Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Các Thánh Tử Đạo ViệtNam,

Các Thánh Tử Đạo ViệtNam, cha ông chúng ta đã coi những thứ vật chất của thế này là tất cả là hư không, và sự vinh quang trở của thế giới này đã trở nên vô ích cho những người đặt niềm tin vào con người và tất cả vào những sự phát triển và bành trướng của thế gian này. Biểu tượng của người Kitô hữu chúng ta là những nhành lá cây vạn tuế (Dừa lá) vì cành là này có thể sống tươi lâu dài trong bất cứ ở thời tiết nào và cây này lúc nào cũng thấy như màu xanh lá cây. Cành lá vạn tuế này tượng trưng cho đức tin của chúng ta.
    Đức Tin của cha ông chúng ta là các thánh tử đạo VN đã để lại, vì các ngài đã chịu được những sự tấn công của thế tục, một lòng giữ các điều răn của Chúa dù phải chịu những hy sinh, đau khổ và chịu chết, để chịu án phạt của thế gian vì sự công chính. Nhờ đó mà các ngài đã giúp cho chúng ta con cái của các ngài có thể thận trọng để được trưởng thành trong lương tâm và nhờ đó chúng ta có thề hướng đi theo con đường mà mà các Thánh đã mở sẵn cho chúng ta. Chúng ta cần phải chạy thật khỏe với sức mạnh của Chúa Thánh Thần đã ban cho chúng ta trong gìờ phút cuối để chúng ta có thế chiến thắng được những sự cám dỗ của trần thế như cha ông chúng ta là các thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam đã chiến thắng trong giờ sau hết.
 
Nov 24- Saint Andrew Dung Lac & Companion
The sufferings we undergo are not irrelevant to the witness we give concerning Jesus Christ. We all tend to look beyond a speaker’s words to his actions, his way of life. We ask ourselves if the way he lives lends credibility to his message.
           In today’s Gospel, Jesus says explicitly that persecutions and imprisonments will lead to our giving testimony. we celebrate the Vietnamese Martyrs today. The Vatican estimates the number of Vietnamese martyrs at between 130,000 and 300,000. Saint John Paul II canonize those whose names are known and unknown, giving them a single feast day.
            The Vietnamese Martyrs fall into several groupings, those of the Dominican and Jesuit missionary era of the 17 &18th century and those killed in the politically inspired persecutions of the 19th century.
            On June 19, 1988 Pope St John Paul 2 Canonized 117 Vietnamese martyrs, this group including 96 Vietnamese, 11 Spanish Dominicans, and 10 French members.  And in March, 2000 Pope John Paul II beatified the first Vietnamese martyr, A young Vietnamese named Andrew of Phú Yên.
            During the persecution, the tortures of French missionaries underwent are considered by the Vatican to be among the worst in the history of Christian martyrdom. The torturers hacked off limbs joint by joint, tore flesh with red hot thongs, and used drugs to enslave the minds of the victims. Christians at the time were branded on the face with the words Sinister and families and villages which subscribed to Christianity were obliterated.
            The first Martyr in Vietnam was Andrew who came from the province of Phú Yên, in Vietnam, no one knew his last name so the church calls him Adrew PhuYen.
            He was baptized in 1641 when he was about 15 years old. After a year of further formation, that he became a catechist and dedicated assistant to father Alexander de Rhodes, a Jesuit missionary.
            Before the end of July 1644, the King of Vietnam wanted to stop the expansion of Christianity in the land. Father De Rhodes was asked to leave the country
            After Fr. De Rhodes left the king’s official sent soldiers to Fr. de Rhodes' house in search of any catechist, but all the catechists had left on a mission. They only found young Andrew at home; They tortured him, beat Him, bound him and transferred him to the Governor's palace.
            On 25 July 1644 Andrew was taken to the Mandarin or king’s official, who tried in various ways to make Andrew deny his faith". But he responded that he was a Christian and also a catechist, he can not deny his faith and can not made a bad exemple for those he taught. He said he is ready to undergo any suffering rather than abandoning the law that he professed.
            Indignant at Andrew's inflexibility, the Mandarin ordered him to be taken to prison. The young Andrew was so serene and joyous at being able to suffer for Christ.
            People who came to see him were asked to pray that God might give him the grace to be faithful to the end and to "respond with fullness of love to the infinite love of his Lord, who gave his life for men, by giving his own life". A day later, Andrew was taken to the Governor's public audience, where he was sentenced to death.
            In the afternoon, a captain led Andrew down the to the place of execution, a field outside the city. Father De Rhodes, and many Portuguese and Vietnamese Christians, and even pagans followed the procession and witnessed the killing.
            Andrew exhorted the Christians to remain firm in their faith, not to be saddened by his death, and to pray for him so he could be faithful to the end. He was executed with some blows of a lance and, finally, when he was about to be beheaded, he cried out the name of Jesus in a loud voice. Andrew accepted the sacrifice of his life for the faith and love of Christ. He died at 19 years of age.
            In March, 2000 Pope John Paul II beatified the first Vietnamese martyr, A young Vietnamese named Andrew of Phú Yên.
 
Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, increase my faith, hope, and love for you, that I may stand boldly as a witness of your coming. 
Encountering Christ:
1.      Signs: The early Christian community lived in heartfelt anticipation of Jesus’ second coming. His warnings and promises gave them the strength to face many life-threatening persecution and trials. But these signs that Jesus described could be for our day as well. Does this mean we have missed his coming? Or that he was mistaken about his second coming? At present, we live this reality in mystery. The signs are present, which call us to a certain readiness in the living of our faith.
2.      People Will Faint from Fear: According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 19% of the population (forty million people). Jesus mentioned that people would faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world. Fear and anxiety are often provoked by the anticipation and belief that bad things are to come and that life does not hold the happiness and meaning one desires. While fear is a normal, basic, and necessary human emotion, it requires evaluation in the light of faith. Our worst-case scenario, when objectively viewed in the light of God’s providential plan, can turn out to be a reason for hope. 
3.      Stand and Raise Your Heads: Jesus offers us a particular attitude we can take on in the face of the world’s chaos. “Stand and raise your heads.” The physical act of doing so can be a starting point for facing the daily trials that beset us. Furthermore, Jesus gives us an internal reason for doing so. “Your redemption is drawing near.” He reminds us that our rescue is at hand. Wherever there is “war”–things to be feared–we raise our heads and hold steadfast in faith, awaiting the ultimate rescue. 
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to give me courage amidst those things I fear daily. Grant that I may hold up my head in faith and trust in your providence.
Resolution: Lord, today, by your grace, I will recognize the moments when pessimism leads me to fear. I will stand up, raise my head, and make an act of faith and trust in your providential love.