Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Năm Tuần thứ 4 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Năm Tuần thứ 4 Thường Niên

Tin mừng hôm nay Chúa Giêsu đã truyền cho các môn đệ của Ngài để ra truyền giáo nhưng không được mang gì theo người ngoại trừ cây gậy để bảo vệ “sói” dọc đường, Chúa Giêsu muốn tập cho họ biết đặt niềm tin vào sự Quan Phòng của Thiên Chúa và sự hiện diện của Chúa Thánh Thần. Chúa Giêsu muốn họ ra đi làm việc trong một cách nhẹ nhàng, không bị lệ thuộc, bị gò bó về vật chất, lệ thuộc về cái ăn, cái mặc. Mục đích của họ là rao giảng Tin Mừng của Chúa và Nược Trời.

Chúa muốn tất cả chúng ta cũng nên phụ thuộc vào Thiên Chúa một cách hoàn toàn, Chúa muốn chúng ta tín thác mọi sự nơi Thiên Chúa, Có lẽ quan niệm này đã quá cực đoan với chúng ta trong thời buổi hôm nay, nhưng có lẽ chúng ta nhất định cần phải đạt niềm tin tuởng vào sự Quan Phòng của Thiên Chúa nhiều hơn như các môn đệ. Chúng ta không thể kiểm soát tất cả mọi thứ hoặc có thể chuẩn bị cho tất cả mọi biến cố có thể xảy ra, cho chúng ta và chúng ta không cần phải bận tâm về những thứ vật chất ấy.

Chúng ta có thể đặt mình trong tay Chúa và bước đi trong niềm tự tin và hướng về một tương lai trước mặt để làm theo như Thánh Ý của Ngài. Chúng ta hãy lên đường theo các thánh Tông Đồ rao giảng lời Chúa mỗi ngày với hành trang duy nhất và quý giá nhất trong tất cả đó là niềm tin trong tâm hồn của chúng ta.

Lạy Chúa, Chúng con Tin Tưởng nơi Chúa, và xin hãy giúp và ban sức mạnh cho Lòng Tin yếu kém của chúng con..

Reflection:

When we go on a trip, we take everything that we think we will need. Often we take too much! Can you imagine going on a long trip with absolutely nothing? That is what Jesus commanded his disciples to do in that first mission. But they did have something — the Providence of God and the presence of the Spirit within them. Jesus wanted them to travel lightly and keep on the move, but most of all, to depend on God completely. This is probably too radical for most of us, but perhaps we can practice trusting in God’s Providence a bit more. We can’t control everything or prepare for all possible events, and we don’t need to do so.

We can place ourselves in God’s hands and step confidently forward to do His will. Let us journey each day with the most precious baggage of all - the faith in our hearts. Lord, help me to trust.

Thursday 4th Ordinary, Scripture: Mark 6:7-13 -7

Opening Prayer: My Jesus, thank you for sending your Apostles and their successors into the world to build up your Kingdom. Without them, there would be no Church! Help me recognize my own role to play in bringing about your Kingdom here and now.

Encountering Christ:

1. Attachment to Christ Alone: Jesus called the Twelve Apostles to detach from the earthly things they would need on their mission trip in order to bless them with God’s divine, abundant providence. Of course, he knew that they would need food, clothing, and money on their journey, but the Apostles would have to depend on the charity of those they were serving. This kind of detachment is only possible when one is truly attached to Christ. Jesus desires that we have both eternal life with him and abundant life here and now (John 10:10). When we trust in Christ, we are open to leaving behind the things we want and instead to receiving the good things with which God wants to bless us.

2. Two by Two: Jesus did not send the Apostles out alone; instead he sent them two by two. This shows the importance and strength of working together to bring about the Kingdom of God. This idea of going out two by two is reminiscent of Noah gathering and bringing the animals two by two into the ark (Genesis 7:9). Two were needed to multiply life, to be fruitful. Perhaps Jesus sent the Apostles, and later the seventy-two disciples (Luke 10:1), in the same way, because two could more effectively “multiply” the message of the Gospel. Sometimes working with others to build up Christ’s Kingdom can be difficult, but our diverse ideas, strengths, and personalities make us stronger and more effective together.

3. Christ’s Authority: Jesus gave the Twelve the honor of sharing in his mission by setting people free from the captivity of demons and sickness, the harbingers of sin and death. These are things that only God truly has the power to do, but he shared this power and authority with his Apostles to further his mission. Jesus bestowed his authority on them in other ways as his time on earth drew to its end. He breathed on them and gave them the authority to forgive sins, another work only God can do (John 20:22). After his Resurrection, he commissioned the Eleven and bestowed all authority upon them through his presence: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20). St. John Paul II said the Kingdom’s “seed and beginning is the Church.” As members of the Church, we also have a share in Christ’s mission. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit who is always with us in our tasks. Do we trust in his power to work through us to bring God’s will to fruition here and now?

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, help me to trust in you and the power you give me to bring about your Kingdom. Help me to remember that my true strength comes from you, my Jesus. Give me the confidence and energy I need to build your Kingdom and bring others to encounter you at the foot of your throne.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will ask you in prayer what you are calling me to do to build up your Kingdom.

Thursday 4th Week in Ordinary Time (B

When Jesus sent out his disciple to begin the preaching of the Gospel, it was indeed a great sign of his trust in them. At the same time it presented them with a number of challenges: they had to realize how much Jesus trusted them and to appreciate how great the power which he had given them was. These challenges were implicit in the very act of sending them. But then Jesus added the challenge of poverty and the trust they needed that, in the name of Jesus, they could accomplish everything that he was sending them to do. What they were sent to do could not be accomplished by human resources. So in poverty they had to set all human resources aside and, in faith, accept a mind-set which later St Paul would formulate with the words: “For when I am weak then I am strong.”(2 Corinthians 12:10). Pope Francis hopes that the Church will truly become a Church of the poor. Then it will be truly a Church filled with the strength, the power and the vision of God and so be a source of “many cures” for the world. Father in Heaven, make us strong in faith, hope and love and grant us the courage to be sincere witnesses of the Gospel.

REFLECTION

Being sent to look after God's flock is quite challenging. It would be ideal to be sent out in twos, but more often than not, the missionary has to go at it all by himself or herself. The resources for the mission will present themselves as necessary. Talk about complete faith in Divine Providence! Our Christian world was born out of this zealous missionary spirit. If brave men and women didn't heed the call to be sent out, there probably couldn’t be as many religious educational institutions, congregations and organizations in existence. Maybe, there would be fewer people who would realize for themselves that Jesus really loves them.

Sharing about God's love is the heart of our faith. In whatever we do, hopefully we are relaying the reality of God actively participating in human under takings. This same fervor inspired our missionary brothers and sisters to cross oceans, climb mountains, and conquer jungles so that the Word of God may be preached in all corners of the earth. Every human being needs to hear that there is a God who looks after them and never abandons them. May we always ask for the grace to be missionaries in our own little circles of influence? Hopefully, whoever we encounter in this life, may they see the love of Jesus made real by our example. The Scriptures come alive in our actions and how we treat one another. Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love!

Thursday 4th Week in Ordinary Time

In sending out his Apostles to preach the Gospel, Jesus did not give them a detailed picture of what to expect or detailed instructions how to deal with every possible situation that might arise. He gave them some fundamental instructions, especially the instruction to travel as poorly as possible. Along with this vocation to poverty, however, he also gave them a great power: authority over unclean spirits. Healing, including liberation from unclean spirits was a major part of Jesus own ministry. This gift of power over unclean spirits, then, was a sign that everything they were to do was to be seen as part of his own mission. Involvement in that mission inevitably entailed an experience of poverty, for Jesus’ first work was to empty himself and come amongst us as a human being, born in poverty.

Though Mark does not say it specifically, they were to proclaim the Kingdom of God. They were not, however to try to force anyone to believe, they were to move on though somehow disassociating themselves from those who would not receive them. Lord Jesus, in Your Church, the communion of saints, You have given us many gifts: faith, hope, love, prayer, wisdom and courage. Grant that we will always use Your gifts for the work of Your Kingdom and the good of Your people.

Meditation:

What kind of authority and power does the Lord want you to exercise on his behalf? Jesus gave his apostles both the power and the authority to speak and to act in his name. He commanded them to do the works which he did – to heal the sick. to cast out evil spirits, and to speak the word of God – the good news of the gospel which they received from Jesus. When Jesus spoke of power and authority he did something unheard of. He wedded power and authority with self-sacrificing love and humility. The "world" and the "flesh" seek power for selfish gain. Jesus teaches us to use it for the good of our neighbor.

Why does Jesus tell the apostles to "travel light" with little or no provision? "Poverty of spirit" frees us from greed and preoccupation with our possessions and makes ample room for God's provision. The Lord wants his disciples to be dependent on him and not on themselves. He wills to work in and through each of us for his glory. Are you ready to use the spiritual authority and power which God wishes you to exercise on his behalf? The Lord entrusts us with his gifts and talents. Are you eager to place yourself at his service, to do whatever he bids you, and to witness his truth and saving power to whomever he sends you?

"Lord Jesus, make me a channel of your healing power and merciful love that others may find abundant life and freedom in you. Free me from all other attachments that I may joyfully pursue the treasure of your heavenly kingdom. May I witness the joy of the gospel both in word and deed."