Trong Tin Mừng hôm nay Chúa Giêsu kêu gọi chúng ta nên thánh. Ngài đã mặc nhiên đề cập đến các lề luật trong sách Lêvi câu 19:02 "Các ngươi phải thánh thiện, vì Ta, Ðức Chúa, Thiên Chúa của các ngươi, Ta là Ðấng Thánh."
Khi đưa ra về chủ đề về sự thánh thiện này, Chúa Giêsu đã nói theo một cách gợi nhớ những lời của tiên tri thời trước. Tôn giáo đòi hỏi một mức độ công bình cá nhân nhất định, nhưng phải luôn luôn biết nghĩ đến những người khác. Và cũng phải có những thái độ thích hợp nữa, nghĩa là chúng ta không trở nên giận dữ với người khác hay dùng những ngôn từ thô lỗ để làm nhục hay lăng mạ người khác. Vì cuối cùng chúng ta cũng sẽ phải làm hòa với những người này trong một tinh thần chung, trong những trường hợp công lý được đòi hỏi phải hòa giải trước khi dâng của lễ hiến tế cho Thiên Chúa trên bàn thờ. Do đó, lời cầu nguyện trên những lễ vật hôm nay cũng phản ảnh bài Tin Mừng, vì chúng ta cầu nguyện là xin cho những lễ vật mà chúng ta dâng lên Thiên Chúa có thể mang lại cho chúng ta được sức mạnh trong ơn cứu rỗi của Thiên Chúa.
Lạy Chúa Giêsu, như Chúa đã dạy chúng con cách thức để vào được Nước Thiên Chúa, Xin Chúa giải thoát chúng con thoát khỏi con đường tội lỗi và dẫn đưa chúng con đến sự thánh thiện mà Thiên Chúa, Cha chúng ta đã đòi hỏi nơi chúng con.
Reflection:
A man once asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life (Mt 19:16-22). On that occasion Jesus responded with the consolingly simple answer: “keep the commandments”. In today’s Gospel he goes much further and calls us to holiness. He may be implicitly referring to the command in Lev 19:2 “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy”. As he develops this theme of holiness, Jesus speaks in a way reminiscent of the great prophets. Religion demands a certain level of personal righteousness, but must always take other people into account.
Then, too, proper attitudes such as not becoming angry with someone and not using abusive language to another person will eventually mean a general spirit of reconciliation with others, even in cases where justice is demanded, reconciliation closely tied in with the gifts we present at the altar of God. The prayer over the gifts today thus responds to the Gospel, for we pray that the gifts we offer may bring us God’s saving power. Lord Jesus, as you teach us the ways to the Kingdom of God, free us from sinful ways and lead us to that holiness which God, Our Father, asks of us.
Opening Prayer:
A man once asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life (Mt 19:16-22). On that occasion Jesus responded with the consolingly simple answer: “keep the commandments”. In today’s Gospel he goes much further and calls us to holiness. He may be implicitly referring to the command in Lev 19:2 “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy”. As he develops this theme of holiness, Jesus speaks in a way reminiscent of the great prophets. Religion demands a certain level of personal righteousness, but must always take other people into account.
Then, too, proper attitudes such as not becoming angry with someone and not using abusive language to another person will eventually mean a general spirit of reconciliation with others, even in cases where justice is demanded, reconciliation closely tied in with the gifts we present at the altar of God. The prayer over the gifts today thus responds to the Gospel, for we pray that the gifts we offer may bring us God’s saving power. Lord Jesus, as you teach us the ways to the Kingdom of God, free us from sinful ways and lead us to that holiness which God, Our Father, asks of us.
Opening Prayer:
Lord, as I reflect upon this Gospel please help me to see what I am clinging to, so that I may detach and cling only to you.
Encountering Christ:
1. Settle Quickly: Self-righteous anger is toxic. Like any sin, it can blind us to goodness, truth, and love. Our Lord was urging his listeners to resolve their issues so that they could put anger aside. When we feel angry and unforgiving, it truly is foolish to think we can come to Mass expecting union with God. The fruit of the Spirit is peace, and we have no peace if we choose to withhold love from others. Because we’re human, we should not be surprised when we are tempted in this way, but we must lean on our Father all the more, asking for grace to replace our pride with humility, our anger with peace. St. Paul reminds us, “Do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Romans 12:19). We are called to live humbly and to trust in the Lord.
2. Judgment: Jesus tells us that the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees subjected them to judgment. They determined they were righteous because they adhered to the law. Jesus calls us to surpass them by living not the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law, which is love. Jesus warns that when we fall short of loving well, there are spiritual consequences, and we may face earthly consequences as well. Living the Ten Commandments is truly a road map to happiness, both temporally and spiritually.
3. Gift: By divine design, we have the power to build up and the power to tear down. Jesus is showing us in this Gospel that we inhibit our capacity to love others when we hold on to self-righteousness, anger, or unforgiveness. Since we have been loved unconditionally from above, we are called to extend this love to those Jesus places on our path. The sacrament of reconciliation can empower us to do so by washing away our sin and restoring our peaceful equilibrium.
Conversing with Christ:
Encountering Christ:
1. Settle Quickly: Self-righteous anger is toxic. Like any sin, it can blind us to goodness, truth, and love. Our Lord was urging his listeners to resolve their issues so that they could put anger aside. When we feel angry and unforgiving, it truly is foolish to think we can come to Mass expecting union with God. The fruit of the Spirit is peace, and we have no peace if we choose to withhold love from others. Because we’re human, we should not be surprised when we are tempted in this way, but we must lean on our Father all the more, asking for grace to replace our pride with humility, our anger with peace. St. Paul reminds us, “Do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Romans 12:19). We are called to live humbly and to trust in the Lord.
2. Judgment: Jesus tells us that the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees subjected them to judgment. They determined they were righteous because they adhered to the law. Jesus calls us to surpass them by living not the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law, which is love. Jesus warns that when we fall short of loving well, there are spiritual consequences, and we may face earthly consequences as well. Living the Ten Commandments is truly a road map to happiness, both temporally and spiritually.
3. Gift: By divine design, we have the power to build up and the power to tear down. Jesus is showing us in this Gospel that we inhibit our capacity to love others when we hold on to self-righteousness, anger, or unforgiveness. Since we have been loved unconditionally from above, we are called to extend this love to those Jesus places on our path. The sacrament of reconciliation can empower us to do so by washing away our sin and restoring our peaceful equilibrium.
Conversing with Christ:
Lord, you lived in complete freedom, never allowing the injustices directed toward you to separate you from the Father. Your dignity was so firmly rooted in your Father’s love that nothing anyone said could shake you. Lord, sometimes I allow the thoughts, opinions, and actions of others to get the best of me, which produces anger and hardening of my heart. I can feel victimized and become determined to justify myself by seeking revenge or refusing to love. Lord, please soften my heart. Help me to be so firmly rooted in your love that I am not swayed by the people around me. Please Lord, help me to accept your unconditional love and then give me the willingness to extend it to those around me, especially those who are hardest to love.
Resolution:
Resolution:
Lord, today by your grace I will make a plan to go to confession (as soon as possible) and confess any grudge, lack of charity, justice, or generosity that I hold onto. I will pray for those people who have hurt me and whom I have hurt in return, and if possible I will reach out in love toward those people whom I have hurt or who have hurt me. God, please fill me with the grace to set right my wrongs.
REFLECTION
In the Gospel reading, Jesus instructs us on our dealings with one another, with those against us. Even friends have disagreements: it has been said it may take time, even years, to build a bond among people; in seconds, the bond can be destroyed.
We have to be very careful in our words and actions with other people. Impatience and anger can make us do things we would regret later: cursing and bad impolite language can cause collateral damage for relationships.
We need to speak truthfully, perhaps softly but firmly. We cannot allow our bad temper or hot emotions to get the better of us and ruin close relationships and friendships. Let us always pray for the grace of a more peaceful and patient demeanor.
Dear Lord, when our tempers flare, please help us to calm down. Let us be more conscious that we all live in glass houses. Harmful statements become rocks that break our windows and the windows of others. May our words be always filled with healing and hope. Help us to let go of hate and bring in more of love.
REFLECTION
In the Gospel reading, Jesus instructs us on our dealings with one another, with those against us. Even friends have disagreements: it has been said it may take time, even years, to build a bond among people; in seconds, the bond can be destroyed.
We have to be very careful in our words and actions with other people. Impatience and anger can make us do things we would regret later: cursing and bad impolite language can cause collateral damage for relationships.
We need to speak truthfully, perhaps softly but firmly. We cannot allow our bad temper or hot emotions to get the better of us and ruin close relationships and friendships. Let us always pray for the grace of a more peaceful and patient demeanor.
Dear Lord, when our tempers flare, please help us to calm down. Let us be more conscious that we all live in glass houses. Harmful statements become rocks that break our windows and the windows of others. May our words be always filled with healing and hope. Help us to let go of hate and bring in more of love.
Fri 10th March 2017 1st Week in Lent - SG
Some people think that God’s ways are unfair. For instance, in the gospels there were those who objected that sinners were welcomed into God’s company in the person of Jesus. After all, these people felt that since they were 'righteous', they deserved more. Ezekiel sees things differently. Even the greatest sinner that has a change of heart and turns to God is forgiven and restored. What is more, the ‘righteous’ that think that they can also do evil are in for a surprise. Being ‘good’ is something that has to be maintained — it’s not a free pass for the rest of one’s life. There are no short cuts or easy paths.
We cannot harbour anger, hatred, and unforgiveness in our hearts and hope to approach God. Matthew warns us that we have to take care of our business — forgive and be forgiven — before worship. Forgiveness is not optional — it is essential. But there is more — if we wound others through our harsh and unkind words, it is as if we have killed them. We have done violence to their soul. Matthew’s Jesus insists that we keep watch over our words — they can hurt, kill, and destroy, or they can heal, encourage, and build up. The choice is ours.
Lord, give me the grace to forgive others.
Some people think that God’s ways are unfair. For instance, in the gospels there were those who objected that sinners were welcomed into God’s company in the person of Jesus. After all, these people felt that since they were 'righteous', they deserved more. Ezekiel sees things differently. Even the greatest sinner that has a change of heart and turns to God is forgiven and restored. What is more, the ‘righteous’ that think that they can also do evil are in for a surprise. Being ‘good’ is something that has to be maintained — it’s not a free pass for the rest of one’s life. There are no short cuts or easy paths.
We cannot harbour anger, hatred, and unforgiveness in our hearts and hope to approach God. Matthew warns us that we have to take care of our business — forgive and be forgiven — before worship. Forgiveness is not optional — it is essential. But there is more — if we wound others through our harsh and unkind words, it is as if we have killed them. We have done violence to their soul. Matthew’s Jesus insists that we keep watch over our words — they can hurt, kill, and destroy, or they can heal, encourage, and build up. The choice is ours.
Lord, give me the grace to forgive others.
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