Suy Niệm Lời Chúa Thứ Sáu Tuần thứ Nhất Mùa Chay

Suy Niệm Lời Chúa Thứ Sáu Tuần thứ Nhất Mùa Chay. (Mat 5:20-26 ) 

Có một chàng thanh niên đã từng hỏi Chúa Giêsu là  anh ta phải làm những gì để được sự sống đời đời (Mt 19:16-22 ) . Nhân dịp đó Chúa Giêsu trả lời một câu rất vắn tắt " giữ các điều răn " . 

Trong Tin Mừng hôm nay Chúa Giêsu còn đi xa hơn thế nữa, Ngài 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 biêt nghĩ đên 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 tữ thô lỗ để làm nhục hay lăng mạ người khác, Vì cuối cùng chúng ta cũng sẽ phải hòa giải với những người khác trong một tinh thần chung, ngay cả 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. Lời cầu nguyện trên những lễ vật hôm nay, do đó cũng phản ảnh với 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: From Psalm 130: Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord who can stand? But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered. I trust in the Lord.

Encountering Christ:

Entering Heaven: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Those listening to Jesus must have been shocked at what he said for three reasons. First, the Pharisees and scribes were considered the arbiters of God and his law. No common person would consider questioning their authority in public. Secondly, Pharisees were strict observers of the law, adhering to the oral laws and traditions. Scribes translated and taught the law of God. How could anyone be more righteous than they were? Finally, Jesus was opening up a path for the common person to access Heaven. With the heavy burden of the over six hundred laws Jews were expected to keep, Heaven was considered an impossibility for the ordinary man or woman.

Following the Commandments: “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.” Jesus was teaching us that subtle temptations can lead a person into increasing levels of sin. Once anger over the action of another enters the heart, the emotion can produce condemnation in thought. That critical thought can lead to action against a person, such as calling them, “You fool.” Raqa is an Aramaic word believed to mean imbecile. Each allowance, if not stopped, can lead all the way to killing. Jesus teaches that each sin upon sin increases the punishment due: first judgment, then the courts (Sanhedrin), to finally Hell (Gehenna).

Leave Your Gift at the Altar: The law of God is not a set of rules meant to deter people from killing, stealing, committing adultery, etc. The law of God is a way of being that transforms the entire person–spirit, mind and body–into living gifts to God who loves each of us. Jesus spent much of his public ministry teaching us that following the commandments of God perfectly flows from living by the greatest commandment: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40). These words of Jesus challenge us as much as they did the Jews who first heard them. If we harbor anger against another, if we go beyond criticizing a person’s action to condemning that person, if we speak harshly to another, we are liable to God’s justice. Lent offers us opportunities to take inventory of any ill will we hold in our hearts against others. We may have reason to be angry, but Jesus gave us the sacrament of Reconciliation, a sacred place to release our claims against others, leaving behind not only our judgments against them, but freeing us from judgment as well.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, your words are very challenging. It sometimes seems impossible to live the life to which you call me. I know nothing is impossible with God, so I will believe in you and I will repent when I fail. I will try to do your will in all situations and with all people. Jesus, help me. Jesus, I trust in you.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will examine my actions, noting where I have failed to live up to the call of a Christian, and I will ask for forgiveness.

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 shortcuts or easy paths.
We cannot harbor 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 souls. 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.