Suy Niệm thứ Sáu Tuần Thánh, Cuộc Khổ Nạn của Chúa Kitô
Hôm nay, chúng ta tưởng niệm cuộc Khổ
Nạn của Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Cuộc
hành trình Thương khó của Ngài, bắt đầu tại nhà Tiệc Ly với Bí Tích
Thánh Thể, Vườn Cây Dầu, các cung điện của Cai Pha thầy cả thượng tế, và vua Hêrôđê, Dinh thự của quan tổng trấn Philatô, đồi Calvary (núi sọ) nơi Chúa đã chết và ngôi mộ bỏ
hoang. Ở trong mỗi một nơi và ở trong những địa điểm này, tất
cả chúng ta, mỗi người chúng ta đã làm cho Chúa Giêsu Kitô đã phải chịu đau khổ cách này hay cách khác và Ngài đã phải chết
đẻ cứu chuộc chúng ta.
Thiên Chúa có thể có
thể cứu chuộc chúng ta bằng hàng
ngàn cách khác nhau, Nhưng Chúa Giêsu đã chọn con đường hèn hạ nhục nhã nhất, đau khổ nhất chỉ vì yêu thương chúng ta quá đỗi. Vì quá yêu thương chúng
ta mà Ngài đã từ bỏ chính
cuộc sống của chính mình, để đem sự sống đến cho mỗi người chúng ta. Đó là chương trình cứu độ của thiên Chúa, chương trình của tình yêu vĩ đại nhất mà
Ngài đã dành cho con người tội lỗi chúng ta. Nhất định đây không phải
là sự ngẫu hứng: nhưng
chính đó là điều đã được tiên báo trước trong Cựu Ước, như Chúa Giêsu đã nhắc đến những việc đó sẽ xảy ra trong nhiều lần.
Trong Bữa Tiệc Ly, Ngài đã
ban cho chúng ta của ăn, thức uống để nuôi dưỡng linh hồn chúng ta được sống đời
đời; đó chính là thân mình, thịt và máu của Ngài đã hy sinh. Tại vườn cây Dầu (Ghếtsêmanê)
Chúa Giêsu cầu
nguyện và xin
được "Vâng" theo
ý của Thiên Chúa
là Cha. Trên thập giá, Ngài
rất tỉnh táo Ngàivà đã thưa VÂNG một lần nữa với Chúa Cha, Ngài dâng hiến tất cả linh hồn và thân xác của Ngài
trong sự thanh
thản và
tự do.
Lạy Chúa Giêsu, Đấng Cứu Thế của chúng con, với hai bàn tay của chúng
con , chúng con sẽ bảo vệ Chúa với đôi bàn tay của Chúa
đã ban ho chúng con, Chúng
con sẽ vinh danh Chúa trong vinh quang với trí thông minh của chúng
con, và chúng con sẽ ngưỡng mộ Chúa bằng với tất cả trái
tim của chúng con. Chúng con sẽ làm những điều đó với Mẹ. Lạy Mẹ Maria mẹ của chúng con xin cầu cho chúng con.
Today,
breathe taken, we commemorate the Passion of Jesus Christ. His itinerary; the
Cenacle of the Eucharist, the Garden of Olives, the palaces of Caifas and
Herrod, the Pretoria of Pilate, Calvary of his death and the tomb. In each one
of these places, between us all, we have made him suffer.
God could have redeemed us in a
thousand different ways. He chose the path of suffering to the point of giving
up his life. "To give ones life" is the greatest show of Love there
is. There is no improvising here: it was prophesized in the Old Testament,
Jesus made reference to it many times; in the Last Supper He gave us the
present as food, his "Body which will be given up"; at Gethsemane He
prays and sais "yes" to God the Father. On the Cross, very
consciously, says YES again, giving up his spirit with total freedom and
serenity.
Jesus, my Saviour, I will look after
you with my hands, I will defend you with my arms, I will give you glory with
my intelligence, and I will adore you with all my heart. I will do it with
your, Our, blessed Mother, Mary.
Opening Prayer: Jesus,
as I spend time reflecting on the sad event of Good Friday, help me see in a
new way the different choices people made on this day in history. Help me learn
from their actions. Enlighten me through your word so that I can follow you.
Speak to me, and open my ears so that I can hear you.
Encountering Christ:
Defense and Betrayal: Peter was one of the men whose actions and words are
central to the story of Good Friday. He was swift to draw his sword to defend
his teacher, leader, and friend. Shortly afterward, he was quick to deny even
knowing him. Isn’t this the story for most of us as we try to live out our
Christian life? Sometimes, we are on fire for God, filled with zeal and conviction
as we make our way through the joys and challenges of our vocations. Other
times, we falter and fail, letting Jesus down in both our words and actions.
Like the apostle Paul, we can honestly say, “I do not understand what I do. For
what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15). We can take
consolation in the fact that the great St. Peter, chosen to be the first Pope
of the early church, wavered when Jesus was arrested. Although Peter did not
stay with Jesus at the foot of the cross, he returned with zeal to help spread
the Gospel after Jesus’ Resurrection. When we feel that our weakness and sins
inhibit our ability to do great things for God, we can remember St. Peter. And
when we are tempted to think we are weak and worthless, we can be assured that
this does not come from God but from the enemy of our souls. God can use our
weak efforts to accomplish great things when we trust in him.
Cowardice and Injustice: Pilate was another key player on this infamous day. He
was known as an ineffectual leader whose cowardice allowed Jesus to be put to
death. In Matthew 26:24, we read, “When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere,
but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in
front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ‘It is your
responsibility!’” Pilate was uniquely positioned to stop the torture and death
of a man he suspected was innocent, and quite simply was too afraid to do it.
God may place us in such a moment where we are asked to use our authority to do
the right thing. May we acknowledge that our authority is God-given–meant for
the good of our families, our communities, and the world–and have the courage
to use it well.
The Rich Men: Two other men made difficult choices on this sad day.
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were prominent Pharisees who followed Jesus.
Both did so secretly. The terrible news of Jesus’ execution was a catalyst for
their bravery and generosity. They boldly came out of hiding and used their
resources to give Jesus an honorable tomb and the costly oils needed to
properly anoint his body. We can speculate that they regretted not being more
public in their admiration for Jesus while he was alive. However, their acts of
generosity and public support of Jesus surely won favor with God. Since Jesus
had just been put to death for treason, their newfound openness was a brave
choice to make. They were not able to stop his death, but they did what they
could do, using their wealth and prominence to give Jesus a dignified burial.
Their example shows us that it is never too late to take a stand for Our
Lord.
Conversing with Christ: Lord, today in Scripture I see the many people who were
there during your suffering and death. As I read their stories, I ask that you
fill me with Peter’s zeal and repentance when I fall short. As I consider
Pilate, I ask that you give me courage and wisdom in the areas of my life where
I have authority. And when I reflect on the actions of Joseph of Arimathea and
Nicodemus, give me a heart to publicly acknowledge you and the generosity to
use my human resources to further your Kingdom. On this sad commemoration of
your death, give me a renewed love for you and the courage to commit to
following you all the days of my life.
Resolution: Lord,
today by your grace I will pray the rosary, meditating on the sorrowful
mysteries.
LESSON: Jesus Resists the Final Temptation
At the beginning of
Lent, the devil tempted Jesus in the desert. He tempted him to turn stones into
bread. He tempted him to do a spectacular miracle by jumping down from the top
of the Temple.
He
tempted him to rule the world through power and intimidation instead of through
self-sacrificing love. All of these temptations had something in common:
the devil was trying to get Jesus to reject his Father's plan for his
life. They all wanted Jesus to say, "my will be
done" instead of "thy will be done." But Jesus didn't
reject his Father's plan, he completed his mission exactly how
the Father wanted him to, through obedience, true humility, and
self-sacrificing love.
Now Lent is over, and
we have reached the climax of human history - the moment when
Jesus reverses original sin and ends the devil's rule over the
human race. And now the devil has come back to tempt Jesus again.
But this time he used a different tactic. Instead of trying to seduce him with
subtle lies, as in the desert, he assaulted him with psychological and physical
pain - excruciating pain. He tried to make
Jesus' mission so hard, so painful that he
would simply give up. He assaulted him in the Garden
of Gethsemane, where Jesus experienced emotional and spiritual agony.
And then he assaulted him through the humiliation of the false
trials, the heart wrenching betrayals and abandonment by his
followers, the gruesome violence of the scourging,
and
the tremendous agony of death by crucifixion. At any
point along the way, Jesus could have ended his tortures simply by
saying in his heart, "not thy will be done, Father, but my
will be done." Why didn't he? Why did he go
through all of this horrendous suffering?
ILLUSTRATION: Until Death Do Us
Part
He was showing us how much he
loves us, and he was teaching us how to love. A
couple married not too long ago learned the lesson well. Mauricio and Claudia
had been courting for almost a year. They were the perfect
match and had a bright future. Mauricio was ready to propose,
but he wanted to wait until May, their favorite month. Then
Claudia broke the news to him.
What had looked like mild asthma was really cystic
fibrosis, and the doctors were projecting that she had less
than a year to live.
Mauricio was crushed. All his dreams of a long,
happy life raising a family with
Claudia vanished instantly. He spent that whole night tossing
and turning, not knowing what to do. In the morning Mauricio went to Mass
to find an answer. When he got to the church, he knelt in the last pew,
took one look at the crucifix, and started to cry. He knew what
he had to do, and when he received Holy Communion, he asked Christ for the strength
to do it. After work he got together
with Claudia. He said, "Claudia, I had wanted to ask you
to marry me this May, but I don't think that will work
now." Claudia buried her face in
her hands, devastated.
Mauricio took her hand and said, "Why don't we have the wedding next
month, in January? Will you marry me?" She looked up, and with tears streaming down
her cheeks, she embraced him.
After their honeymoon Claudia's health steadily
declined, in spite of the doctor's heroic efforts. Soon she had to
move permanently to the hospital. Mauricio never left her side.
Day and night he watched over and cared for her. That May,
four months after their wedding, she died in his arms. That is love. That
is self-giving: self-forgetful, self-sacrificing,
love. That is the kind of love our Lord has for us - on
the cross he proves it: he will never leave
us, never give up on us.
APPLICATION: Saying Yes to the Holy
Spirit
Christ wants us to know without
any doubt that his love for each one of us is total, eternal,
personal, and unlimited. We need to know that we are loved simply
for who we are, not for what we can do.
That
is a basic need of human nature. But we also have another
basic need, almost as deep as the first. We
need not only to be loved, but also to love.
Unless we learn to love as Christ loves, selflessly, constantly,
through storms and droughts, to the point of sacrificing
our own comfort and dreams, we will remain spiritually immature.
The crucifix is proof of Christ's love, and it is also the school
of Christ's love. How
can we put this lesson into practice? The Holy Spirit is
already giving each one of us some ideas; we just need to listen
to his voice in our conscience. Maybe
we need to forgive someone who doesn't deserve to be forgiven,
as Christ forgave his betrayers.
Maybe we need to rip out,
with the help of God's grace, a destructive habit of
self-indulgence or disobedience to Church teaching - Christ is there in
confession to help us. Maybe we need to reach out to someone
who doesn't know Christ and tell them the Good News of the
gospel. Maybe we need to say yes to what God is asking of us,
whether it be to follow a vocation to the priesthood or
consecrated life, to have another child, or to put our time,
talents, and treasure more fully at the service of the Church.
Today when we
receive in Holy Communion the same body and blood that suffered for us on the
Cross, let's thank Christ for his love, and let's ask
him for strength to follow his example. Nothing will please
him more than to answer that prayer.
The liturgy of Good Friday is made up of three parts: the Liturgy
of the Word at which the Passion of Christ according to St. John is proclaimed
and which ends with the Solemn Intercessions, the Adoration of the Holy Cross
and Holy Communion.
The focus of this reflection is the Adoration of the Holy Cross.
The ritual begins as the veiled Cross is carried into the church.
As the covering on the Cross is uncovered in three steps, the priest intones,
"Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the salvation of the
world." As they kneel, the congregation responds, "Come, let us
adore."
The Holy Cross is then venerated by all, each one approaching the
Cross with an appropriate sign of respect. Finally, the Cross is
"enthroned" at the main altar.
Why is the Cross such an important symbol? The Cross itself is an
ambiguous symbol. St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians speaks of how
the Cross is a scandal and foolishness for unbelievers (1 Cor 1: 1- 23).
In the Roman world of the day the cross was an instrument of
torture and death, the penalty for the most ignominious of crimes. But on this
day called "Good" Friday, we venerate the cross! What is it that
makes an instrument of death for criminals something to venerate and adore?
What is it that makes the Cross of Christ so special? What can help us to
appreciate the goodness of the Cross on Good Friday?
Let us turn to the reflections handed down to us by the beloved
Disciple. At the Last Supper it was he who reclined next to the Lord. It was he
alone of all the chosen disciples who, at the end, together with Mary, stood
beneath the Cross as Jesus handed over the Spirit with his last breath. His
writings can speak to us to reveal the secret of the Cross.
We turn to John's Gospel where Jesus said, "As Moses lifted
up the serpent in the desert, and so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that
whoever believes in him may have eternal life. Yes, God so loved the world that
he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him may not be lost but may have
eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world;
instead, through him, the world is to be saved." (Jn 3: 14- 17)
Yes, God so loved the world! And the love of God for the world,
for all of us, was and is what has often been poetically called "the greatest
love the world has ever known." We have the words of Jesus himself at the
Last Supper, "There is no greater love than this, to give one's life for
one's friends; and you are my friends if you do what I command you.... This is
my command, that you love one another." (Jn 15: 13 - 14, 17)
The Cross is nothing other than the love of God. The Cross that we
venerate is not a symbol of death but rather a symbol of life-giving love, of
divine love! St. Paul, writing to the Romans about sixty years after Christ's
death, declared, "But see how God manifested his love for us: while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5: 8) Yes, because of God's
love for us and our world, we can see how the Cross of the Lord stands revealed
as the tree of life!
What remains for us is the challenge the Lord handed on to us,
"Now I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved
you, you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my
disciples, if you have love for one another." (Jn 13: 34- 35)
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