Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần 34 Thường Niên
Trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta được mời gọi mạnh dạn đứng lên để làm chứng cho Thiên Chúa. Trong thời đại của chúng ta ngày nay, chúng ta hầu như không còn nghe thấy có những người bị ném vào hầm cho sư tử ăn thịt, hay bị giết vì đức tin vào Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Lịch sử của Giáo hội Việt Nam cho chúng ta biết là rất nhiều người Việt Nam ở trong những thế kỷ từ 17 đến 20 đã phải từ bỏ mạng sống của họ vì thập giá hay vì danh Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Đấy là những vị tử đạo thực sự. Ngày này, những người tử đạo thật sự là những người có lòng tin mạnh mẽ vào sự thật, chân lý và dám đứng lên để bảo vệ cho nền hoà bình và chân lý với lòng dũng cảm và niềm tin, hạnh phúc và hòa bình, họ dám chấp nhận một thực tế phũ phàng cho cuộc sống của họ. Nhiều gia đình có thể bị phân chia vì sự khác biệt về niềm tin, nhưng những người làm chứng cho tình yêu của Thiên Chúa, sẽ đem tình yêu đó chiếu toả đến những người khác với một tình yêu vô vị lợi và không có điều kiện .Trong thời điểm hiện tại, Làm thế nào chúng ta có thể làm chứng cho tình yêu của Thiên Chúa trong cuộc sống của chúng ta? Làm bổn phận công dân, đóng thuế một cách đầy đủ. Tham dự thánh lễ ngày Chủ nhật hàng tuần. Hãy tìm hiếu và học hỏi lời Chúa. Hãy tôn trọng sự sống của con người từ lúc mới được thụ thai cho đến khi chết một cách tự nhiên, Không chung sống, “gần gũi” với người khác phá (không quan hệ tình dục) trước khi hôn phối, hoặc dùng thuốc ngừa thai, mặc dù mọi người khác chung quang đang làm điều đó. Mọi người có thể cười và nhạo bắng chúng ta khi chúng ta mặc những bộ quần áo kín đáo, không hở hang như những các cô gái trong thời buổi hôm nay. Hãy vâng lời cha mẹ, thầy cô giáo, các linh mục và những người quyền thế. Tóm tăt là chúng ta hãy cố gắng tuân theo các điều răn của Chúa dạy và yêu thương nhau như Chúa Kitô đã yêu thương chúng ta.
"Lạy Chúa Giêsu Kitô, bởi cái chết của Chúa trên thập tự giá, Chúa đã chuộc tội chúng con và đã cứu chuộc toàn thế giới. Xin Chúa khỏa lấp tâm hồn chúng con với niềm hy vọng để mang lại niềm vui, lòng can đảm, và sự táo bạo để chứng kiến chân lý, sự thật về tình yêu của Chúa đã dành cho những người tội lỗi như chúng con được chiến thắng những quyền lực của tội lỗi, Satan, và sự chết. "
Reflection:
Today's Gospel is inviting us strongly to bear witness to God. In this day and age, we hardly hear of people being fed to the lions or slaughtered because of their faith in Jesus Christ. The history of the primitive church tells us of so many accounts of people who gave up their lives in the name of Jesus Christ. These are the real martyrs. The true kind of martyr who believes strongly in the truth and stands up to it, with courage and faith, happily and peacefully accepting the reality of his/her life. Families may be divided because of differences of beliefs but the one who bears witness to the love of God, radiates this love so much so that he/she can love unconditionally the other person.
How can we be witnesses in this present time to the love of God in our lives? Pay taxes correctly. Go to mass on Sunday. Be studious. Be Pro-life. Say no to pre-marital sex or to drugs even if everyone is doing it. People may laugh at you saying you are too modest in dressing because you are wearing a skirt that is knee-length when all other girls are wearing skirts one foot above the knees. Be obedient to your parents, to the teachers, to the priests and those in authority. In short obey the commandments and love one another as Christ has loved us.
Opening Prayer: Lord, I bring before you my pains and difficulties: the hatred I may have felt from others, the pain that others have caused me. I come before you just as I am, knowing that you know me, and gaze on me with love.
Encountering Christ:
1. They Will Persecute You: Jesus warned his disciples often about the reality of the hatred and rejection they would receive from the world. In parts of today’s world, many Christians still suffer persecution and put their lives, jobs, or reputations at risk by following Christ. Jesus promised that we would be handed over, hated by all, put to death; he invites us to embrace all suffering, big or small, for love of him. What sufferings have I been slow to accept in my life?
2. Giving Testimony: The sufferings of a Christian bear immediate fruit, whether we realize it or not. How often have you heard the story of someone who has suffered greatly, and you realize that their grief is the most powerful witness to the love of God in their lives? Those who suffer, who are tested, often become those who can speak most convincingly about the Gospel. When they believe and hold on to God, the word can no longer be considered naïve or “a crutch.” We become a powerful witness when we embrace suffering and share our experience of Christ in this context.
3. Secure Your Lives: Jesus invites us to persevere, to stand strong in the face of difficulty, like a flame that continues burning in the wind. As a result, we will secure our life, our soul, our eternal happiness—the life of our soul, which is our relationship with God. Perseverance means we carry on, even when we’re tired, beat up, or down and discouraged. We can do this only if we let Christ come alongside us to hold us up. When we strive to connect with Christ, to hold on to him more firmly, we are filled with his superhuman strength.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are my strength! I cling to you now in prayer, sure that you never leave me during the day. I place before you my little sufferings and my greater sufferings: all things that you have permitted in my life to make me a better witness to your truth and your love.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will strive to recall in a difficult moment that you are with me, and that you walk me through this suffering out of love. As a result, I will become a better instrument of your love to others.
REFLECTION 2018
In the first reading we see God in glory praised and worshipped by the heavenly hosts. In the Gospel reading Jesus warns his followers that they would be persecuted and suffer because of their faith in him. But he assures them of his guidance and protection. Jesus speaks of trials and persecutions as an "opportunity to bear witness." At the same time he gives his followers assurance, "Do not worry in advance." In the midst of great difficulties and challenges, Jesus gives us comfort and hope, "Not a hair of your head will perish. Through perseverance you will possess your own selves." Indeed throughout the two millennia since Christ, beginning with the Holy Innocents and the deacon St. Stephen, many have heroically given their lives in witness to their belief and love of Christ and his Church.
Today's chaotic world mirrors Jesus' ominous predictions. Persecution, distrust and hate proliferate among peoples and nations. We live in confusion and uncertainty. Justice and equality are at risk among so many. But we trust in Jesus' words as his followers have done so through two millennia. We continue to look for opportunities to bear witness and stand for truth. We continue to trust in Christ's promise and support. How strong is our faith in Christ? Are we firm in believing in his promise of redemption despite so many trials and dark times? Are we able to persevere through adversity to find ourselves?
1. They Will Persecute You: Jesus warned his disciples often about the reality of the hatred and rejection they would receive from the world. In parts of today’s world, many Christians still suffer persecution and put their lives, jobs, or reputations at risk by following Christ. Jesus promised that we would be handed over, hated by all, put to death; he invites us to embrace all suffering, big or small, for love of him. What sufferings have I been slow to accept in my life?
2. Giving Testimony: The sufferings of a Christian bear immediate fruit, whether we realize it or not. How often have you heard the story of someone who has suffered greatly, and you realize that their grief is the most powerful witness to the love of God in their lives? Those who suffer, who are tested, often become those who can speak most convincingly about the Gospel. When they believe and hold on to God, the word can no longer be considered naïve or “a crutch.” We become a powerful witness when we embrace suffering and share our experience of Christ in this context.
3. Secure Your Lives: Jesus invites us to persevere, to stand strong in the face of difficulty, like a flame that continues burning in the wind. As a result, we will secure our life, our soul, our eternal happiness—the life of our soul, which is our relationship with God. Perseverance means we carry on, even when we’re tired, beat up, or down and discouraged. We can do this only if we let Christ come alongside us to hold us up. When we strive to connect with Christ, to hold on to him more firmly, we are filled with his superhuman strength.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are my strength! I cling to you now in prayer, sure that you never leave me during the day. I place before you my little sufferings and my greater sufferings: all things that you have permitted in my life to make me a better witness to your truth and your love.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will strive to recall in a difficult moment that you are with me, and that you walk me through this suffering out of love. As a result, I will become a better instrument of your love to others.
REFLECTION 2018
In the first reading we see God in glory praised and worshipped by the heavenly hosts. In the Gospel reading Jesus warns his followers that they would be persecuted and suffer because of their faith in him. But he assures them of his guidance and protection. Jesus speaks of trials and persecutions as an "opportunity to bear witness." At the same time he gives his followers assurance, "Do not worry in advance." In the midst of great difficulties and challenges, Jesus gives us comfort and hope, "Not a hair of your head will perish. Through perseverance you will possess your own selves." Indeed throughout the two millennia since Christ, beginning with the Holy Innocents and the deacon St. Stephen, many have heroically given their lives in witness to their belief and love of Christ and his Church.
Today's chaotic world mirrors Jesus' ominous predictions. Persecution, distrust and hate proliferate among peoples and nations. We live in confusion and uncertainty. Justice and equality are at risk among so many. But we trust in Jesus' words as his followers have done so through two millennia. We continue to look for opportunities to bear witness and stand for truth. We continue to trust in Christ's promise and support. How strong is our faith in Christ? Are we firm in believing in his promise of redemption despite so many trials and dark times? Are we able to persevere through adversity to find ourselves?
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