Dear Parishioners, Visitors and Friends,

These are days that are trying the hearts and souls, the minds and nervous systems of hundreds of million peoples like you and me and throughout the globe. No one needs to tell us that these past four weeks have been very trying for our families. Think of all that’s happened:

In a bid to fight the spread of coronavirus, the Governor of Hawaii issued an emergency stay-at-home order that took effect on Wednesday, March 25.

On Friday, March 27, the Bishop of Honolulu decreed directives to all churches and missions to be closed to the public.

In addition, on Friday, April 17, the governor mandated that everyone wear a face mask or covering while in public.

Ever since the lockdown, we all are backed against the wall. Like the apostles hiding behind locked doors after Jesus’ crucifixion, we live with fear - the fear for our lives, loved ones and friends, fear of the virus infection and death.

There is something even more fearful and troublesome in our midst. Something that is a consequence created by the news media and the virtual reality over the internet. This has made many of us feel so disconnected with other people, and so limited to do anything or help those in their great need.

If I may, I would like to encourage all, especially those of us who feel helpless and powerless in these challenging times, to take a deeper look at the early church as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and get a glimpse into who we were from the beginning, and an insight into who we should be today.

Today’s First Reading shows the apostles performing signs and wonders among the people. We hear that people would bring their sick to the apostles - sick in both body and spirit - and the Apostles cured them.

In a certain sense, we discover that the Apostles began doing the work of God, the same work that Jesus had been doing during his earthly ministry. It’s interesting to note what we don’t see them sitting around discussing their faith in Jesus. Rather, we see them living it.

Immediately after the death of Jesus the disciples were living in fear, behind locked doors. As we know, they didn’t know what to do or what it all meant . . . until the Risen Lord stood in their midst and said,

“Peace be with you.”

With those words, things began to change. Courage replaced fear, trust replaced

doubt, clarity of purpose replaced confusion, and hope replaced despair.

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ:

From a vantage point of history, we can easily see that the early Church was composed of doers and can learn a lot from that, as a Church and as a nation, as individuals and especially as a people of faith.

A story was broadcast on media outlets about the owner of Burnell’s Market in New Orleans that inspired and moved me to tears in these times when our lives are faced with economic hardship and heartbreaking situation.

“I know every person who comes into this store,” says the owner Burnell Cotlon. “These are my neighbors, but now we’re eyeing each other like strangers, paranoid and suspicious ... Everybody’s scared of everybody in a grocery now. There’s so much fear, and I get it. I’m scared, too. But what bothers me more is the desperation.”

Last week, Cotlon caught a lady in the back of the store stuffing things into her purse. When caught, the woman started crying and said, “She had three kids . . . and had nothing to eat and no place to go.”

“Maybe it was a lie. I don’t know. But who’s making up stories for seven or eight dollars of groceries?” Cotlon asked and let her take it. “I’m starting to get more desperate myself, so it’s getting harder.”

Indeed, life is getting harder. Many of us may feel desperate, frustrated in these days. Let us keep hoping and trusting and believing in a loving God, even when we are suffering through various trials and full of sorrows.

Like the Apostles, let us, go forth full of trust in Christ, as St. Peter tells us his letter today, “so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1: 7) Amen.

Happy Easter!

fr khanh