your strengths and your weaknesses, your hopes, and your fears. I know what you believe and what you are not ready to believe. So, trust in Him, and do not worry about getting everything right. Just do the best you can while we are waiting for the “stay at home” order to be lifted. Let us put ourselves into God’s hands and trust in Him because the Lord is our Good Shepherd and Gate Keeper!

May Jesus protect you and keep you safe from all harm!

Best wishes to all and I hope to see you soon!

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Reverend Quang Vinh Chu, Pastor

 

 

 

 

Message From Our Pastor

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Hello Everyone,

Thank you for staying in contact with and supporting each other during this pandemic. It was good to hear from many of you. I am doing fine too!  Keep creating things to do both spiritually and physically. Keep in touch!

Today, the Church begins to celebrate the Holy Triduum, and we will miss all these celebrations together in the Church because of COVID19.

Let Jesus makes a transformation of reality in our life by:

  • Let us resolve to make this Holy Triduum special by sharing a holy space at home, sharing family prayer, making a meal together, having loving conversations and bonding with family members in unity.
  • Let us unite in our sufferings, inconveniences and annoyances with the suffering of Jesus, especially during this time. He sacrificed His life for us to live.
  • Let us sing a song with joy that Jesus Christ is truly risen from the dead. He destroys death and sins and darkness! Alleluia!

May Jesus’ suffering and resurrection bless you all!

PS: Don’t forget to say a Novena of Divine Mercy at 3 pm today.
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/novena-13366

Thank you!  Fr. Quang Chu

The Norm Regarding Confession

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The Norm Regarding Confession (A Message from Bishop Vann) “Where the individual faithful find themselves in the painful impossibility of receiving sacramental absolution, it should be remembered that perfect contrition, coming from the love of God, beloved above all things, … Continue reading →

Reflection – Hope and Faith

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Dear Parishioners, We have been self-isolated for two weeks already!  Many of us take this time to create something to do at home, or to pray, or to take care of ourselves or to help others. It seems kind of … Continue reading →

Reflection 5th Sunday in Lent

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Dear Parishioners,

I hope and pray that all of you are doing well!  As you know, this weekend we celebrate the Fifth and final Sunday before Holy Week. Even though we cannot come to Church in these days, we still have two weeks to make this the Best Lent Ever.  As we listen today about the death of Lazarus, it is good to ask what you and I would do differently in light of our own inevitable death. Today, Martha asks a tough question. In grief over her brother’s death she asks about Jesus’ absence. “If you had been here my brother would not have died.” Jesus speaks to her about the future resurrection. For Martha that seems distant. Jesus then gives her the great revelation: “I am the resurrection and the life.” Yes, in these days, we can ask the same question: “Where are you? Why have you abandoned me?”

Again, Jesus invites us to believe in Him and to have a relationship with Him. It means more than intellectual assent – and it means more than a one-time acceptance. It is an immersion in Christ. St. Paul says that if we die with Christ in baptism we will rise with him to new life. (Rm. 6:3ff) Jesus for his part speaks about eating his body and drinking his blood in order to have eternal life. (Jn. 6:53-54)  Even in these days, we cannot receive Him physically, but we can spiritually.

From this passage, we understand that: the voice of Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, and he left the tomb. Yes, we believe that the Lord of Life is present among us. He calls us each day.  Come out of your darkness and come into life. Jesus is more powerful than anything holding us back including our sins. He is more powerful than the forces around us and within us that are trying to destroy us, even we are facing with the coronavirus pandemic.

Just as we have been freed from the bonds of sin by the Life of the Lord, we have to go to the cemeteries of the world,and unbind those suffering from the terrors inflicted by an immoral society. We have to call them away from their sins, their weakness, their anger, their addictions, their hatred, and their self-loathing. We have to call, “Come out of your tombs and come into life.”  We have to care for them, re-affirm them and let them know that God’s mercy is infinitely greater than our sins. We have to tell them, “You don’t belong in the darkness, you belong out here in the light. You don’t belong among the dead. You belong among the living. We have to untie them so they also can be free to live.

Following the example of Lazarus, I invite you to put into practice what we’ve been talking about this Lent: A time of silence – ten minutes, maybe more, maybe less – a daily relationship with Jesus. Invite him into your home and into your life.

Life is Worth living when it is lived united to the Lord. Life is full of beauty and full of joy when it is united to Jesus Christ. So, ” Come out of the tombs,” Jesus says to the world and to us. “Come out of the tomb and come into my life. Come into my Joy.”

Be not afraid! Run to the One who hears all your prayers. Go with confidence and trust. Jesus is with you. He will not abandon you.

God bless you and God bless the U.S.A. and the world! Stay home! Stay well! Be cool!

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Reverend Quang Vinh Chu, Pastor
Saint Mary’s by the Sea

 

Annunciation of the Lord

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March 25, 2020 Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord Good News Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. What did we hear from today’s Gospel? The Angel Gabriel delivered the good news to Mary: … Continue reading →

The Liturgical Calendar

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The Liturgical Calendar Next Sunday is the beginning of Advent, the season of awaiting Christ’s coming. It is the first day of the Liturgical calendar year, which consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons that determine when feast days and other holy days … Continue reading →

Meditation for the Assumption 

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Meditation for the Assumption 

When Mary was asked to become the Mother of God, she was touched by a moment of fear. For a mere mortal, this was an immense notion. How does one comprehend such a thing? But the Angel reassured her. The work would be accomplished by God, and nothing is impossible for Him.

Immediately Mary offered herself totally for the task of bringing Christ and His redemption into the world.

She laid down no conditions. She made no reservations. Joyously, she said “Yes” to God’s plan with a simple sentence: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me ACCORDING to Thy Word.”

She was aware of her lowliness. But she had no inferiority complex about it. She entrusted herself with generosity and faith to God’s loving Providence and power.

Her humility was her strength and the source of her calmness and joy. Her confidence was not in her own abilities but rather in God’s greatness.

We might do well to try to imitate her when we make our Morning Offering. We can offer ourselves to God each day, to be used by Him in His work of bringing love and redemption to the world.

But unfortunately, we do not have Mary’s generosity and faith. Doubts and fears disturb our serenity. As life unfolds itself, we begin to have second thoughts.

If things don’t go according to OUR plan, we imagine God has no plan.

If we are not successful in OUR efforts, we think God is a failure.

If our lives are ordinary and humdrum, we yearn for something spectacular and dramatic.

We forget that God does not work before television cameras, but in the hearts of men. He is a hidden God and often accomplishes His designs even without the cooperation of the mass media.

Mary realized that God chooses the weakest of things, that out of the most ordinary actions He accomplishes extraordinary results.

She was aware that when we can do very little, that God is doing very much. God seems to delight in humanly impossible situations, because nothing is impossible with God.

If we could only offer ourselves totally to God each day and trust Him completely, we would not be so downcast when something seems to go wrong against us or the Church. Instead, we could wait patiently as Mary did for God’s intervention and know that in our sorrows the God of ALL consolation will surprise us with joy.

He always has the last Word!

-Catholic Quote.

Vol. 81, No. 8