Earlier in his letter, before today’s reading, Peter encouraged his readers: “Be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble” (1 Peter 3:8). This exhortation was very difficult to carry out in a community where the Christians suffered verbal abuse and ridicule from their pagan neighbors (4:3-4).
The followers of Christ under those circumstances had to draw their strength from Jesus, the holy one. They must proclaim that holiness by the word “Lord,” the most important title for Jesus. It was the word used for Yahweh in the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Paul wants all to confess, “Jesus Christ if Lord” (Philippians 2:11). On Christmas Eve the angel said, “Today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord” (Luke 2:11).
Today Peter gives this sage advice for dealing with non-believers: “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” (1 Peter 3:15). The hope of Peter’s audience was based on complete trust in God. With Paul they believed that nothing could separate them from the love of God (Romans: 8:35-39). Their explanations were to be given in a kindly, patient way accompanied by a virtuous life.
The justice of Jesus, his will to save everyone, led him to die for all, “the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous” (1 Peter 3:18). The justice of the followers of Jesus is essentially their will to be saved by living in harmony with the will of Christ, loving God and neighbor. Peter has in mind that Jesus fulfills the role of the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. He was righteous, “[gave] his life as an offering for sin” (Isaiah 53:10), and brought salvation to all.
“Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus died in his human nature, but was restored to a glorious existence by the Resurrection. Every believer shares this experience of Christ at baptism. “We were indeed buried with [Christ] through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised form the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life” (Roman 6:4). What a great truth for us to reflect on: “we live in newness of life”. Our parents as our first educators in the faith saw to that. When we became of age to confirm their decision for ourselves, we did so in the sacrament of Confirmation.
That same commitment was made last weekend here at St. Denis by some 120 youth and 10 adults. On behalf of our Faith Community, I congratulate them. The newly confirmed are:
Jacquely Christine Abad, Rebecca Marie Aguinaga, TiffanyMarie Alaniz, Edgar Alejandro Alonso, Osvaldo Alonso,
Rachel Dolores Alonzo, George Alvarez, Veronica Rose Alvarez, Austin Amato, Adrian Aranda, Bernadette Gomez Arceo, Vanessa Monique Baca, Richard George Balandra, Brittany Lindsey Barragan, Christine Therese Bediones, Jarrand Paul Billings, Jack Bitar, Kimberly Nicole Cabot, Vanessa Ana Campbell, Carlos Alberto Cardenas, Katie Elizabeth Cardoza, Cameron Castro, Eugenio Chang, Brandon Andrew Chavez, Mark Chung-Jen Chiang, Vincent Chu, Jackie Cordon, Nathan Alvino Coronado, Jessica Monique Daly, Jerilynn Ernistine DeVera, Jeremy Raymund DeVera, Paul Anthony Dewhurst, Patrick Kevin Durkee, Patricia Santos Escobar, Marcus Evangelista, Michelle Lee Fenstremaker, Ricardo Genaro Figueroa, Christopher Subida Flores, Stephanie Kathryn Gallego, Richard Garcia, Melissa Ashley Garcia-Medrano, Melissa Katherine , Goger, Kelly Gonzales, Marisa Jennifer Gonzales, Jonathan Paul Gregg, Marcela Salazar Guico, Courtney Anastasia Harris, Elizabeth Hernandez, Arthur Hernandez, Genevieve Hernandez, Emily Hernandez, Ivan Joel Hinojoso, Evan Anthony Houston, Joseph Ibarra, Christina Inouye, Breanna Nicole Jaime, Justin Paul Kennedy, John Thomas Kuper, Megan Teresa Lane-Nagy, Ligia Veronica Lanuza, Tia Fay Lon Lee, Natalie Joanna Leon, Meghan Linehan, Tanya Lizbeth Longoria, Monique Marielle Lopez, Justin Luna, Carla Manosa, Ruth Margareth, Michael George Marquez, Maria Isabella Martinet, Alfredo David Martinez, Solalie Martinez, Priscilla E. Mc Farlane, Ariana Nicole Mena, Stephanie Mendoza, Veronica Monique Mercado, Brian Andrew Mesa, Michelle Jennifer Mockler, Roygene Morales, Christine Danielle Monzon, Erika Mora-Pavano, Anthony Morada, Sebastian Xavier Muratalla, Amanda Nguyen, Andrissa Cecilia Noriega, Adam Tadeuz O’Neal, Catherine Nicole Oliver, Kassandra Juliet Palimas, Anthony Domingo Pascua, Kaitlyn Lauren Ponce, Michael Angelo Ramirez, Marina A. Ramirez-Gonzalez, Allysn Reginaldo, Allysn Nikki Reginaldo, Bryan Adam Reyes, Melinda Marie Rivas, n Bryana Karina Rodriguez, Erik Daniel Rodriguez, James Aaron Rodriguez, Noelle Dominique Rodriquez, Vanessa Rodriguez, Melissa Salmo, Emily Rose Sanchez, Joanne Eleonor Santos, Andrea M. Silva, Matthew Ryan Sullivan, Kassandra Kristine Taira, Branden Christopher Taylor, Camille Suner Tecson, Christina Marie Tenorio, Nicole Danielle Torres, Sergio Salvador Torres, Tara Kristin Torres, Alexandria Ulloa, Melissa Velasco, Kyle Conde Ventura, Jacqueline Jessica Wongoso, Elyse Kiyoko Yamauchi, Maximillian Arlen Zavala, Paula M. Zepeda, Angelina Thais Aragon, Nancy Avalos, Veronica Elizabeth Chavez, Jesus Chihuahua, Ramiro Chihuahua, Erika Pantija De Alday, Cristela Estrada, Miguel Nunez Jr., Maurgan Rosemary Ridd and Brittney Marie Samson
Our First Eucharist celebrations begin this weekend; at the 5:30 pm Vigil Mass, at 9:00AM and 12:00PM Sunday and at 10:30AM and 1:30PM Sunday, May 4. I am grateful to the parents of these children who are their primary educators; to their extended families, and to the catechists and classroom assistants, to Kathy Ritza, the director and Vicky Barbilla, her assistant. Let us keep these children in our prayers.
I welcome those visiting us this weekend, along with our new parishioners to St. Denis whom we invite to register with us. We have many programs and ministries here and I invite you to join one of them. I congratulate all those celebrating birthdays, jubilees, anniversaries or quinceaneras along with recently married and newly baptized. I offer prayers for the ill, those facing surgery, recuperating or homebound and sympathy to those who have lost a loved one. “Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord, and my Father will love him and we will come to him” (Gospel Acclamation).
