The good Lord won't make a mistake in calling you, loving you and I, and forgiving you and I. and offering you and I the best possible medicine for our problems - himself

In the second book of Samuel, the prophet tells us that: you and I, we tend to look at the appearance, but God sees deep down in the heart. Because we tend to see the appearance, we also tend to misjudge people. Only the Good Lord understands, and knows completely. I have a few friends; I remember when I was in Saint Catherine. Every day, I would see this old man standing by the wayside, smoking, and then he would step away, when the kids were getting in line and walk back to the school. I wonder what happened to this man. So I tried a few times, get to know him. I didn't like him because he smoked right in front of the kids, but I want to get to know him and see whether or not we could make friends. so, I got to know him and introduced myself as a Vietnamese. and he said, wow, you speak Vietnamese and English huh I wonder. And he confessed to me that he was a special Force member during the Vietnam war. and he felt terrible about that past. That's the reason why he stepped away from the church. his guilty content could not allow him. For three years, I tried to be his friend. I bought him food, asked him to pray for his wife, having great conversation. he in turn gave me a lot of quails. he hunted a lot of quails. he brought crab over when he fish for Dungeness crab, but never sit down with me and wanted to go to church. However, before I left after three years, he asked me to hear his confession. It's amazing. We sat right there in the middle of the road. I kid you not, we have a dead end, so we sat right there in the middle of the road. And I heard his Confession. I think that was one of the most beautiful confessions I have witnessed. His content was free, lifted, and after that, I only met him a few times when I returned.

I also have another friend, this friend of mine who was a contractor. Lost his job, used drugs, his family is a mess. Did not have enough work to really go by and provide it for his family. so, one day he carried the rosary, walking around and asking God: why Lord? Why don't you show up and help me? Immediately, the next minute, a friend of his drove by and said: Hey Joe, you want a job? I offer you a job. And that was the first instance he encountered Jesus. The next Sunday, he went to church and he met me. You know how crazy I am, sometimes at the emblem, it couldn't contain the Fire Within, so I pitch with passion. And he, I think he'd get caught by that. After the mass we introduced ourselves to one another. And he let me know he was a contractor, and he just recently encountered the good Lord as he prayed, and he wants to go back to church after many years away. Since that day, he helped me work on the church, directory, the hall, everything. He's going to help us actually fix all the peels that we have here, and help to make this place beautiful. He's a very beautiful and good Carpenter. and yesterday he called me and shared with me a story. and we walked into a store and he met this young man who looked so depressed. And he introduced himself and this man said my name is Christian. Oh you have a beautiful name, he responded, your name must be a Catholic name. and the young man confessed that. Yes, I grew up in a Catholic Family but I don't believe in the Catholic faith anymore. So this man shares his story, and how God turned him around. At the end of the conversation the young men asked for a big hug and a Bible. Fascinating isn't it?

Why am I sharing these stories with you? the reason why, because sometimes you and I don't know, just don't know how the good Lord gets in touch with our human hearts. Through you, and through me, how broken we are. Now the good Lord just lights John the Baptist, gets inspired, and points out that it is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is the real deal, he's the one who's supposed to be here, he's going to baptize you and I with the power and the spirit, he's the one who takes away the sins of the world. He says not me, I am only an instrument, I'm only a voice, and I’m only a finger pouring toward Christ. My friend, you and I, we have that vocation pointing our fingers toward Christ: that is the one we're supposed to worship, that is the one we're supposed to follow, that is the one we're going to take away our sins, and give us freedom of our conscience.

Let me share with you another great story that recently happened. I couldn't help myself, but I have to share this. a few weeks ago, a friend of mine called me to O'Connor's hospital to anoint their friend. I didn't know who he was. But because they're calling the parishes nearby, no priest could come because they were all on vocation. Vacation? I wonder what they do all day long over there. I am a Catholic priest, and I appreciate the Diocese of Oakland. I could not just go over there and officially visit without the letter of good standing .So I decided, all right, I'm going to come as a friend. I'm going to address it in civilian clothes. I want to come by, I want to pray for him, and if need be, I'll hear your confession.

This man, the doctor said he's going to die. The family is already panicked about his impending death. it's her only son they already discussed about whether or not to keep him on life support, or unplug him. his lung collapsed, kidneys no longer function, and for some reason, he now has blood confusion. so I came over, he saw me and he waved his hand. I realized that he knew me. And I recognized him because we have dinners a few times together. so we actually were my friend. I anointed him, gave him absolution, so I promised him next day I will come by and bring him Holy Communion, if you say yes. And he did. I give him a very small host, and we say our prayer, and we ask the good lord to bless him, and allow him to consume. And the doctor and nurse worked on him. A few days later, I got news from a friend that he is about to be discharged. The doctor did not know what happened. He completely healed and now he went back to his home as if nothing had ever happened. I don't know if the miracle or the doctor made a mistake, but I know for sure this man who left the church for more than 30 years or so, his wife left him, his family is broken in pieces. And now the good Lord has touched him, his sins have been removed, he has an opportunity to reconnect with his faith and with our Lord, and he does that occasionally.

Our Lord does that so that we could glorify our heavenly father. That he pays attention to you and to me, that he wants us to know we could count on him, we could pour our heart to him, and we could give up our sins, so that we don't care about the burden of those sins anymore. And our Lord has done just that. He's the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. If the ancient Jewish believed the blood of the animal could wipe away the sins of mankind, we believe Jesus as the Lamb of God who died on that Good Friday around exactly the same time when animals were being slaughtered, and offered to God on high. He is the Lamb of God. as the Book of Revelation says: The Wedding Banquet of the Lamb is the Mass that you and I are participating in. That's you and I are going to receive the burnt blood of Our Lord, our sins will be wiped away as much as we go to confession asking the good law for forgiveness, for the sins that we have committed. so my dear brothers and sisters, listen to John, the Baptist. He is the Lamb of God. and listen to the witnesses of those who have been forgiven, rescued, and healed by our Lord. he is here Among Us. His act asking you and I, let's look at him and Proclaim him at this mass as we always do, we say it every time, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, blessed are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb. so my friends if we could misjudge one another, the good Lord won't make a mistake in calling you, loving you and I, and forgiving you and I. and offering you and I the best possible medicine for our problems - himself

仁慈天主的召喚是無可置疑的。主要我們彼此相愛，彼此原諒，並且提供我們一個最好的解決方案— 就是耶穌 自己。

在撒慕爾紀下，先知告訴我們天主的看法與人不同：人看外貌，上主看人心。 因為我們傾向看外貌，所以我們也傾向誤判人。 只有仁慈的主完全知道我們。

我在聖凱瑟琳教堂服務的時候交了幾個朋友。 其中有一位老先生，每天都會看到他站在路旁抽煙。當孩子們列隊回校時，他才離開。 因為他在孩子前抽煙，我並不認同。對他有點好奇，希望了解他，所以試著與他接近。 對他說我從越南來的。 他說，哇，你會說越語和英語。他說在越戰時他是美軍特種部隊，他對那段歲月感到非常的難過，這個罪惡感使他離開了教會。 三年之久，我做了他的朋友，替他買食物，一同為他的妻子祈禱，聊得很開心。 同樣的，在獵鵪鶉季節時，他打了很多鵪鶉給我。捕蟹季節時，也抓了很多螃蟹給我。他從來沒有和我坐下談天，或是和我去教堂。 三年後，在我走之前，我聽了他的吿解。 這真是奇妙的經歷。 聖凱瑟琳教堂有一條死胡同，我們就坐在馬路的中間。 聽了他的吿解。 告解中充滿了自由與釋放，那是我聽過最美麗的告解之一。後來我回去拜訪聖凱瑟琳教堂時也見過了他幾次。

我還有一位朋友，他是個承包商。 失去了工作， 沒有收入來養家糊口，又吸毒，家庭一團糟。 有一天，他拿著念珠，在教堂附近祈禱，他問天主說：主祢在哪裡？為什麼不出來幫助我？ 就在下一分鐘，一個朋友開車經過，對他說：嘿，喬，你想要一份工作嗎？ 我給你一份工作。 這是他第一次遇到耶穌。 星期天，他去教堂參加彌撒，剛好我講道。你們知道我講道的時候，常常聖神充滿，無法控制內心的熱火。充滿熱情地陳述耶穌的故事。 就在這時，他被聖神的火點燃了。 彌撒後，我們相互作了自我介紹。 他告訴我，最近在祈禱時遇到了仁慈的主，離開多年後又回到了教堂。 從那天起，他幫我整修教堂、跪凳，禮堂等等的工作。也幫助我們修復所有他能解決的問題，來美化這個堂區。 他是非常稱職，並且有藝術眼光的木匠。 昨天他打電話來與我分享。 在一家店裡，他遇到了一位沮喪的年輕人。 他們互相自我介紹，這個人說他叫克里斯蒂。 他回答說：哦，你有一個美麗的名字，一個天主教徒的名字。 年輕人說：我在一個天主教家庭長大，但我不再信天主教信仰了。 這位木匠立刻分享了他的故事，天主是如何使他回歸父家。 談話後，這位年輕人和他做了一個大大的擁抱也向他要了一本聖經。 這豈不是一個更迷人的故事嗎？

為什麼要和你們分享這些故事？ 因為不知道良善的主是如何來接觸我們的心。 看看你，看看我，我們都是如此的破碎。 仁慈的主點亮了洗者若翰的心。讓他充滿了聖神，明認出那洗清世人罪惡的天主羔羊。他向世人作證耶穌基督是真實的，是天主派來，以主的能力和聖神為我們施洗，洗清我們的罪惡。 若翰說他不是彌賽亞，他只是主的工具，主的呼喊，一個只向基督，為天主作證的人。 親愛的朋友，我們的聖召就是指著基督，向世界作證，這就是我們該敬拜的，該跟隨的那一位。祂就是洗淨我們的罪，釋放我們的良心，給我們自由的那一位。

現在讓我與您分享最近發生的一個很動人的故事。 聖神催促著我必須分享這個故事。 幾個星期前，一個朋友請我去奧康納醫院為他的朋友覆油。 我並不認識這位生病的人。 但我的朋友已經打電話給聖荷西教區，得到的回答是：沒有神父可以來，因為主事的神父們都在 休假。 我是一名奧克蘭教區的神父。 沒有奧克蘭教區的正式文件，是不能越區訪問的。所以我說：好吧，我要以朋友的身份來解決這個問題。就去為他祈禱，如果需要的話，我會聽他的吿解。

這位病友的診斷是他快要死了。 家人們已經對他即將面臨死亡而感到恐慌。 他的獨子正在討論是讓他繼續維持生命，還是拔掉他的管子。 他的肺已經衰竭，腎臟不再工作，血液也出了問題。 這位病人看到我後，揮了揮手。意識到他認識我也認出他曾經與我吃過幾次晚餐。 我給他覆油，聽了他的告解，並且答應他，如果他同意的話，第二天還要來給他送聖體。 他認可了。 第二天給了他一個很小的聖體，祈禱求良善的主保佑他，讓他能吞下這個聖體，並且祝福醫治他的醫生及護士。 幾天後，從一個朋友那裡得到消息，他即將出院。 醫生也不知他是如何完全康復的，就像什麼事沒發生而回到了家。 不知是不是醫生弄錯了，但我可以肯定這位離開教會30多年，妻子離開了他，家庭也支離破碎。 但是良善的主救了他，赦免了他的罪，讓他有機會重新與他的信仰，和全能的天主建立關係。感謝主，他偶爾會去教堂。

主耶穌所做的一切都是為了榮耀，顯揚在天之父。 主耶穌關愛我們，使我們傾心於祂，依靠祂，並將我們從罪惡中解救出來。 因為祂是除免世罪的天主羔羊。 古猶太人相信動物的血可以洗去人的罪，我們相信耶穌就是天主的羔羊，祂在受難日時，將自己獻給了至高者天主。祂是無玷的羔羊，清洗了我們的罪。

默示錄中記載著：羔羊的婚宴就是彌撒。在彌撒中我們接受火煉過主的鮮血，在彌撒中我們的罪被赦免，就像吿解後得到寬恕一樣。 親愛的兄弟姐妹們，請聽洗者若翰在荒野中的呼喊：耶穌是天主的羔羊。 也請聽那些被主寬恕、拯救和醫治前的見證。 主就在我們中間。 我們必需為主，和祂的大能作見證，這就是每次在彌撒中所做的見證：“看哪，天主的羔羊，除免世罪者，蒙召來赴聖宴的人是有福的”。 朋友們，我們彼此間可能有誤會，但那仁慈天主的召喚是無可置疑的。主要我們彼此相愛，彼此原諒，並且提供我們一個最好的解決方案— 就是耶穌 自己。