Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần 19 Thường Niên

 Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần 19 Thường Niên

Sự trung tín của Thiên Chúa đã được thể hiện trong bài đọc Tin Mừng hôm nay: "Vì ở đâu có hai ba người tụ họp nhân danh ta, thì ta ở đó giữa họ." (Mt 18:20) Thiên Chúa cho chúng ta thấy sự hiện diện của Ngài nơi chúng ta, những người biết hoà giải, hiệp nhất với nhau trong tình yêu thương, đoàn kết, trong sự cầu nguyện và trong hành động. Chúa Kitô hứa hẹn sự hiện diện của Ngài trong Giáo Hội khi mọi người Kitô hữu chúng ta đoàn kết, tụ tập với nhau và cùng nhau cầu nguyện.             Là thành viên của Giáo Hội Chúa Kitô, mỗi một người trong chúng ta đều có trách nhiệm là phải “chăn dắt) giúp đỡ và hướng dẫn lẫn nhau, mỗi người chúng ta có trách nhiệm với nhau, "Nếu anh em ngươi trót phạm tội, thì hãy đi sửa lỗi nó, riêng ngươi và nó thôi. Nếu nó nghe ngươi, ngươi đã lợi được anh em ngươi." (Mt 18:15) Đó sẽ là tốt nếu chúng ta có thể hòa giải với nhau trong tình anh em; chỉ khi nào chúng ta không thể hoà giải với nhau vì những khác biệt, thì chúng ta cần phải nhờ đến những người khác trong cộng đồng Giáo Hội lớn hơn.

            Chúng ta đang sống trong một thế giới không hoàn hảo; chúng ta là không thể nào hoàn hảo mọi thứ được. Đôi lúc chúng ta cũng sẽ có những xung đột giữa chúng ta. Bằng cách nào đó những mâu thuẫn giữ chúng ta cần phải được giải quyết. Chúa Giêsu giúp ban cho chúng ta những cách hướng dẫn rất đơn sơ nhưng rất thiết thực để giải quyết những xung đột. Và quan trọng hơn, Chúa Giêsu bảo đảm với chúng ta về sự hiện diện của Ngài giữa chúng ta và sẵn sàng giúp đỡ chúng ta mỗi khi cần đén Ngài.      Vì thế, chúng ta hãy cầu nguyện xin Chúa giúp chúng ta luôn luôn có thể để đối thoại với nhau và biết tôn trọng lẫn nhau, và khi có sự xung đột, Xin Chúa giúp chúng ta có can đảm và sự kiên trì để giải quyết những sự khác biết trong tình yêu thương vì chúng ta biết rằng Chính Thiên Chúa đang ở giữa chúng ta.

 Reflection:

     The fidelity of God is shown in the Gospel reading: "For where two or three are gathered in my Name, I am there among them." God shows his presence where fellows reconcile with each other, Where fellows unite in prayer and in action. Christ promises his presence in the Church when members gather and pray together.

     As members of Christ's Church each one of us has the responsibility to be a shepherd to one another; each of us is accountable to one another, "If your brother or sister has sinned against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are in private, and if he listens to you, you have won your brother." It would be good if we can reconcile by ourselves; only if we cannot, do we involve others and the greater Church community.     We live in an imperfect world; we ourselves are imperfect. There will be conflicts among us. Somehow these conflicts should be resolved. Jesus offers us simple practical guides on how to resolve conflicts. And, more important, Jesus assures us of his abiding presence and help.     Let us therefore pray to be able to talk to and respect one another and, when there are conflicts, to have the courage and perseverance to resolve them, knowing God is with us. 

 

Reflection:

God takes Moses to the mountain top and lays before him the land which he will give to the people whom Moses had led out of slavery. But Moses himself will stop short at the threshold of the Promised Land.  God now teaches him to journey inward. With eyes and heart that have been inflamed by God all his life, Moses comes to terms with journeying quietly and alone, back to God, who has known him face to face.  God in Christ reconciles the world to himself, and Jesus entrusts to us the good news that we are reconciled. Jesus teaches us to reconcile with one another, because reconciliation cannot be achieved by human effort alone. Jesus teaches us to reconcile in openness, sincerity and confidence. If after much goodwill and transparency anyone still chooses to alienate himself from the community, then the burden is not on the community. 

Reconciliation therefore is not an alternative; it is not even our choice.  It is our experience with God in the existential reality of freedom. In reconciling with one another and with the world, we experience God, who gives freedom and salvation. This God is the God of Moses, the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Christ is the Sacrament of Reconciliation between God and all Creation.

May God be blessed, forever and ever.’’

 

Meditation:

Friends, the Gospel for today addresses an issue of tremendous practical importance, namely, how we ought to engage in fraternal correction. Jesus says, with utter directness and simplicity, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.”

What a world of significance in that little recommendation! It holds off the sinful tendency of running to everyone but the person in question and complaining about him behind his back. This strategy is utterly unproductive and spiritually harmful, for it does nothing to help the person you are criticizing, and it puffs up your already inflated ego.

I know it is exceptionally difficult, but going to the person directly is both productive and spiritually uplifting. It has at least a fighting chance of accomplishing something, and it confirms you in love. But the right thing is, as usual, the hard thing. Notice please that the accuser is encouraged to tell the person in question alone—and no one else. Venting and gossiping are not helpful.

 

Meditation: Deuteronomy 34:1-12  The Lord showed him all the land. (Deuteronomy 34:1)

For forty years, Moses had been bogged down in the nitty-gritty of leading God’s people. Every day he had to decide whether to stay put or pick up stakes and move on. When they entered new territory, he had to find out whether its inhabitants were friendly or hostile and take appropriate action. He had to punish wrongdoers and settle disputes. By the end of his life, Moses was understandably weary.God knew that a long struggle lay ahead before his people would be able to take full possession of the Promised Land. So he chose Moses’ faithful lieutenant, Joshua, to be their leader in that struggle. He also decreed that Moses would not be permitted to enter that land. It’s not clear from Scripture whether this was a punishment or an act of mercy. Most commentators see it as a punishment for Moses’ one act of disobedience at Kadesh (Numbers 20:6-12). But perhaps it was an act of mercy: Moses had seen enough battles and struggles, and now it was time for him to rest and receive his reward. Whatever the case, out of love for the friend he knew “face to face,” God gave Moses a wonderful gift (Exodus 33:11). From the top of Mount Nebo, he showed Moses the whole spread of the land that his chosen people would eventually inhabit. Moses delighted in its mountains and valleys, rivers and deserts, lush vegetation and wilderness. Then, like Simeon in the New Testament, he died in peace (Luke 2:25-32).

           We can easily get bogged down in the details of daily living. Today’s tasks, relationships, and challenges can weary us. That’s why it’s a good idea to ask God to help us see the big picture every now and then. From the very beginning, he has been at work in the world, caring for his people, offering us salvation, and building a Church that reflects his kingdom. With such a big picture, how can we help but marvel at what the future holds? God will be with us always; he is determined to bring us all into his promised land!

“Father, thank you for the glimpses you give me into your grand plan for the world. I trust that you have a perfect plan for me as well!”