Chúa Giêsu không bao giờ do dự để tiên đoán rằng Giáo Hội của mình và những người theo Ngài sẽ phải trải qua những thử thách khốn khó. Những người có niềm tin yếu đuối sẽ chỉ thấy một tương lai đen tối. Nhưng lúc nào Chúa Giêsu cũng có những ý nghĩ tuyệt vời trong sự lạc quan là bảo đảm niềm vui nội tâm sẽ đạt được qua những sự đau khổ này. Chúa Giêsu đã nói trong Tin Mừng hôm nay: " Nhưng kẻ nào bền chí đến cùng, kẻ ấy sẽ được cứu thoát." Mt 24:13. Chúng ta thực sự có thể lạc quan bằng thói quen? một ngọn lửa tươi sáng của hạnh phúc có thể ẩn sâu trong tâm hồn của chúng ta trong mọi lúc, khi mà mọi thứ không được như ý của chúng ta?
Những vấn đề và rắc rối tự nhiên mỗi ngày của chúng ta là tình trạng thực tế của vấn đề hiện tại. Chúng ta đang ở trong giai đoạn là cùng phải chịu đau khổ và chết với Đấng Kitô. Điều này chắc chắc không bao giờ dễ dàng. Nhưng thật dễ dàng cho Chúa Kitô? Nếu bất cứ điều gì đến với cuộc đời của Chúa Giêsu một cách dễ dàng thì đó là những thất bại hàng ngày mà Chúa đã gặp phải. Ngài đã không đánh bại Herod, nhưng đã phải chạy trốn sang Ai Cập. Lính canh đền thờ luôn luôn canh chừng và muốn bắt giữ Ngài. Có lẽ Chúa Giêsu không phải là một vị thầy thành công nổi tiếng, vì chúng ta không thể tìm thấy những người bạn thân của Ngài khi Ngài cần họ, hoặc khi ngài bị bắt đã có ai thân thiết nhiệt tình để bảo vệ Ngài hay họ đã bổ trốn vì sợ vạ lây. Nhưng Ngài đã hiến dâng cuộc sống của Ngài theo cách này, để dạy cho chúng ta tất cả những gì mà cuộc sống thực sự có nghĩa. Đó là một sự mầu nhiệm bí ẩn kỳ lạ, nhưng đó là cách mà Thiên Chúa đã chọn. Chúng ta có thể tin tưởng vá sự khôn ngoan vô lường của Ngài?
Chúng ta hãy cầu xin Chúa ban cho chúng ta những ân điển ngày hôm nay để chúng ta có thế bước theo con đường rất quanh co đau khổ nhưng sẽ dẫn chúng ta đến vinh quang và hạnh phúc cuối cùng.
REFLECTION
Jesus never hesitated to predict that his Church and his true followers would undergo severe trials. Those whose faith is weak would see only a dark future. But always, Jesus came through with a great note of optimism, an assurance of deep interior joy gained through these sufferings. Jesus says in today's Gospel: "Whoever holds out to the end will be saved." Can we really be optimists by habit? Can there be a bright fire of happiness deep inside us all the time, even when everything is going wrong?
Our trouble naturally is with the present state of affairs. We are in the stage of suffering and dying with Christ. That has never been easy. But was it easy for Christ? If anything comes through clear in the life of Jesus, it is the daily failures he encountered. He did not succeed in beating Herod out of his crown, but had to flee to Egypt.
There were always temple police around, wanting to arrest him. Jesus did not even seem to be a Successful teacher, if we are to count his friends at the end when he needed them, or if we are to consider the enthusiasm his people had for defending him. But he gave his life in this way, to teach us what all of life really means. It is a strange mystery but that is the way God chose to live it. Can we trust his infinite wisdom?
Let us pray for the grace today to follow this very crooked road of suffering that leads us to final glory and happiness.
July 10, 2020 (readings)
Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time- Br. Brian Flanagan, LC
Matthew 10:16-23
Opening Prayer: Lord, I thank you for this moment of quiet prayer. Draw me close to your heart, and inflame my heart with faith, hope, and charity. Help me to see what you want me to see, and hear what you want me to hear, in this moment of prayer. Stir up the Holy Spirit in me, Lord Jesus!
Encountering Christ:
Shrewd as Serpents, Simple as Doves: At times, the world certainly seems as though it is entirely opposed to the Church and deaf to the Gospel message. While this may not always be the case, Christ exhorts us to be prudent and discerning (“shrewd as serpents”) in our dealings with the secular world. We need to be armed, but with what? Jesus tells us that childlike simplicity, being “simple as doves,” will keep us safe from the world’s wolves. This simplicity requires strong faith and docility so that we are able to submit to what God has asked of us, placing ourselves in the capable arms of the Father.
Wisdom of the Spirit:
Christ promised his disciples that when they were persecuted and questioned about their faith, the Spirit of God would speak through them. He promises the same to us, today. This doesn't mean, however, that we shouldn’t prepare ourselves through study and prayer. Indeed, the most effective preparation we can make for ourselves is prayer, where we first encounter and come to know the voice of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. It is from this encounter that we are able to draw the strength and wisdom of the Spirit to defend our faith in the public square.
Whoever Endures “to the End”: This phrase of Jesus sounds a bit strange. Is he saying that if we just white-knuckle through life’s trials, we’ll make it to Heaven? The Greek word for end, telos, provides us with a different view of what Jesus means here. The common meaning of the word telos refers to the finish line in a race. Here we've been immediately reminded of St. Paul’s words to the Corinthians about running the race so as to win. We are not exhorted to perseverance merely to push ourselves for suffering’s sake; rather, Christ wants us to endure life’s trials as he did, relying on his grace so that he can bring us to where he is in heaven.
Conversing with Christ:
Whoever Endures “to the End”: This phrase of Jesus sounds a bit strange. Is he saying that if we just white-knuckle through life’s trials, we’ll make it to Heaven? The Greek word for end, telos, provides us with a different view of what Jesus means here. The common meaning of the word telos refers to the finish line in a race. Here we've been immediately reminded of St. Paul’s words to the Corinthians about running the race so as to win. We are not exhorted to perseverance merely to push ourselves for suffering’s sake; rather, Christ wants us to endure life’s trials as he did, relying on his grace so that he can bring us to where he is in heaven.
Conversing with Christ:
Lord, it sometimes feels like the world is growing ever more hostile to your message. Help me fan the flame of the Holy Spirit that I received in baptism so that through me you may melt frozen hearts! I know difficulties will come, Lord. I trust in you. Forgive me when I lack trust and allow me to cling even more strongly to you.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will recite the simple prayer “Jesus, I trust in you” when I experience a moment of difficulty.
REFLECTION
Jesus started his apostleship by choosing 12 men from among common people. He taught them through parables, through various teaching, by example and through miracles. He taught them that the kingdom of heaven is not what they imagined it to be. Until today, the power of Jesus' message transforms us into doing our share in his mission. It opens our eyes to what he has done; it opens our ears to his teachings. But even more so, his message restores us to better way of life, a life reborn of the Holy Spirit - a new life.
This transformation comes from believing. For every house that welcomes this peace, the peace remains. For every house that rejects his message f peace, the peace departs. Jesus instructed his disciples to start with the lost sheep of Israel instead of going into pagan and Samaritan territory because he knew that these people were not yet ready to accept the Good News. On the contrary, the Jews possessed the laws of the covenant since the time of their ancestors. It was their tradition and way of life. Jesus knew that this was the key to their beliefs and entrusted this knowledge to Peter and the other apostles. As witnesses to his teachings, they wereempowered to bring the Good News to the Jews and later, when they were ready, to the Gentiles.
Have we considered our own calling lately? Have we reviewed our lives? Let's take a few minutes to reflect on Jesus' plans for our salvation.
Reflection:
Expect that when the Lord comes into our lives, our lives will not remain the same. When the Holy Spirit descends upon us, we can be sure that our lives will be set in motion. There will always be a dynamic activity, an interaction that comes from above. And for sure conflict will arise when we stand up as witnesses for Christ.
Whether in the office or in the family, there may be many topics and views contrary to the teachings of the Church. In the world, we will be caught in tension as we strive to follow the will of God. We will be tempted, and many trials will await us. We may be subjected to ridicule, criticism and even hatred when we stand by Christ.
The world does not value Christ. Many of the teachings in the Gospel are against the values of the world. We are in the world, but yet we do not belong to the world.
Today's Gospel reading invites us to stand firm in our Christian beliefs, during opportune and inopportune times. We may lose many friends, jobs, business opportunities and securities. It is a great sacrifice, but then we follow God and not men, and our reward will also be great in heaven.
The consolation is that the Holy Spirit will defend us and make us righteous. In the midst of the difficulties and trials because of our commitment to our faith, God will provide. He will take care of us. We should consider it an honor to follow his footsteps, to experience some "crucifixion" and to complete whatever is lacking in his passion through our suffering with him.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will recite the simple prayer “Jesus, I trust in you” when I experience a moment of difficulty.
REFLECTION
Jesus started his apostleship by choosing 12 men from among common people. He taught them through parables, through various teaching, by example and through miracles. He taught them that the kingdom of heaven is not what they imagined it to be. Until today, the power of Jesus' message transforms us into doing our share in his mission. It opens our eyes to what he has done; it opens our ears to his teachings. But even more so, his message restores us to better way of life, a life reborn of the Holy Spirit - a new life.
This transformation comes from believing. For every house that welcomes this peace, the peace remains. For every house that rejects his message f peace, the peace departs. Jesus instructed his disciples to start with the lost sheep of Israel instead of going into pagan and Samaritan territory because he knew that these people were not yet ready to accept the Good News. On the contrary, the Jews possessed the laws of the covenant since the time of their ancestors. It was their tradition and way of life. Jesus knew that this was the key to their beliefs and entrusted this knowledge to Peter and the other apostles. As witnesses to his teachings, they wereempowered to bring the Good News to the Jews and later, when they were ready, to the Gentiles.
Have we considered our own calling lately? Have we reviewed our lives? Let's take a few minutes to reflect on Jesus' plans for our salvation.
Reflection:
Expect that when the Lord comes into our lives, our lives will not remain the same. When the Holy Spirit descends upon us, we can be sure that our lives will be set in motion. There will always be a dynamic activity, an interaction that comes from above. And for sure conflict will arise when we stand up as witnesses for Christ.
Whether in the office or in the family, there may be many topics and views contrary to the teachings of the Church. In the world, we will be caught in tension as we strive to follow the will of God. We will be tempted, and many trials will await us. We may be subjected to ridicule, criticism and even hatred when we stand by Christ.
The world does not value Christ. Many of the teachings in the Gospel are against the values of the world. We are in the world, but yet we do not belong to the world.
Today's Gospel reading invites us to stand firm in our Christian beliefs, during opportune and inopportune times. We may lose many friends, jobs, business opportunities and securities. It is a great sacrifice, but then we follow God and not men, and our reward will also be great in heaven.
The consolation is that the Holy Spirit will defend us and make us righteous. In the midst of the difficulties and trials because of our commitment to our faith, God will provide. He will take care of us. We should consider it an honor to follow his footsteps, to experience some "crucifixion" and to complete whatever is lacking in his passion through our suffering with him.
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