Suy Niệm thứ Hai
Tuần 33 thường Niên
Trong
cuôc sống con người của chúng ta, đôi khi chúng ta cảm thấy là rất khó để trung
thành với con đường của Thiên Chúa hướng cho chúng ta đặc biệt là khi chúng ta
đang phải đối diện với nhiều thử thách và cám dỗ trong một xã hội với nền văn
hóa chủ chủ trương cá nhân, sống buông thả, ích kỷ. Con người chúng ta có vẻ
thú vị, và luôn luôn có sự thôi thúc mãnh liệt để làm sao có thể được giống như
mọi người khác.
Như dân Israel đã phải đối mặt với những thách
thức này qua sự đô hô và ảnh hưởng nền văn hoá của người Hy Lạp, và nhiều người
đã xuôi tay. Đế vương Antioches Epiphanes đã làm hết sức mình để tiêu diệt đạo
Do Thái và văn hóa của người Do thái, nhưng hầu hết dân Do thái vẫn luôn biết cương
quyết và trung thành với Thiên Chúa của họ. Cuối cùng họ đã thắng.
Qua bài Tin Mừng chúng ta đã chứng kiến cảnh
một người mù và tàn tật thường xuyên bị xã hội kinh bỉ. Nhưng anh đã có cái nhận
thức và nhìn sâu sắc vào Chúa Giêsu. anh chào đón Chúa bằng một danh hiệu là Đấng
Kitô, Chúa cứu thế, con vua David - và viớ long tin anh ta đã xin Chúa cứu chữa
cho anh ta, Anh ta đã kiên trì và đầy đức tin, vì vậy Chúa Giêsu chữa cho anh
ta được sáng mắt., không phải chỉ sáng mắt nhìn được cảnh vật bên ngoài, mà anh
còn sáng cả đôi mắt tâm hồn nữa.
Chúng ta không thể cho phép người khác hoặc xã
hội của chúng ta bịt miệng, ngăn cản và dập tắt ngọn lửa đức tin của chúng ta để
đến với Chúa như anh mù. Sự trung tín, và kiên trì là đức tính mà chúng ta cần
phải có trong cuộc sống đạo của chúng ta, chúng ta sẽ không bao giờ hối tiếc vì
nhờ các đức tính đó mà chúng ta sẽ được ân sủng và cái nhìn sâu sắc trong đức
tin hơn.
Lạy Chúa, giúp chúng con biết kiên trì và trung
thành với con đường của Chúa.
Reflection (SG)
Sometimes
it is difficult to remain faithful to the path of the Lord when we are faced
with the many temptations present in our culture. They seem exciting, and there
is always the strong urge to be just like everyone else. The people of Israel
faced this challenge from their Greek rulers, and many gave in. Antioches
Epiphanes did his best to wipe out Jewish religion and culture, but most of the
people remained firm and faithful. In the end they were victorious. Today it is
so important not to be seduced by the many possibilities that are offered to
us, nor to be bullied by those who would force us to abandon our spiritual
path. We will never lose by being faithful to God. Today it is so important not
to be seduced by the many possibilities that are offered to us, nor to be
bullied by those who would force us to abandon our spiritual path. We will
never lose by being faithful to God.
The
blind and disabled were often looked down upon in ancient society. The blind
beggar by the side of the road had no status or honour. His requests to see
Jesus were met with stern rebukes and orders to keep quiet. But despite being
blind, he had insight into the identity of Jesus. He greeted him with a Messianic title — son
of David — and asked for help. He was persistent and faith-filled, so Jesus
restored his sight. We cannot allow other people or our society to silence us
and snuff out the flame of faith. Fidelity and persistence are virtues that we
will never regret. We will be given grace and insight.
Lord,
help me to be faithful to Your path.
Monday 33rd Ordinary Time 2022
Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, increase my faith, and may your Kingdom come in my
heart and in the world.
Encountering Christ:
1. Son of David: The blind man cried out, “Son of David.” This
title is full of literal and theological significance and reveals faith in
Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. Ironically, the blind man who cried out had
better vision than those around him. His use of the “Son of David” had a
prophetic significance. It alluded to the fulfillment of the prophecy that the
Messiah would descend from the line of David. From a theological perspective,
God promised David that his throne would be established forever (2 Samuel
7:15-16), which came to fulfillment in God’s son, Jesus. Whereas David served
as a great temporal king, his “Son,” the Messiah, would be established as the
definitive eternal King of God’s Kingdom. He would reign forever. Never
underestimate the vision of the apparently blind!
2. Advocate: The blind man also perceived that Jesus could
cure his ailment. As the son of David, Jesus is also King. In Jesus’ time, if
men were good kings, their reign was one of service, advocating for the
helpless. The blind man appeared to have blind faith in the good heart of
Jesus. He was so convinced he would be heard that he shouted all the louder,
“Son of David, have pity on me.” When we pray to God, from what conviction does
that cry come? Are we convinced that we are in need of healing? Are we
convinced that he truly reigns with the power of an advocate?
3. The Proper Response: Jesus responded to the convicted faith of the
blind man. He already knew this man's heart, yet he asked, “What do you want me
to do for you?” Jesus desires us to ask as well. He wants to respect our
freedom, but he wants to enter into the depth of our reality—sinful, needy,
hungry, thirsty, ill, blind. The blind man stated what he wanted, and Jesus’
words were fulfilled: “Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.” The Greek
word used for “saved” is spoken. It can signify saving, healing, rescuing,
delivering, or protecting. Faith won this man a more profound grace than
physical sight. His response to the gift was to praise God. Let that be our
response as well.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I praise you for the wonders you work in my life and
the lives of so many. Just one act of faith wins for us a multitude of grace.
The greatest grace is salvation, to be delivered from the deepest ailment,
which is sin. Help me to recognize my need for you and to rejoice in your
goodness in my life and the lives of others who come to know and follow
you.
Resolution: Lord, today, by your grace, I will reflect on the areas in my
life that truly make me blind, blind to how you would like to heal me more
fully. I will praise you for the gifts you shower on me and others as a
response to faith.
He
kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Luke 18:39c
Good for him! Here was a
blind beggar who was treated poorly by many. He was treated as if he were
no good and a sinner. When he began to call out for mercy from Jesus, he
was told to be silent by those around him. But what did the blind man
do? Did he give in to their oppression and ridicule? Certainly
not. Instead, “He kept calling out all the more!” And Jesus took
notice of his faith and healed him.
There is a great lesson from
this man’s life for us all. There are many things we will encounter in
life that get us down, discourage us and tempt us to despair. There are
many things that are oppressive to us and difficult for us to deal with.
So what should we do? Should we give in to the struggle and then retreat
into a hole of self-pity?
This blind man gives us the
perfect witness of what we should do. When we feel oppressed,
discouraged, frustrated, misunderstood, or the like, we need to use this as an
opportunity to turn to Jesus with even greater passion and courage calling upon
His mercy.
Difficulties in life can have
one of two effects on us. Either they beat us down or they make us
stronger. The way they make us stronger is by fostering within our souls
an even greater trust in and dependence upon the mercy of God.
Reflect, today, upon that which
tempts you the most toward discouragement. What is it that feels
oppressive to you and difficult to deal with? Use that struggle as an
opportunity to cry out with even more passion and zeal for the mercy and grace
of God.
Lord, in my weakness and
struggle, help me to turn to You with even more passion. Help me to rely
upon You all the more in times of distress and frustration in life. May
the wickedness and harshness of this world only strengthen my resolve to turn
to You in all things. Jesus, I trust in You.
Monday 33rd Ordinary Time 2021
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come before you to spend this time in prayer
with you. Open my heart to hear and receive the word that you wish to speak to
me today. I believe that your desire to spend this time with me is infinitely
greater than mine. Even still, let my desire for you grow just a bit more
today. I trust in you, and I love you, Lord. Let my faith, hope, and love
grow.
Encountering Christ:
·
Roadside
Beggars: This blind man
must have spent a lot of time sitting beside that road on the way to Jericho.
The other townsfolk had probably gotten used to his presence and his occasional
shouts from his mat begging for alms or a bite to eat, or maybe just asking for
the gossip of the day. He could have just blended into the hustle and bustle of
daily routines and important things that occupied the minds and hearts of many
that day, as Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. But something in his heart
prompted him to reach out, in spite of the others shushing him. There was a
thirst, a longing within him for sight, and years of darkness and solitude had
not yet quenched the hope that this could be possible.
·
The
Hidden Blessing of Blindness: How many years had this man suffered blindness, whether
from birth or some accident? Only God knows. How he lived and learned to bear
the burden of this suffering is a mystery to us, too. But perhaps over time he
came to discover a hidden blessing in his blindness. Even though his world was
filled with darkness, perhaps he alone, among all those scurrying the streets
of Jericho that day, had true sight, the sight of faith. Perhaps his very
blindness kept ever before his eyes the real desire of his heart: that he might
see. And it was this faith which allowed him to recognize the Savior as he
passed by. This faith gave him the confidence to ask for what he needed.
·
Faith’s
Sight: The blind man
could not see, but knew he was looked upon. This experience of being seen and
known–accepted despite one’s imperfections and even cherished–is what allows
the smallest seed of faith to grow. He could not see, but he knew he was looked
upon. In this time of prayer, we, too, pause and sit beside the blind man,
seeking a moment of silence in the hustle of my day. Is the Lord passing by?
What blindness, darkness, or struggle weighs us down, tempting us to squelch
our faith in loneliness and doubt? How can we get up and run to Jesus, let him
look upon us, and receive in faith the hidden blessings Jesus wishes to
give?
Conversing with Christ: Jesus, my blindness is not so different from this blind
man’s. I, too, find doubts and temptations surrounding me, telling me to be
silent, causing me to hesitate. But you are so good and you never tire of
coming out to seek me. You draw close and ask me, “What do you want me to do
for you?” Lord, please let me see.
Resolution: Lord,
today by your grace I will try to offer this prayer of petition in my heart
throughout the day: Lord, please let me see.
No comments:
Post a Comment