Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy tuần thứ Ba Mùa Phục Sinh

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy tuần thứ Ba Mùa Phục Sinh

Hôm nay chúng tiếp tục Mừng của Thánh Gioan hôm thứ Năm và hôm qua với câu Chúa Giêsu nó "chính là Ta là Bánh hằng sống bởi trời xuống! Ai ăn bánh này, thì sẽ được sống đời đời. Và bánh Ta sẽ ban, ấy là thịt mình Ta vì sự sống thế gian"(Jn 06:51), . Và cũng vì những lời này mà một số môn đệ của Ngài đã bỏ Ngài ra đi vì họ thấy khó có thể chấp nhận?

Tại sao những người môn đệ này lại cảm thấy nó khó để chấp nhận những lời của Chúa Giêsu? Có lẽ rất nhiều người đã bị con mắt thế gian che dậy, cộng với cái long tự cao vì họ biết Chúa Giêsu là con của một người thợ mộc quê mùa. Và trong thâm tâm của họ, họ vẫn còn có những ham muốn riêng của họ về sự vật thế gian và không nhận ra bản tính Thiên Chúa của Chúa Giêsu,  Con Thiên Chúa đã nhập thể làm người. Trong Matthew câu 22 đoạn 14, viết Chúa Giêsu nói: "Nhiều người được gọi, nhưng ít người được chọn." Nhiều người được mời đến vương quốc của Thiên Chúa, nhưng chỉ có một số ít người nhận ra Chúa Giêsu là Chúa và là đấng Cứu Chúa Thế của họ, và họ là những người sẽ được chọn để vào nước Trời.\

Thế nào là để chấp nhận Chúa Giêsu? Để chấp nhận Chúa Giêsu có nghĩa là chúng ta phải biết đáp lại lời kêu gọi của Ngài, Có nghĩa là chúng ta thật sự tham gia tích cực với Ngài trong cuộc khổ nạn của Ngài trong bất cứ mọi kể giá. Sứ mệnh của chúng ta là trở thành những người tông đồ để loan truyền Lởi của Chúa cho tất cả những người vẫn chưa được nghe và biết đến Chúa,  để gieo những hạt giống và để đem ân sủng của Thiên Chúa tới với mọi người và giúp làm cho Lời của Chúa được sinh sôi và lớn lên trong trái tim của họ cho đến khi Lời Chúa được nở rộ trong họ. Nhiệm vụ của chúng ta không phải là chỉ tìm đến vương quốc của Thiên Chúa một mình, nhưng là để mang lại càng nhiều linh hồn cùng đến tới Thiên Chúna với chúng ta.

        Chúng ta có trung tín theo đuổi sứ mệnh của chúng ta để theo Chúa Giêsu? hay là chúng ta đang mang những linh hồn khác lánh xa Thiên Chúa và Nước Trời bằng những lời nói khích bác, bằng sự chia rẽ và bằng lối sống ích kỷ của chúng ta? Hay là chúng ta đã chọn việc bỏ Chúa giống như một số các môn đệ của Chúa Giêsu đã làm trong đoạn Tin Mừng hôm nay vì chúng ta chưa sẵn sàng vác thập giá của chúng ta và theo Chúa?

 Reflection: 2013

What is it that some of the disciples find hard to accept? In John 6:51, Jesus says, "I am the living bread which has come from heaven; whoever eats of this bread will live forever. The bread I shall give is my flesh and I will give it for the life of the world." Why did they find it hard to accept the words of Jesus? There were many who got stuck with knowing Jesus as the son of a carpenter. Their hearts were still hardened by their own desires of worldly things and didn't recognize the divine nature of Jesus, that he is the Son of God incarnate. In Matthew 22:14, Jesus said, "Many are called, but few are chosen." Many are invited to the kingdom of heaven, but only those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be chosen to enter the kingdom. What does it mean to accept Jesus? It means that we respond to his call, that we take active participation in his passion regardless of the price. Our mission is to be apostles who will spread the word of God to all those who haven't heard it yet, to plant the seed and let God's grace grow in their hearts until it reaches full bloom. Our mission is not to go to God's kingdom alone, but to bring as many souls with us. Have we been faithful in pursuing our mission, or have we brought souls farther away from God and from His kingdom with our worldliness, our selfishness? Or have we chosen to walk away like many of the disciples did during Jesus' time because we are not ready to take up our cross and follow him?

 Saturday 3rd Week of Easter

Opening Prayer: Lord, I often find that your words challenge me and that your laws are “hard to accept.” As I come before you in prayer today, bless me and strengthen my heart to obey you without hesitation.

Encountering Christ:

This Saying Is Hard: Christ had just revealed to his followers his divine plan to become “living” bread. The Eucharist was to be his way of uniting intimately to each one of us from generation to generation. Jews of that era had been taught not to consume the blood of animals, so this was a difficult moment for them. “Does this shock you?” Jesus asked. What would have happened if someone in the crowd answered simply and humbly, “Yes, Lord. Could you explain further? I want to learn.” Instead, they murmured among themselves. What do we do when we find ourselves challenged by a tenet of Church teaching? Do we spend time praying, studying, inquiring, and humbly seeking the truth? Do we take our struggle to Christ, admitting we are shocked, burdened, confused, or angry? He welcomes our angst and suffers with us as he gently guides us to truth. 

Jesus Knew: Jesus worked tirelessly in ministry, suffered in agony, and hung on a cross even though he knew people would reject him. And some of those who rejected him would do so not because of misunderstanding, but because they chose not to believe—they wanted their own way. Not only would individual souls reject him, but Jesus also knew that some would actively collaborate with darkness to betray him—and still do. Yet, he suffered anyway. Even his friends, those of us with whom Jesus celebrates this Easter Season, let him down at least seven times a day (Proverbs 24:16). What magnanimity Our Lord shows us in this moment. Although some of his disciples walked away, Jesus was not deterred from the Father’s plan for our redemption. In fact, he would have died for just one of us!

Former Way of Life?: Many of Jesus’ disciples returned to their “former way of life,'' in other words, life without Christ. It can be easy to live without Christ when life is joyful. However, life can seem unbearable when we try to suffer without him. Only by faith can we find joy in suffering. The saints bear witness to this: “All the pleasures of the world are nothing compared with the sweetness found in the gall and vinegar offered to Jesus Christ. That is, hard and painful things endured for Jesus Christ and with Jesus Christ” (St. Ignatius of Loyola). “From the moment I came to love suffering, it ceased to be a suffering for me. Suffering is the daily food of my soul” (St. Faustina). When we are afraid of suffering, we can take consolation in what Jesus told St. Faustina: “Do not be afflicted if your heart often experiences repugnance and dislike for sacrifice. All its power rests in the will, and so these contrary feelings, far from lowering the value of the sacrifice in my eyes, will enhance it.”

Conversation with Christ: Lord, you know how difficult I can find it to bend my will to yours, especially when your words are difficult for me to understand. Help me to rely not on my own understanding but to genuinely seek truth. By your grace, I have no desire to return to my former way of life, but help me to be faithful during difficult or painful moments. 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will offer up every inconvenience or suffering for the sake of souls with confidence that it pleases you.

 Reflection: 2014

    Faith, simply defined by Merriam-Webster, is a firm belief in something for which there is no proof. True, faith is a belief in something or someone for which there is no real and direct proof.  And it is obvious that Jesus understood this human frailty of ours. In the gospel, he indicated he knew who would believe and who would not.  It would seem that it is that innate knowledge of our human failings is why the Lord performed miracles while spreading the Words of Eternal Life so that we may truly accept and believe.  And in so doing, his deeds and his reputation preceded him.      But now in the 21st century, miracles of bible standards are few and far between.  So how do we convince ourselves that the Lord is real? Have you seen or experienced a miracle that helped you validate your faith in God lately?  Understandably, you have noticed that the miracles nowadays are not comparable to raising Tabitha to life; and yet miracles still do abound.  The question that begs the asking is this, what miracle has the Lord done for you?  Remember, think smaller scale but momentous none the less. Maybe, if we remember the little miracles in our own lives, believing in God and his words would not be so difficult.      Let us all pray to remember all the miracles, big or small, that the Lord has worked for us in answer to our prayers.  And let us be grateful and believe.

 Meditation: "You have the words of everlasting life"

Why do some find it easier while others find it harder to accept the claims which Jesus made? Many were attracted to Jesus because he offered them something irresistible - a visible sign of God's mercy and favor which Jesus demonstrated in his wonderful works of healing, deliverance, and miraculous signs, including the multiplication of the loaves and fish when he feed the five thousand who had gathered to hear him speak. Many stumbled, however, when Jesus made claims which only God can make. Jesus' discourse on "eating his flesh and drinking his blood" (see John 6:51-59) which pointed to the Last Supper, caused offence to many of his followers. Jesus claimed to be the bread of heaven, the very life of God given to us as spiritual food to sustain us on our journey to our promised homeland with the Father in heaven. Jesus did not leave any middle ground for his hearers. They must either accept his word as divine or reject it as the claim of an imposter. Even the apostles admitted that this was a "hard saying". This expression meant that it was not just hard to understand, but hard to accept. Jesus pressed the issue with his beloved disciples because he wanted to test their faith and loyalty to him as the Holy One sent from the Father in heaven. Jesus promised his disciples nothing less than the full blessing of eternal life and union with God. Jesus assures his disciples that it is his heavenly Father who gives the invitation and the grace to believe and follow even in the "hard sayings". Jesus knew that some would not only reject him and his word, but would do so with violence fueled by hatred, envy, and even betrayal by one of his own disciples. Jesus told his disciples that his words were "spirit and life" (John 6:63) - his words came from the heavenly Father who is the Author of life and the One who breathes his Spirit into those who believe in him. Through the gift of faith Peter was able to receive spiritual revelation of who Jesus truly is - the Holy One of God, the eternal Son sent from the Father in heaven to redeem a fallen human race and reconcile them with God. How does God help us grow in faith and trust in his word, even the hard sayings which are difficult to understand? Faith is a gift which God freely gives to those who listen to his word and who put their trust in him. Faith is a personal response to God's revelation of himself. Faith is neither blind nor ignorant. It is based on the truth and reliability of God's word. True faith seeks understanding. Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) said, "I believe in order to understand, and I understand the better to believe." The Lord Jesus offers all of his followers his life-giving word and Spirit to help us grow in our knowledge and understanding of God. Paul the Apostle tells us that it is the work of the Holy Spirit who enlightens the eyes of our heart and mind to understand the truth and wisdom which comes from God (Ephesians 1:17-18). Faith is the key to understanding and experiencing God's action and work in our personal lives. Paul the Apostle tells us that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). We can know God personally, and we grow in recognizing his voice as we listen to his word and obey his instruction. Do you believe, as Peter did, that Jesus has the words of everlasting life and the power to change and transform your life? Ask the Lord Jesus to increase your faith that you may grow in knowing, loving, and serving him as your Lord and Redeemer, Teacher and Healer, Master and Savior. "Lord Jesus, you have the words of everlasting life. Help me to cast aside all doubt and fear so that I may freely embrace your word with complete trust and joy. I surrender all to you. Be the Lord of my life and the Ruler of my heart. May there be nothing which hinders me from trusting in your love and following your will."

 «You have the words of eternal life»

Reflection:  Fr, Jordi PASCUAL i Bancells  (Salt, Girona, Spain)

Today, we have just read in the Gospel Jesus' allocution about the Bread of Life, which is Himself, offering us his body as nurture for our souls and for our Christian life. And, as it usually happens, we have to contemplate two different —if not opposite— reactions, from those who are listening to him.  His language is too hard for some, too incomprehensible for their mentality, closed to the Lord's saving Word; St. John says, somewhat sadly, that «after this many disciples withdrew and no longer followed Him» (Jn 6:66). It is the same evangelist who gives us a clue to help us understanding the attitude of these persons: they would not believe, they would not be willing to accept Jesus' teachings, which were, so often, inexplicable for them.

But, on the other hand, we can see the Apostles' reaction, led by St. Peter: «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe» (Jn 6:68-69). It is not that the twelve are smarter, or even better, nor do they understand the Bible any better; but they are indeed more modest, more trusting, more open to the Holy Spirit, more docile. Every now and then, we can spot them in the Gospels when making mistakes, unable to understand Jesus, arguing over who is more important and even daring to correct the Master when he announces them his Passion; but they are always faithful, by his side. Their secret: they truly loved Him. St. Augustine expresses it this way: «Good habits leave no trace in our soul, but good loves do (...). Truly, this is all love is about: to obey and believe whom you love». In the light of this Gospel we may wonder: where have I placed my love? what faith and what obedience have I to the Lord and to what the Church teaches? What kind of docility, simplicity and trust do I live with regards to God's things?