Let us pray for faith

(Baonghean) -In the past few days, following the news about My Yen parish in Nghi Phuong (Nghi Loc), as a person of the same faith as the brothers involved in the incident, I feel sad and heartbroken for the behavior of some extremists in My Yen parish. The wrong actions of the brothers affect the image of the devout sheep. Make people have an unfavorable view of Catholics.

As people living together in the same village community, plowing the same fields, sharing the same "banyan tree, well, and communal house yard", now, the extreme actions of some Catholics have made people in the neighborhood have a more reserved view of Catholics.

I would like to send a message to my brothers in faith who are angry in My Yen parish: The rashness and illegal acts of some brothers will make no one else, but us parishioners suffer the most, especially in terms of faith. The Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 5, verses 23-24, wrote: "If you are about to offer your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come and offer your gift"; or as St. Peter's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 26, wrote: "Are you angry? Do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." On Sundays, we Catholics still attend Mass, but if we have not yet made peace with everyone, then what is the use of going to Mass?

As for the Bishops, I respectfully hope that you will think about your main job of taking care of the souls of our flock. The Party and the State will take care of social matters. You should have goodwill towards the authorities at all levels, and not let the parishioners act rashly, leading to unpredictable consequences. Because in the end, we will be the ones to suffer the consequences.

All of us Catholics know that extreme actions, insults, and slander are sins. The letter to the Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 31, states: “Never be bitter, angry, angry, or shout or slander, and put away all evil deeds.” Compared with the actions of some of our fellow believers in My Yen parish, it is still far from the Lord’s teachings. Furthermore, the Gospel of Saint Luke, chapter 6, verse 37 states: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Have we forgiven? Surely we have not forgiven!? Our hatred and extremism have sometimes reached their peak, leading to physical actions, beating each other, causing aggression and hurting each other.

Let us calmly look back and read the words of God in the Letter to the Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 16, which teaches, “On the cross, He destroyed hatred.” On the cross, Jesus destroyed hatred, so why is there still hatred here? Who do we hate? While we are all children of Lac and Hong, sharing the same fate and overcoming wars and natural disasters to have this life. Aren’t our successes and lives today the same for many generations of Vietnamese people, including Catholics!? Reflecting, to let the unfortunate incident happen in My Yen parish, we are going against what Christianity desires, expressed in the Letter to the Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 32, “Be kind to one another, compassionate and forgiving, as God has forgiven you in Christ”...

At the end of this message, Catholics once again earnestly pray that authorities at all levels, Bishops, and Priests will bring to light those who incite and take advantage of people's trust, incite and cause division in the great national unity bloc.

Let us go to church to pray for faith!

Brothers in faith