Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Ngày 28 thánh 12.. Lễ các thánh Anh hài

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Ngày 28 thánh 12.. Lễ các thánh Anh hài

Qua bài Tin Mừng, chúng ta có thể tự hỏi là làm thế nào mà những vụ giết hại các trẻ sơ sinh nam vô tội ở Bethlehem phù hợp với những niềm vui của mùa Giáng sinh. Sự kiện tàn ác này của Hêrôdê đã gây ra biết bao nhiêu đau khổ và nước mắt cho cha mẹ của những trẻ sơ sinh tử đạo. Theo các lệnh của vua Hêrôdê bắt những trẻ sơ sinh nam, vô tội và không thể tự vệ, phải chết. Những tiếng kêu la được nghe ở Ra-ma; những than thở và khóc lóc đã thành tiếng. Bà Rachel khóc lóc thảm thiết vì con của bà đà bị hêrôđê giết. Bà từ chối những sự an ủi của mọi người, vì con trai của bà không còn nữa.

Chúng hãy cùng cầu nguyện với hội thánh: “Lạy Chúa, Các hài nhi vô tội này đã được tuyên xưng và kính nhớ đến trong ngày hôm nay, khộng phải những gì mà những hài nhi này đã làm hay tuyên xưng, nhưng đã họ chết vì Ðức Kitô. Nay được theo Người là Chiên con tinh tuyền. Xin cho chúng con có lòng tin vững mạnh nơi Chúa để miệng lưỡi chúng con chẳng ngớt tung hô:" Lạy Chúa, vinh danh Chúa ".

Chúng ta cũng không quên cầu nguyện cho những thai nhi và các trẻ em đã bị cha mẹ chối bỏ. Xin cho chúng ta có được ân sũng Chúa ban để chúng ta có thể trở nên trong trắng, thơ ngây giống như các em : "Quả thật, Ta bảo các ngươi, nếu các ngươi không hoán cải mà nên như trẻ nhỏ, các ngươi sẽ không vào được Nước Trời. 4 Vậy phàm ai kể mình hèn hạ như trẻ nhỏ này, thì người ấy là kẻ lớn hơn trong Nước Trời. Và kẻ nào tiếp đón một trẻ nhỏ này vì Danh Ta, tức là tiếp đón Ta . "(Mt 18: 3-5)

Chúng ta cũng hãy cầu nguyện cho tất cả các nạn nhân của sự bất công và bạo lực, đặc biệt là những sự bạo hành liên quan đến trẻ em như chúng ta đang chứng kiến mỗi ngày ngay trong đất nước của chúng và các cuộc chiến tranh, các cuộc xung đột vũ trang trên thế giới ngày nay. Đặc biệt, chúng ta hãy cầu nguyện cho các thai nhi nạn nhân của sự ích kỷ, của những bất công và bạo lực trong xã hội của chúng ta hôm nay.

Reflection Holy Innocents

We may wonder how the massacre of the innocent male infants in Bethlehem fits in with the joy of the Christmas season. The event must have caused great suffering and anguish for the parents of the martyred babies. At the order of evil King Herod these male infants, innocent and defenseless, were killed: A cry is heard in Ramah; wailing and loud lamentation: Rachel weeps for her children. She refuses to be comforted, for they are no more.

We pray with the Church: "O God, whom the Holy Innocents confessed and proclaimed on this day, not by speaking but by dying, grant that the faith in you we confess with our lips may also speak through our manner of life." (Collect at Mass, Feast of the Holy Innocents)

Let us pray for children and that we be graced to become like them: "I assure you that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes lowly like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever received such a child in my name receives me." (Mt 18: 3–5) Let us pray for all victims of injustice and violence, especially involving children as we see in present-day wars and armed conflicts in the world. Let us especially pray for victims of injustice and violence against those still unborn.

Dec. 28

Opening Prayer: Lord, thank you for this opportunity to come before you in prayer. Help me to continue to celebrate your birth during this octave of Christmas. May I draw from this sobering story in today’s reading some guidance for my day.

Encountering Christ:

1. Jesus Born into Difficult Times: Herod had temporal power and wielded it carelessly, resulting in the slaughtering of innocent children. How often it happens that those in power make decisions that seem senseless in our eyes. The death of these innocent infants, however, was not in vain. They were the first witnesses to the reality of the contradiction of Christ and, in this, also received their reward as martyrs. Jesus comes near when we offer him the small sufferings we endure daily. Our sufferings might, in fact, require enduring the tyranny of difficult leaders, as did this generation. What does it look like to witness to Christ when not everyone rallies around us? How are we living this Christmas season witnessing to Christ?

2. Joseph Responded to the Prompting of God: St. Joseph was given the mission of guardian to the Redeemer. He used his whole humanity–his power, his strength, his skill in carpentry, and his discipline in prayer–to carry out his work as a father and provider. He was very aware of the need to respond to the inspirations God gave him. In this moment, Joseph put his trust in God and responded promptly to what the dream revealed to him. He knew his docility would require building a new, temporary life in Egypt for his family, and it must have taken courage for him to go forward. In our own life, there are things God asks of us that take courage. We can call on St. Joseph for strength to do Our Lord’s will no matter how inconvenient.

3. Jesus Was Guarded by a Father: Although Jesus is God, he was given and needed the gift of an earthly father in the person of St. Joseph. Joseph’s loving care and concern for the Blessed Mother and her infant Jesus wasn't recorded in the Scriptures. Nor were his sacrifices for the daily provision for his family. It’s possible that Joseph felt insignificant and unequipped for his role as Jesus and Mary’s guardian. At times we can feel insignificant and wonder if our “yes” to the Lord matters? Just as Our Lord selected St. Joseph to parent Jesus, he has chosen us to know, love, and serve him in this time and place. Nothing–no action of ours–is insignificant if it is offered to the Lord with love. As Brother Lawrence says, "We can do little things for God...It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God."

Conversing with Christ: Dear Lord, there are men in this world who do not protect the innocent, who fail to stand firm and strong in virtue. This could be disconcerting, but I also know there are good and truly humble and holy men like St. Joseph, who strive to love and protect the innocent. Thank you, Lord, for all people who stand up for the truth in this age. May I have the strength, the courage, and the faith to imitate St. Joseph in his protection of the innocent, and in the humble, quiet work of everyday life he no doubt offered up to you.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I want to witness to my faith in you when the moment presents itself. Come Holy Spirit.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ BA Ngày 28 thánh 12.. Lễ các thánh Anh hài

Opening Prayer: Lord, this is a difficult passage. Your ways can be hard to understand. Open my heart and my mind so I can hear your voice speaking to me through your word.

Encountering Christ:

1. Does It Sound Familiar? The story of the flight into Egypt is not the first time in the Bible where God shows us what he is able to accomplish when human weakness and even sin come into the picture. Remember Joseph and the colored tunic story in the Old Testament? There are a few parallels between the two stories. Both stories ended in Egypt and both Josephs were led there by dreams. Both times their stay in Egypt was brought about by others’ sin. Joseph in the Old Testament was sold as a slave because his brothers were jealous. St. Joseph, in the New Testament story, led the Holy Family to Egypt because of Herod’s jealousy. As we think about how hard it must have been for the Holy Family to flee to an unknown land, we can remember that evil doesn’t have the last word in God’s plan. Divine Providence, in both cases, integrated mysterious human ways into the great story of salvation.

2. The Mystery of Human Freedom: The story of the flight to Egypt reminds us that nothing escapes God’s providence. Today’s Gospel passage mentions two prophecies that were fulfilled despite Herod’s evil choices. Ever since Adam and Eve fell into original sin, and all through salvation history, as illustrated in the Old Testament story of Joseph, God writes straight with crooked lines. We see this too in the crucifixion of Christ—out of the greatest evil ever imagined, God was able to bring about the greatest good: the salvation of all. So many questions rise in our human minds. Can someone’s evil act be God’s will at the same time? Why does God allow the innocent to die? When we bring our questions to God, we allow him to answer with his presence, to show us who he is—the Lord of life and history. He won’t necessarily unravel the mysteries we ponder, but he will infuse our souls with grace and peace as we allow his providence to become evident in our own life, in our own salvation history.

3. St. Joseph’s Obedience: Like St. Joseph’s obedience, our obedience many times involves responding in moments when things don’t seem to go according to God’s plan. We can imagine how difficult it might have been for St. Joseph. Did he wonder why God allowed his family to be in such danger? Or why so many children died at Herod’s hand? Many times we expect God’s plan to be free of evil. That expectation was dashed when Adam and Eve committed original sin. God reminds us that in this world we experience imperfection—other people’s and our own. The story of redemption teaches us that obedience to God’s will is not about making sure things are perfect. Obedience to God’s will is trusting that he will show us the way, as he showed St. Joseph. As Christians, we believe that God draws greater good from evil when we remain in him and let him lead.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I believe that nothing escapes your providential gaze. Help me believe that you draw good out of the evil I see around me and the things that have hurt me in the past. And if the mystery is too deep, or too painful to grasp in this moment, bring your peace to my soul so that I may heal through your divine power.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will make an act of trust, remembering that you are with me and you will lead me through any difficulties or injustices that I experience.