Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần thứ 6 Phục Sinh

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần thứ 6 Phục Sinh

Trong xã hội hôm nay, nhiều người trong chúng ta thừa nhận rằng cuộc sống hiện tại đầy dẫy những khó khăn. Cho dù bất cứ trên các lĩnh vực nào, chính trị, kinh tế, tôn giáo, xã hội, ở đâu dường như cũng có quá nhiều bóng tối đang chực chờ hay đang bao trùm trên cả đất nước và thế giới của chúng ta. Vào những lúc như thế này, một số người trong chúng ta có thể rất dễ đâm ra chán nản, lo lắng, hoặc mất di niềm hy vọng. Chúng ta cũng có thể đặt câu hỏi là liệu chúng ta có nên tin tưởng vào Thiên Chúa khi những lời cầu nguyện của chúng ta không được Ngài đáp trả vả ban cho như ý muốn của chúng ta..?

Một lần nữa, hôm nay, chúng ta được nhắc nhở là đức tin thực sự có nghĩa gì?. Đức tin là sự tin cậy nơi Thiên Chúa trong bất cứ hoàn cảnh, hay tình huống nào. Trong bài Tin Mừng, Chúa Giêsu đã nói với các môn đệ rằng sẽ có lúc họ se phải chịu những sự khổ cực và than khóc. Tuy nhiên, nỗi buồn sẽ không bao giờ sẽ tồn tại mãi mãi, Thay vào đó, sự đau buồn đó sẽ được biến thành niềm vui, giống như một người mẹ vui mừng sau khi đã sinh đứa con ra khỏi cung lòng, sau cơn đau đón là hạnh phúc. Các môn đệ của Chúa đã tin tưởng rằng Chúa Giêsu sẽ giữ lời hứa của Ngài và Ngài sẽ vượt qua cái chết và sống lại.

Đó chính là niềm tin đã thúc đẩy Thánh Phaolô và các bạn đồng hành của ngài tiếp tục rao giảng Tin Mừng của Chúa Giêsu. Mặc dù có những nguy hiểm và đau khổ mà các ngài đã phải trải qua. Dưới sự khuyến khích và thúc đẩy của Chúa Thánh Thần, thánh Phaolô đã chứng minh được những gì có nghĩa cho cuộc sống. đó là sự tin tưởng và niềm hy vọng vào Chúa Giêsu, chứ không phải là phụ thuộc vào hoàn cảnh bên ngoài. Cái chết và sự phục Sinh của Chúa Giêsu đã khắc phục được bóng tối, và bóng tối đã phải nhường chỗ cho ánh sáng. Với niềm hy vọng mà chúng ta cần phải tiếp tục trong sự tin tưởng vào Thiên Chúa vì Ngài là nơi nương náu của chúng ta, và là đấng nâng đở và bảo vệ của chúng ta. Vâng Chúa là người lôn tuân giữ những lời hứa của Ngài; Lạy Chúa, xin cũng cố lòng tin của chúng con, giúp con có lòng tin tưởng vào Chúa mà không phụ thuộc vào bất cứ những gì trong thế gian….

Reflection:

These days, many people would admit, life is difficult. Whether it is on the political, economic, religious or social sphere, there seems to be so much darkness enveloping the nation and the world. At times like this, it is easy for some of us to give in to discouragement, anxiety, or to lose hope. We may even question whether we should trust God when our prayers do not seem to be answered by Him.

Today, we are reminded again what faith actually means. Faith is about trusting God regardless the circumstances. In the Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that there will come a time of weeping and wailing. However, sorrow will not have the last word. Instead, it will be turned into joy — just like a mother who rejoices once her child is born. The disciples are to trust that Jesus will keep his promise, that he will overcome death. It is this conviction that drives Paul to continue proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus inspire of the dangers and the suffering he undergoes. Under the prompting of the Holy Spirit, he demonstrates what it means to believe and place his hope in the Lord Jesus, regardless of the circumstances. This is why we celebrate the Season of Easter. It is a reminder that death has been overcome, and that darkness has given way to light. It is with this hope that we must keep believing and trusting that God is our refuge, our provider and protector. He has, and he will, fulfill his promises. Lord, I trust You regardless of the circumstances.

Friday Sixth Week of Easter 2022

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to this time of prayer seeking you above all else. I do not seek promises of an easy life, free from the cross, but rather to find in you, yet again, the strength to persevere in the struggle of faith, hoping in the promise of what is not yet visible. Gently guide my gaze to you, Lord Jesus. In your gaze, I find the answer to all of my questions and the fulfillment of my deepest desires.

Encountering Christ:

You Will Weep and Mourn, While the World Rejoices: In the hours leading up to his Passion and death, Jesus was clear with his Apostles. His death was not to be a passing moment to be erased from the Christian memory and replaced by happier memories of the Resurrection. He declared that his cross would continue to mark the lives of his followers for centuries to come. His Kingdom, as he later proclaimed to Pilate, was not of this world, and thus, those who chose to be citizens of this Kingdom could be sure of encountering suffering and contradiction along their earthly pilgrimage. Those who committed to following him were sure to endure a daily struggle to reject the world’s empty promises and renew their choice to take up their cross and follow him.

Your Grief Will Become Joy: It might seem strange to reflect on sorrow within the context of the Easter season. Yet, the truth is that in the Christian worldview, sorrow, as well as every other human experience, can in fact only be discussed in the context of our Easter joy. As we have often heard before, we are an Easter people. Our faith and our entire lives have been irrevocably touched by the truth of Jesus’ Resurrection. We are living in the age of the Resurrection, and no human or spiritual experience can or should be lived outside of the life-changing truth that Jesus has risen. In the light of the Resurrection, all suffering takes on meaning. The insatiable thirst of our hearts is not a cruel, tormenting taunt, but a promise. Our hearts suffer precisely because they are made for all that is good and true.

No One Will Take Your Joy Away: So great is the joy that Jesus promises to us that absolutely nothing will be able to take it away! Jesus tells us that when our joy finally culminates, we will no longer question him about anything. There will no longer be room for doubt. Our hearts will be so overflowing with his joy that we will lack for nothing. The ache of our thirst will be quenched. The longing of our hearts will be filled. The unfulfilled desires that so often leave us wondering if we have been condemned to incompleteness will be satisfied. While still making our pilgrim way on earth, we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). We are a people who live on promises. But the trustworthiness of these promises has been guaranteed by the One who has overcome the grave and risen from the dead. The inheritance that he has won is to be our inheritance.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, how often my heart aches in its longing for the realization of its deepest desires. I long to see them already fulfilled and I suffer the pain of waiting in faith and trust. Grant me the grace to persevere amid the darkness of faith with my eyes set firmly on your promises. Strengthen me in my struggle to renounce the allure of easy substitutes and teach me to find my joy only in you and the hope of what you promise.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will briefly recall your promise of joy when I am reminded of the imperfection and suffering in this world.

Reflection: Acts 18: 9-18 / Ps 47: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7/ Jn 16: 20-23

What is this about wailing and weeping? Aren't we supposed to celebrate the joy of Easter today? When Jesus talks about wailing and weeping, he is actually missing us. He could not wait to be with us again. But he reassures us that when he comes back, we will experience joy that no one can take away from us. Shouldn't our hearts be full of joy? There is a promise of Jesus coming and so we can joyfully anticipate this reunion.

In the meantime, while we live in a world marked by conflict and pain, Jesus prepares us to hold fast to our faith in him. Jesus compares our life experience to a woman about to give birth. During the time of delivery she suffers greatly but is so happy once her child is born. The joy of seeing her newborn child face to face is worth any pain. In the same way, when we feel the grief of loneliness, or are overwhelmed by suffering in life, the pain is obvious to us. But even in the midst of this pain, we can remember Jesus' promise that our sorrow will turn to joy. Our walk with God will not always be a bed of roses. There will be trials, and sometimes persecution because of what we do for God. However, Jesus reminds us that we can draw joy and consolation in prayers said together. When we gather as a worshipping community, we will experience his presence. Whatever we ask in his name the Father will grant. The darkness in the world may grieve, but our hope will remain strong because of the promise of Jesus love. In spite of all the trials and pain, let us continue to follow Jesus, for at the end there will be great rejoicing in store for those who are faithful to him.

Reflection:

These days, many people would admit, life is difficult. Whether it is on the political, economic, religious or social sphere, there seems to be so much darkness enveloping the nation and the world. At times like this, it is easy for some of us to give in to discouragement, anxiety, or to lose hope. We may even question whether we should trust God when our prayers do not seem to be answered by Him.

Today, we are reminded again what faith actually means. Faith is about trusting God regardless the circumstances. In the Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that there will come a time of weeping and wailing. However, sorrow will not have the last word. Instead, it will be turned into joy — just like a mother who rejoices once her child is born. The disciples are to trust that Jesus will keep his promise, that he will overcome death. It is this conviction that drives Paul to continue proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus inspite of the dangers and the suffering he undergoes. Under the prompting of the Holy Spirit, he demonstrates what it means to believe and place his hope in the Lord Jesus, regardless of the circumstances. This is why we celebrate the Season of Easter. It is a reminder that death has been overcome, and that darkness has given way to light. It is with this hope that we must keep believing and trusting that God is our refuge, our provider and protector. He has, and he will, fulfill his promises. Lord, I trust You regardless of the circumstances.