Easter Joy

My reflection on this Easter Day is about my conversation with a man who happened to be a war veteran in Vietnam.

One day, I received an email from one of our parishioners, who requested spiritual guidance.  He asked me if I could help him in his war trauma.  He has been struggling with his life and with his faith for a long time now; he hasn’t shared his dark past with anyone and it has been eating him up.  He felt that our regular weekly hours of confessions would not allow him to confess all his sins, because he had sinned greatly and seeks desperately for guidance.  It has been over 50 years since his last confession.  After he enumerated all his sins, we both took a deep breath and I told him:  If only God had a voice right now, He would wish to tell you; “Finally you are here, welcome back home.”  When he heard that, he wept bitterly and I could not talk anymore.  I had to wait for him to calm down so that I could continue.  After our long and meaningful conversation, I asked him:  “Why did you weep?”  He told me:  “Father, I just couldn’t imagine how God can still forgive me with all the sins I committed.  I just felt I am loved deeply, a very special way that I could not understand.”  He hugged me tight, eyes filled with tears.  He thanked me and left with a great smile on his face.  Since then, he started going to church every Sunday and prays together with his family.

Every war veteran carries with them the scars of trauma.  Men who are emotionally wounded are not good at expressing their vulnerability because of shame or fear of being branded as weak or effeminate.  This parishioner took over 50 long years before having the courage to confront and speak about his past.

The story also reminds me of Jesus’ parable or the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).  This story is quite familiar to us all, but having a conversation with this parishioner, created in me a new and profound experience.  This parable does not focus on the immensity of sin but on God’s boundless mercy for us.  Seeing his joyful eyes reminded me how happy heaven is for his return.  “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10).  It is the boundless mercy of God that heals this broken and troubled man!

Every Easter is a celebration of life.  Life cannot be fully celebrated without God.  The man in my story experienced new life and new light after over 50 years of darkness.  I’m sure wherever he may be at this point in his life, he is now enjoying a peaceful and love-filled life with God and his family.

May you and your loved ones experience that genuine kind of Easter Joy!