Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bảy Tuần thứ 5 Phục Sinh

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bảy Tuần thứ 5 Phục Sinh

Trong bài đọc thứ nhất, chúng ta nghe hai lần, Chúa Thánh Thần đã ngăn cản thánh Phaolô làm theo kế hoạch của riêng của ông. Trước hết Thánh Phaolô không được phép rao giảng ở châu Á, và sau đó, không được phép đi đến Bithynia (miền bắc vùng Tiểu Á). Sách Công-vụ Tông Đồ đã không nói là Chúa Thánh Thần đã hành động như thế nào, nhưng có lẽ qua lời cầu nguyện hay lời tiên tri. Tuy nhiên, Sách CVTĐ có cho chúng ta biết là khi ở thành phố Troas Thánh Phaolô đã được thị kiến và được Thánh Thần sai đến Macedonia.

Thật vậy, trong Công Vụ Tông Đồ, chúng ta thấy Chúa Thánh Thần đã dùng nhiều phương tiện để hướng dẫn các Kitô hữu, Thánh Luca tác giả CVTĐ thường xuyên đề cập đến vấn đề cầu nguyện, sự thị kiến, hay sự xuất hiện của các Thiên Thần, những lời tiên tri và những giấc mơ. Mục đích của Thánh Luca là thể hiện mối quan hệ chặt chẽ giữa những hành động của Cha Kitô Phục Sinh và của Chúa Thánh Thần.

Mặc dù Chúa Thánh Thần hầu như không được đề cập đến trong các câu cuối cùng của chương 15 trong Tin Mừng Gioan, nhưng Chúa Thánh Thần là trọng tâm trong những lời cầu nguyện của Chúa Giêsu, ngay ở đầu chương 16. Chúa Giêsu nói với các tông đồ rằng Chúa Thánh Thần sẽ liên tục hướng dẫn họ. Là Thánh Thần của sự thật, Ngài sẽ nói với họ. Qua Chúa Thánh Thần mà những gì mà Chúa Giêsu nói khi Ngài đang ngự bên Hữu của Đức Chúa Cha bây giờ sẽ được truyền đến cho các môn đệ.

Khi Chúa Giêsu rời khỏi cuộc sống ở trần tục của Ngài, Ngài đã ban cho chúng ta Chúa Thánh Thần, Người mà đem Chúa Giêsu Kitô phục sinh đến và hiện diện trong chúng ta. Cũng như Chúa Jêsus đã từng nói trong bản tính xác thịt của Ngài, bây giờ Ngài nói với chúng ta qua Chúa Thánh Thần. Giống như Phao-lô, chúng ta hãy sẵn sàng lắng nghe tiếng của Chúa qua Chúa Thánh Thần!

Lạy Chúa Thánh Thần, Xin đến và hướng dẫn chúng con hôm nay.

Reflection: 2014

In the first reading, we read how twice, the Holy Spirit prevents Paul from pursuing his plans. First, Paul was forbidden to preach the word in Asia, and later, not permitted to travel to Bithynia. The writer of Acts, Luke, does not say how the Spirit acted, that is, whether, through prayer or prophecy. He does tell us, however, that it was a vision or dream in the city of Troas that directed Paul to sail to Macedonia.

Truly, in the Acts of the Apostles, we see how the Holy Spirit uses many means to guide Christians. Luke most frequently mentions prayer, visions, appearances of angles, prophecies and dreams. Luke’s aim is to show the close relationship between the actions of the Risen Christ and that of the Holy Spirit.

Although the Holy Spirit is barely mentioned in the final verses of chapter 15 of John, he is at the centre of Jesus’ prayer at the beginning of chapter 16. Jesus tells the apostles that the Holy Spirit will be a constant guide to them. As the Spirit of Truth, he will speak to them. Through the Spirit, what Jesus says at the right hand of the Father will now be transmitted to the disciples.

When Jesus departed from his earthly life, he gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit, who enables the Risen Christ to be present to us and in us. Just as Jesus once spoke in the flesh, he now speaks to us through the Spirit. Like Paul, let us be ready to listen to his voice! Holy Spirit, guide me today.

Saturday 5th week of Easter

Opening Prayer: Jesus, as I come before you today, I give you thanks that you are the light of the world and that you call me to live my life in your light. I thank you that I can come into that light in a special way right now in prayer. I know that you want to speak to me, and I want to hear you so I can know you with an active, living faith. I trust you to show me what it is I need to know and do to walk in your light. I thank you for your love and your grace. I love you and want to love you ever more deeply.

Encountering Christ:

0. High Contrast: Jesus has repeatedly said that following him means living in his love and abiding or remaining in him by doing what he commands. Now he shows us a darker truth: as he is persecuted and hated, the disciples should expect the same. He had warned them earlier: “(T)he light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed” (John 3:19-20). We may experience this aversion to the light in our interactions with others and so hesitate to express our faith or moral concerns for fear of how others will respond. Nevertheless, it is important that we remember that it is in living our faith authentically that we grow closer to the Lord. Today’s saints–St. Christopher Magallanes and Companions–were priests and laymen who would not compromise with darkness. They were rewarded with the crown of martyrdom. They met hatred and persecution with love, courage, forgiveness, and mercy. We are called to do the same.

1. No Compromise: This passage ends by saying, “they will do all these things… because they do not know who sent me.” They did not know the Father, and so they did not recognize the light and, in fact, preferred the darkness. They didn’t want to change. Light takes away the darkness, necessarily involving change. Earlier in John’s Gospel, Jesus told his disciples, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness…” (John 8:12). This darkness represents the things that bind us or hold us back from stepping fully into the light of life in Christ—into intimacy with him. We can be assured that no matter what the darkness is, Jesus can overcome it, for “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). How willing are we to be changed by the light of Christ?

2. Conversion: Reflecting on Jesus as the light of the world, the light that cannot be overcome by darkness but, indeed, changes the darkness, we can recognize Christ’s invitation to walk in the light. God respects our free will. It is our choice to step out of the darkness or out of the shadows and into the light. This happens first in our hearts. As the Catechism reminds us, Christ’s call to conversion “does not aim first at outward works…but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion…a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end to sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed…it entails the desire and resolution to change one’s life with hope in God’s mercy and trust in the help of his grace” (CCC 1430-1431).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are the light of my life. Living in your light allows me to live with abundance and joy. I ask for the grace to step out of any hint of shadow. I ask for the grace to follow you boldly and courageously by speaking your truth rather than retreating into darkness. Thank you for the sacraments and their work in my life. Help me unite myself ever more closely to you in my prayer each and every day so that I can live as your faithful friend and disciple in all that I do.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will recall an instance when I could have spoken up regarding Jesus, the Catholic faith, or the Church, but didn’t. I will examine myself to identify why I didn’t speak up and ask for forgiveness. I will ask for the courage to speak up in a way that brings light the next time I am in a similar situation.

Saturday 5th week of Easter

Opening Prayer: Jesus, as I come before you today, I give you thanks that you are the light of the world and that you call me to live my life in your light. I thank you that I can come into that light in a special way right now in prayer. I know that you want to speak to me, and I want to hear you so I can know you with an active, living faith. I trust you to show me what it is I need to know and do to walk in your light. I thank you for your love and your grace. I love you and want to love you ever more deeply.

Encountering Christ:

0. High Contrast: Jesus has repeatedly said that following him means living in his love and abiding or remaining in him by doing what he commands. Now he shows us a darker truth: as he is persecuted and hated, the disciples should expect the same. He had warned them earlier: “(T)he light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed” (John 3:19-20). We may experience this aversion to the light in our interactions with others and so hesitate to express our faith or moral concerns for fear of how others will respond. Nevertheless, it is important that we remember that it is in living our faith authentically that we grow closer to the Lord. Today’s saints–St. Christopher Magallanes and Companions–were priests and laymen who would not compromise with darkness. They were rewarded with the crown of martyrdom. They met hatred and persecution with love, courage, forgiveness, and mercy. We are called to do the same.

1. No Compromise: This passage ends by saying, “they will do all these things… because they do not know who sent me.” They did not know the Father, and so they did not recognize the light and, in fact, preferred the darkness. They didn’t want to change. Light takes away the darkness, necessarily involving change. Earlier in John’s Gospel, Jesus told his disciples, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness…” (John 8:12). This darkness represents the things that bind us or hold us back from stepping fully into the light of life in Christ—into intimacy with him. We can be assured that no matter what the darkness is, Jesus can overcome it, for “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). How willing are we to be changed by the light of Christ?

2. Conversion: Reflecting on Jesus as the light of the world, the light that cannot be overcome by darkness but, indeed, changes the darkness, we can recognize Christ’s invitation to walk in the light. God respects our free will. It is our choice to step out of the darkness or out of the shadows and into the light. This happens first in our hearts. As the Catechism reminds us, Christ’s call to conversion “does not aim first at outward works…but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion…a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end to sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed…it entails the desire and resolution to change one’s life with hope in God’s mercy and trust in the help of his grace” (CCC 1430-1431).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are the light of my life. Living in your light allows me to live with abundance and joy. I ask for the grace to step out of any hint of shadow. I ask for the grace to follow you boldly and courageously by speaking your truth rather than retreating into darkness. Thank you for the sacraments and their work in my life. Help me unite myself ever more closely to you in my prayer each and every day so that I can live as your faithful friend and disciple in all that I do.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will recall an instance when I could have spoken up regarding Jesus, the Catholic faith, or the Church, but didn’t. I will examine myself to identify why I didn’t speak up and ask for forgiveness. I will ask for the courage to speak up in a way that brings light the next time I am in a similar situation.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bảy Tuần thứ 5 Phục Sinh

Thiên Chúa luôn hướng dẫn Giáo Hội trong sự phát triển. Trong Bài Đọc I, chúng ta nghe thánh Phaolô đã tuyển chọn ông Timôthê người cai quản sau này trở thành giám mục của xứ Cypus (Síp). Sau đó, nghe lời hướng dẫn của Chúa Thánh Thần, ông Phaolô đã quyết định đi rao giảng Tin Mừng ở miền Troas và Macedonia. Có Chúa ThánhThần hướng dẫn và thêm sức mạnh. ông Phaolô đã được Chúa Thánh Thần thêm sức mạnh và lòng can đảm trong tất cả các cuộc hành trình truyền giáo của ông ta. Tuy nhiên, ông cũng đã phải gặp nhiều sự chống đối của người Do Thái và những người dân ngoại không tin.

Như vậy cuộc đời rao giảng Tin Mừng của Thánh Phaolô đã được ứng ngiệm như lời của Chúa Giêsu đã ứng nghiệm trước là những người theo Chúa sẽ phải bị áp bức và hãm hại. Vì những lý do khác nhau, nhiều người đã từ chối và không thể chấp nhận Tin Mừng. Vì những lý do khác nhau và cũng có nhiều lần có những người rao giảng Tin Mừng cũng bị nhục mạ, mắng rủa và bị bắt bớ.

Sự ác luôn muốn tiêu diệt những sự tốt lành. khi sự tốt lành muốn chinh phục sự ác với tình yêu và lòng tốt. Cuộc chiến dường như không công bằng nhưng sự yếu đuối của Thiên Chúa chính là sức mạnh của con người. Qua cái chết và sự đau khổ, nhiều người đã được trở lại với đức tin. Qua sự đổ máu của các thánh vị Tử Đạo, nhiều người đã can đảm bước theo Chúa và tiếp tục đem Tin Mừng cho tất cả vì lợi ích của những người sẽ tin Vào Chúa.

Reflection

God is always guiding the Church in her growth. In the first reading, St. Paul recruits Timothy who eventually became the bishop of Cyprus. Then, listening to the Holy Spirit, Paul decides to evangelize in Troas and Macedonia. The Lord guides and strengthens Paul in all his missionary journeys. However, he encounters much opposition from Jews and non-believing Gentiles.

Thus is fulfilled in Paul's life and ministry Jesus' words about his followers being persecuted. For various reasons, many refuse to listen and accept the Goid News. For various reasons many times have those who preach the Good News also reviled and persecuted.

Evil wants to destroy good while good wants to conquer evil with love and kindness. The fight seems so unequal but God's weakness is man's strength. Through death and persecution, many people have been converted to the faith. Through the shedding of the blood of many martyrs, many have entered the sheepfold. We continue to bring the Good News to all for the sake of those who will believe.