Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần 26 Thường Niên

 Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần 26 Thường Niên

Trong bài đọc Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta thấy những người muốn theo Chúa Kitô, Họ đã có được sự cảm xúc và sự thúc đẩy qua những lời giáo huấn và chính cuộc sống của Chúa Giêsu và họ đã theo Ngài và làm môn đệ của Ngài. Thật không may, trong khi họ muốn theo Chúa Kitô, những họ vẫn còn có điều kiện: "Trước hết, tôi phải chôn cha tôi"; "trước tiên, hãy để tôi nói lời vài tạm biệt chia tay với gia đình tôi." Ý chí của Họ đã bị cản trở bởi thứ vật chất, tình cảm bên ngoài đã dính liền mà không thể dứt khoát

Chúa Kitô đã cho chúng ta thấy rằng đã thực sự theo Chúa Kitô thì không có gì quan trọng hơn nữa, và không thể để cho bất cứ một điều kiện nào được tiên quyết, "Hãy để kẻ chết chôn kẻ chết; Còn anh, anh hãy đi loan báo triều đại của (Nước) Thiên Chúa"; "Ai đã ra tay cầm cày, mà còn ngoái lại phía sau, thì không thích hợp với Nước Thiên Chúa."

Chúng ta hãy cầu nguyện để xin Chúa Giêsu, người anh em của chúng ta, ban cho chúng ta những ân sủng này qua lòng rộng lượng chủa Chúa để chúng ta có can đảm để đáp lại ơn gọi này. Xin Chúa có thể soi sáng cho chúng ta biết ơn, trân trọng những hồng ân mà Chúa đã ban cho chúng ta và để cúng ta luôn biết tìm kiếm kho báu vĩnh viễn trong Nước Chúa.

Reflection:

In the Gospel reading we see people who wished to follow Christ. They were touched and moved by Jesus' preaching and life to follow him and be his disciples. Unfortunately, while they wished to follow Christ, they were willing to do so under certain conditions: "first, I want to bury my father"; "first, let me say goodbye to my family." They were hindered by other attachments or by what to them were more important obligations.

Christ points out that the following of Christ was truly demanding and allowed no pre-conditions, "Let the dead bury the dead; as for you, leave them and proclaim the kingdom of God"; "Whoever puts his hand on the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God."

The Church has declared 2014 as the "Year of the Laity." The Church reminds and encourages the laity who make up the great majority of the Church to fully live out their vocations as members of Christ's Church and followers of Christ. The Church reminds all of the primacy of our call to be "Christians" and to be "Christ-like."

Let us pray to Jesus, our brother, for the gift of generosity and courage to answer this call. May he enlighten us to gratefully appreciate the many gifts given to us and to always seek for treasures which last forever. May we learn to use and value whatever we have always looking forward to the kingdom of heaven. May we learn to be generous in our response to Christ.

Wednesday 26th Week Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer: Jesus, I want to follow you. Guide me away from things I falsely deem more important than following you: possessions, status, entertainment, and worldly distractions. Help me, by my example, to encourage others to follow you as well. Amen.

Encountering Christ:

1. What Is a Follower?: Our faith holds that each of us–lay people, the ordained, and the consecrated–have a vocation. In the root of the word “disciple” is the word “discipline,” and this is what Jesus asks us for in this Gospel passage. He admonishes us to keep our focus on the Lord and his Kingdom. Our love for everyone else, including those in our families, schools, workplaces, and communities, should overflow from that first calling, a love that consumes our whole heart (Mark 12:30).

2. What Is Meant by Rest?: Jesus reminds a would-be follower that “the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Jesus did not mean this literally because other passages in the Gospels (Luke 2:7, Mark 4:38-40) show Jesus resting or sleeping. Jesus meant that our commitment to the mission, the work he gives us, will require our undivided attention and effort every single day. If we wish to follow him, our discipleship will require detachment, focus, and discipline.

3. Clearing the Path: Jesus’ unnamed interlocutors, each in his own way, raised family obligations as reasons for delaying the beginning of their mission to follow the Lord. Jesus’ answers indicated that those obligations do not suffice as excuses, and even can keep us from “proclaiming the Kingdom.” Should we shirk our duties? No. Instead, it is of primary importance that we stay close to Jesus and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, discern his will in every moment so that when choosing between two goods, we align ourselves with what Christ is asking of us. Spiritual direction can help with this process of discernment.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, you desire for me to follow you. Clear my own pathway to your Kingdom: help me to distinguish between those things that make it easier to follow you and those things that make it more difficult. Help me to encourage others to stay focused on your Kingdom.

Resolution: Lord, today, by your grace, I will renew my commitment to follow you more closely. I will offer a daily exam to help me discern your will in everything.

REFLECTION 2017

In the Lord's description of the three would-be disciples in our Gospel reading, the commitment of each is faulty because it has implied limits. These three, then, are examples of conflicting commitments. Each one professes a commitment "to follow Christ," but in a partial way or with a pre-condition.

All of us have a call to follow Christ. Following Jesus is a life-call for all the baptized, to follow our brother, leader and Lord. All of us are called to live our following of Christ in whatever life or occupation we may have, at whatever age we may be, with whatever talents and gifts we may have.

Following Christ begins with knowing him and trusting in him as God's promised Messiah and as our Savior. For it is by faith in him that we have our sins forgiven and we are helped by God's grace to lead a life prepared for eternal life.

The Gospel reading today gives examples of those called by Christ to follow and be with him, as his apostles and disciples, as helpers and ministers in preaching the Gospel. For them, today's ministers and priests of the Church and religious, the following of Christ is their life. For most of us lay people, the following of Christ is living according to the Gospel values and prioritizing these Gospel values in our lives and careers, in our families and daily lives.

The Kingdom of God is for all those who follow Christ's values in their lives, who lead their lives according to God's commandments. The following of Christ is living our lives in preparation for eternal happiness with God in heaven.