Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today in our Easter services throughout America we remembered the resurrection and victory of Jesus. Though he was rejected and misunderstood he forgave humanity from the cross and then resurrected on the third day opening the gateway for rebirth for all who would believe. Though Jesus and the Holy Spirit could bring rebirth, the coming Kingdom was delayed until the second coming, this was the secondary plan of God.

The hidden message behind the Easter story is concerning the grieving heart of God and the anguish of Jesus. In the thirteenth peace message from March 17, 2007 Father Moon said, "After thousands of years of preparation, God finally was able to send Jesus to the earth as His only son. There is no way to fathom God’s heart as He anxiously watched Jesus’ each and every action. Jesus’ death was a tragedy that broke God’s heart. It brought Him anguish even more extreme than the time when Adam and Eve, whom He created as the first ancestors of humankind, were lost from the Garden of Eden due to the Fall."

To liberate Jesus from this grief and comfort God, Father and Mother Moon initiated the inter-religious movement to honor Jesus with the Crown of Peace in his homeland. On December 22, 2003 Jews, Christians and Muslims honored Jesus as the King of Peace in Jerusalem. This comforted God and lifted up Jesus in his own home and by his own family thus liberating his pain and sorrow. On that basis and for their lifelong achievements in bringing unity among the people of faith while reconciling enemy races and nations, the Crown of Peace honor was presented to True Parents four years ago today on March 23, 2004 in America and subsequently presented in every continent and over 120 nations throughout the world in the subsequent months.

God's tearful path of suffering will not end until all the family of man is restored back to God's heart and conflict and violence are ended. If we fulfill our responsibility, especially in America, we can shorten the path of the suffering of God. Through the passing of our Elder Brother Hyo Jin Nim, True Parents have offered their own family once again for the sake of the world. Hyo Jin Nim is a son of loyalty and filial piety to True Parents. They are grieving and tearful over God's suffering course and seeking to comfort God at this time. We ask all brothers and sisters to pray to comfort God and True Parent's heart at this time. Father Moon has encouraged everyone to trust in God and know that all these things work together to advance God's providence if we offer everything to God with gratitude. True Parents continue to give everything while totally trusting God that the sacrifices offered will hasten the realization of God's Kingdom of Peace on the earth.

Sincerely,

Rev. Michael Jenkins