Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Sáu tuần thứ 24 Thường niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Sáu tuần thứ 24 Thường niên

Trong các thư của thánh Phaolô, ngài thường hay nói về đức tin, niềm hy vọng và tình yêu, nhưng đôi khi ngài chữ "kiên định, không lay chuyển" hay "kiên trì, lòng bền bỉ" thay vì "niềm hy vọng". Trong đoạn cuối của lá Thư Thứ Nhất gửi Timôthê, Thánh Phaolô đã kêu gọi, khuyên nhủ chúng ta là hãy nên "tìm kiếm sự vẹn toàn , lòng đạo đức, niềm tin, tình yêu thương, sự kiên định, và một tinh thần nhẹ nhàng." Sự bền bỉ, lòng kiên trì, sự trung thực, những chữ chúng ta dùng dù thật có chính xác, không mấy quan trọng, nhưng thái độ hay nhân đức thì mới là việc cần thiết để đạt được sự tới sống đời đời. Trong thư này, Thánh Phaolô còn nhắc nhở chúng ta về việc tuyên xưng đức tin của chúng ta, đức tin mà đã kêu gọi chúng ta đến với sự sống đời đời.

Trong bài Tin Mừng, Chúa Giêsu cảnh báo chúng ta về những sự nguy hiểm trong thế giới của chúng ta, đồng thời ngài cũng an ủi cho chúng ta với lời hứa rõ ràng: Nhưng kẻ nào kiên nhẫn đến cùng, kẻ ấy sẽ được cứu!" (Mt 24:13) chỗ nào có lời hứa của Thiên Chúa, thì chỗ đó cũng có ân sủng của Thiên Chúa. Những bài Thánh Vịnh cũng nhắc nhở chúng ta là: "không có một cách nào mà một người có thể cứu chuộc cho chính mình." Vì thế, hãy lắng nghe lời Chúa Giêsu nói với người do thái là : thật là khó cho những ai chỉ biết tin tưởng vào của cải và sự giàu có mà có thể vào được Nước Trời, vì thề đã khiến các môn đệ đã hỏi lại: "Vậy thì ai mới được cứu rỗi?"

Chúa Giêsu đã trả lời câu hỏi này kèm theo với lời cảnh báo kết hợp và một lời hứa: ".Đối với con người thì điều này là không có thể thực hiệc được, nhưng đối với Thiên Chúa thì mọi thứ đều có thể làm được" Như Chúa Giêsu đã sống lại từ cõi chết, chúng ta biết rằng sự cứu rỗi không phải là chỉ có thể là có thể được: Sự cứu rỗi đó có thể tiếp cân được, vì đó chính là các món quà của Thiên Chúa, món quà chúa Giêsu, Đấng Cứu Rỗi của chúng ta. Những ân sủng thần học của đức tin, hy vọng và tình yêu củng cố chúng ta để giúp chúng ta luôn vẫn trung thành cho đến chết và để đạt được cuộc sống vĩnh cửu. Lạy Chúa Cha, xin ban cho chúng con được ơn biét trung thành với Chúa cho đến chết.

Reflection SG. thứ 6 Ordinary

As I noted in the reflection for September 2nd, Paul speaks of faith, hope and love, but sometimes he uses the word “constancy” or “perseverance” instead of “hope”. Towards the end of today’s passage from the First Letter to Timothy, we are urged to “seek after integrity, piety, faith, love, steadfastness, and a gentle spirit.” Steadfastness, perseverance, constancy, fidelity — the exact word we use may not be so important, but the attitude or the virtue is necessary to attain to eternal life. The Letter reminds us of our profession of faith which has called us to everlasting life.

Jesus warned us of the many dangers facing us in the world but at the same time consoles us with a definite promise: “Those who stand firm will be saved.” (Mt 24:13) Where there is God’s promise, there is also God’s grace. The Psalmist reminds us that “in no way can a man redeem himself.” Then, too, listening to Jesus telling them how hard it is for those who trust only in riches to enter the kingdom of God, the disciples were driven to ask: “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus answered with a combined warning and a promise: “For mere humans this is impossible but for God everything is possible.” As Jesus rose from the dead, we know that salvation is not only possible: it is accessible because of God’s gift of Jesus as our Savior. The theological graces of faith, hope and love strengthen us to remain faithful unto death and so attain eternal life.

Father, grant us the grace to be faithful unto death.

Friday 24th Ordinary Time, 2022

Opening Prayer: Blessed are you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom. Grant me the grace of humility to be a little one of God, the grace to understand what you reveal to me, and the grace to follow where you lead me.

Encountering Christ:

1. The Women: To our modern ears, it is difficult to grasp how radical it was for women to be among Jesus and his disciples, especially women considered ritually impure due to their infirmities and sinful lifestyle. A Gospel commentary says, “Early rabbinic documents caution against speaking with women in public. The more common attitude of first-century Palestinian Judaism toward women is expressed in the Gospel of John (4:27): “At that moment his disciples returned, and were amazed that he (Jesus) was talking with a woman […].” To accompany means to be in association with, so Jesus not only spoke to women, he included them as his disciples. What could it have been about Jesus, an itinerant preacher that encouraged women to break free of societal limitations and join him? In his Letter to Women, St. John Paul II explained, “Transcending the established norms of his own culture, Jesus treated women with openness, respect, acceptance, and tenderness. In this way, he honored the dignity which women have always possessed according to God's plan and in his love.” The Good News of the Kingdom of God proclaims every person possesses dignity given by God in love. The bad news is many people do not know this. As disciples of Christ, may we be ambassadors of this Good News to our world.

2. The Apostles: “Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women.” As the women did, the Apostles had to learn to imagine a new way of being—what Jesus called the Kingdom of God. St. Cyprian, whose feast we celebrate today, said, “It may even be . . . that the Kingdom of God means Christ himself, whom we daily desire to come, and whose coming we wish to be manifested quickly to us. For as he is our resurrection since in him we rise, so he can also be understood as the Kingdom of God, for in him we shall reign.” To set our minds and hearts on God, like the Apostles and the woman who accompanied Jesus, we must journey with him. Jesus took time with his disciples, teaching and witnessing to them about what life in God means. The presence of Jesus now dwells in the Church through the Eucharist, the sacraments, Church teachings, and his word. Do we participate in the sacraments, especially the Mass and Reconciliation? Do we spend time with our Lord in Adoration of his Blessed Sacrament? Are we learning what our Church teaches? Are we spending time with Jesus, the Word, in Scripture?

3. Christian Unity: From when Jesus walked among us, through the many centuries of the Church, and until today, men and women struggle with societal limitations. We continue to be disunified as a Church. St. Cyprian said, "You cannot have God for your Father if you do not have the Church for your mother.... God is one and Christ is one, and his Church is one; one is the faith, and one is the people cemented together by harmony into the strong unity of a body.... If we are the heirs of Christ, let us abide in the peace of Christ; if we are the sons of God, let us be lovers of peace." The work of the Christian, as it was from the beginning, is to seek unity by lovingly accompanying each other, regardless of race, sex, religion, ideologies, politics, lifestyles, cultures, etc. It can be a daunting task, for which we need the strength of the sacraments.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you came to unite all people to you. I continue to criticize, judge, and separate myself from others. I find strength and consolation in that, knowing our weakness, you gave us your Church to journey with us. I ask for the grace to persevere in helping you unite us all in your Kingdom.

Resolution: Lord, today, by your grace, I will spend some time praying for unity before the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Friday 24th Ordinary Time 2021

Opening Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to your will. Make me courageous in proclaiming my faith and generous in sharing my resources.

Encountering Christ:

· Journeying with Christ: What an amazing time in salvation history was unfolding! The Son of God, who came “eating and drinking” (Matthew 11:19) going from town to town, preaching, sharing meals with the people he met, joyously proclaiming the good news! Not only the chosen apostles accompanied him. Grateful women who had experienced his healing accompanied him on this joyous journey. We can only imagine the excitement as people in the towns and villages gathered to hear the good news or the wonder of the Twelve as they came to a deeper awareness of who Jesus is. We too feel the wonder and excitement of knowing Jesus as we draw nearer to him on our own journey through prayer and the sacraments.

· Cured of Evil Spirits: The women who accompanied Jesus were living witnesses to his divinity. They were living proof that the long-awaited Messiah could cure a person of evil spirits by driving out demons. Their presence among the disciples became a witness to the crowds of Jesus’s divine power and authority. As modern disciples of Jesus, we are also called to acknowledge the miraculous presence of Christ in our own lives and witness to those in need of God’s healing power.

· Providing from Their Resources: The women who followed Christ offered practical help that Jesus needed to continue his mission. They provided food and drink for the journey; by taking care of these physical needs, the women freed Jesus and the Twelve to focus on their divine objective—spreading the good news of the Kingdom of God! These corporal works of mercy had an immeasurable impact on Christ’s mission. When we perform corporal or spiritual works of mercy, we are serving our neighbor, but also in a very real and tangible way serving Christ, as these women did.

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, I am touched when I contemplate how many people served behind the scenes to help you in your earthly ministry. Please open my eyes so that I can see where my time, talent, and treasure might better serve you today. Make me keenly aware of the many blessings you have bestowed on me. Ignite a fire in my heart to give myself to others with a generous and thankful spirit.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will identify a specific area where I can practice one of the corporal works of mercy in my life and act upon it.

Suy Niệm bài đọc Thứ Sáu Tuần 25 Thường Niện (Luke 8:1-3, 1Tm 6:2c-12)

Trong bài đọc thứ Nhất hôm nay, Thánh Phaolô đã dạy dỗ và nhắn nhủ cho thánh Timôthê là nên cố tránh những sự cám dỗ vật chất và việc sử dụng tôn giáo như là "một phương tiện để đạt những sinh lợi riêng tư," nhưng phải biết sống trong "công lý, đức tin, sự tận tâm, yêu thương, sự kiên nhẫn và dịu dàng."

Trong đoạn Tin Mừng hôm nay, những người phụ nữ đi theo Chúa Giêsu đã diễn tả cho chúng ta thấy rõ lời khuyên này của Thánh Phaolô, là họ đã tận tâm, trung thành và "lo lắng và giúp đỡ cho Chúa Giêsu và Nhóm Mười Hai tông đồ những nguồn tài nguyên của họ." Chúng ta có thể đọc một cách rõ ràng hơn là Họ đã theo cuộc hành trình (của họ) trong tình yêu của Chúa Kitô qua những thị trấn và làng mạc, đã chứng tỏ được sự hy sinh, kiên nhẫn, vui tươi với sự dịu dàng của họ khi họ gặp gỡ những người trên đường với Chúa Kitô. Một điều rất ngạc nhiên và thú vị là Chúa Giêsu không những chỉ đón chào những người phụ nữ này, nhưng Ngài còn đặt các phụ nữ này vào hàng đầu trong việc loan truyền Tin Mừng cho tất cả những người khác. Những người phụ nữ này đã là những công cụ rất hữu hiệu để cải hoá được nhiều người trở lại trong thời kỳ tiên khởi của Giáo Hội Thiên Chúa Giáo, thời kỳ mà Giáo Hội đang phải chịu đau khổ vì sự bắt bớ, giam cầm và bị giết chết vì đạo.

Chúng ta đã có Hội Thánh và tất cả, Hãy cám ơn Chúa Giêsu Kitô người đã chấp nhận phụ nữ với quyền bình đẳng như nam giới trong cùng một Mầu Nhiệm Nhập Thể của Ngài, là Giáo Hội. Trong suốt lịch sử Giáo Hội, những người phụ nữ đã gặp những rất nhiều những khó khăn và phức tạp trong những nỗ lực sống đạo và truyền giáo cũa họ hơn nhiều so với nam giới họ đã chứng minh được tiềm năng của họ là không gì thua nam giới. Chúng ta hãy cầu nguyện cho Giáo Hội, không những chỉ duy trì mà còn tiếp tục tìm cách để nâng cao vai trò và giá trị của người phụ nữ trong cộng đồng Kitô hữu của chúng ta.

REFLECTION

St. Paul is wrapping up his letter to Timothy by advising him to avoid the temptation of material things and using religion as "a means of gain," but instead "pursue righteousness, devotion faith, love, patience, and gentleness."

The women who follow Jesus in today's Gospel passage illustrate this advice from St. Paul. They were devoted, faithful and "provided for Jesus and the Twelve out of their resources." We can read between the lines that they journeyed in love for Christ through towns and villages, obviously with patience and likely with gentleness to those they met. It is a pleasant surprise that Jesus not only welcomed women but also placed them in the forefront of proclaiming the Good News to all. Women have been instrumental in gaining converts for the early Christian Church, have suffered just as much as men as martyrs, and have been just as responsive to religious vocation.

We have all these to thank in Jesus who accepted women as equals among men in His mystical Body, the Church. But as women have struggled probably much harder than men throughout history to demonstrate their equal potential, let us pray that the Church will not only sustain but also continue to find ways to improve the role of women in our Christian communities.

Reflection on 1Tm 6:2c-12

“The love of money is the root of all evils.” This famous phrase from our reading today is often shortened, incorrectly, to “money is the root of all evil”, which then becomes, “money is evil.” Then people begin to wonder, if money is so evil, why is the Church always asking us for some, and this sort of line of thinking is considered to witty. Then people decide that the Bible says nice things which are terribly impractical and can simply be ignored. Bad exegesis has bad consequences.

Money of course does not refer strictly to coins or dollar bills. Money is time. Money is power. Money is wealth. Money is comfort. Money is respect. Money is simply how we keep track of invisible concepts. No one wants money. People want stuff that can be bought with money. People want more money than their neighbors. People want other people to do what they say. If you had a genie’s lamp with unlimited wishes, it would be foolish to wish for money; just wish for all the things you would use the money for. So the love of money does not refer to the love of money but the love of the world and what the world has to offer, the love of everything that can be bought and sold.

If we return to what St. Paul actually wrote, rather than the corruption of what he wrote, we can learn that the Bible is filled with practical wisdom which we would do well to listen more carefully to. The root of all evils is not necessarily evil. Paul is not saying that evil always springs up wherever money is found, but that, wherever evil is found, love of money can always be found at the root.

This is simple logic. All trees are plants, but not all plants are trees. All evil is rooted in the love of money, but not every desire for money leads to evil. If you desire money in order to feed your family and put a roof over their heads, this is not evil. If you desire money in order to build a good business, this is not evil. Love of money is simply part of being a member of society, but watch out! Love of money, even for good purposes, can lead to evil. How can we avoid evil then? Love something else more than money. Love money for what it can do, but love other people more and God the most.

Reflection

Today's first reading and gospel show us how to live as followers of Jesus Christ where money is concerned. The first reading warns us about love of money. It does not warn us against money and wealth but it is the love of it. In itself, money is neither good nor bad; but it is our addiction to it that sets us off on a perilous journey. When we place money at the center of our lives, we let it become our god. The gospel, on the other hand, tells us of how some women disciples used their financial resources to fund the mission of Jesus. For these women, the purpose of having money is to further the work of Jesus.

Has wealth become the center of my life? Does my attachment to money ever stand in the way of doing what Jesus would wish me to do? How can I use my financial resources to further the work of Jesus?