Thứ Bảy tuần thứ 34 Thường Niên

Thứ Bảy tuần thứ 34 Thường Niên
 Hôm nay chúng ta đã đến ngày cuối cùng cùa Mùa Thường niên, và cùng như sắp đến những ngày cuối cuộc đời rao giảng công khai của Chúa Giêsu, Thánh Luca trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay để lại cho chúng ta một lời cảnh báo khá nghiêm khắc là chúng ta phải biết sống tốt và cầu nguyện trong mọi lúc. Như thánh Luca đã bảo chúng ta là chúng ta phải sống trong sự sẵn sàng cho cái chết, phải chuẩn bị cho cái chết của chúng ta bất cứ lúc nào, và sự chết sẽ đến với chúng ta bất cứ khi nào. Những lời này có vẻ không phải là một ý nghĩ để an ủi chúng ta trong ngày cuối của năm phụng vụ, vào ngày cuối cùng trước khi chúng ta bước vào Chúa Nhật đầu của Mùa Vọng.
Tất cả phụng vụ, qua những mùa Vọng, đại lễ giáng Sinh, Mùa Chay và Phục Sinh, cũng như mùa Thường Niên trong năm, Giáo Hội có ý muốn dạy chúng ta sống cuộc sống tốt đẹp, phải chuẩn bị cho cuội sống mai sau với cuộc sống của chúng ta trên trái đất này trong hòa khí, an vui. Trong bài Thánh Vịnh đáp ca hôm nay Giáo Hội muốn dùng để đưa chúng ta trở lại với sự sáng thế hay khởi đầu của tất cả mọi thứ: Thiên Chúa Đấng là Tạo Hóa, người mà đà tạo dựng nên chúng ta và chúng ta thuộc về Người và chúng ta phải cúi xuống và quỳ lạy và  thờ phượng trước mặt Người, vì Thiên Chúa đã tạo dựng nên chúng ta, chúng ta thuộc về Người trong cuộc đời của chúng ta trong thế gian này, chúng ta hy vọng một cuộc sống mãi mãi và đời đời.
 Lạy Chúa là Cha trên Trời, Chúa đã tạo dựng nên chúng con và phục hồi chúng con trong tình yêu của Chúa trong Đức Giêsu Kitô, để hướng dẫn chúng con cách sống trong sự thánh thiện và vẹn toàn để chúng con có thể sống với Chúa  mãi mãi đến muôn đời.
 
Saturday 4th Week in Ordinary Time (1st Dec 2018.
 Almost at the end of his account of the public life of Jesus, Saint Luke leaves us with a rather stern warning to lead good lives and to pray at all times. It is as if he were telling us to live our lives in readiness for death, to be prepared for death at any moment, whenever it comes. It may not seem a very consoling thought with which to end out the liturgical year, on the last day before the first Sunday of Advent.
The whole liturgy, through the great season as well as through the Ordinary time of the year, is intent on teaching us to live good lives, to be prepared to face the end of our lives on earth in peace and joy. The responsorial psalm brings us back to the beginning of all things: to God the Creator, to whom we belong and before whom we should bow down and kneel in worship, for God made us, we are his during our life in this world, and we hope, for ever in eternal life.
 Father in Heaven, You created us and restored us to your love in Christ, so guide us in the way of holiness that we may live with You forever.
 
Saturday 34th Ordinary Time 2022
Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, increase my faith, hope, and love. Help me to live my faith boldly and sagaciously.
Encountering Christ:
1.      Warning: The liturgy does not seem to let up on warning us of the end times and what appears to be impending disaster and destruction. Jesus doesn’t hold back his words and says, “Do not worry. God loves all people. He will save them.” While we see all those three assertions in various parts of Scripture, we do not see them here together. Instead, the focus is on a sincere warning, like the prophets that cried out in the New Testament to warn people of their destruction if they did not mend their ways. How are we to perceive this message? Do we take it as a warning from one who is sincerely concerned with our well-being, or do we receive it as a threat? Our concept of Jesus will determine how we receive these words. 
2.      Watch Yourself: Jesus tells us to watch ourselves. How does his admonition resonate with us? Do we think this admonition is for everyone but ourselves? What does it tell us about the state of our relationship with the Lord? Without the vigilance Jesus recommends, our hearts will be coarsened. He wants to prevent us from falling into this trap. It is one thing to fall and get up again. It is another to have our hearts coarsened because we do not even keep watch over our spiritual well-being. We are called in this Gospel to greater vigilance against the enemy of our souls.
3.      Pray: The weapon against the traps of the devil is prayer. Prayer will be the means for strength to stand against the trials to come. Prayer will be the means to hold one’s ground before the Son of Man. The “Son of Man” refers to the prophecy of Daniel 7, in which the “son of man” is seated on the throne of judgment. Thus, prayer will help us remain grounded in the truth and God’s saving grace when we come face-to-face with the victor for our souls, Jesus Christ. We will have resisted the enemy who also sought to be victor over our souls. 
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, help me watch over my heart and soul. Grant me insight to recognize the trap of the enemy and the courage to shut the door on it. 
Resolution: Lord, today, by your grace, I will do an examination of conscience to recognize the areas in my life in which I need to be more watchful and not fall into hardening my heart with sinful behaviors. 
 
Saturday 34th Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer: Lord God, accompany me in my prayer on this final day of the liturgical year. Stay close to my heart so that I can learn what it means to stay awake and please you in all things.
Encountering Christ:
·         Beware: Christ the King issued three commands in this final Gospel of the season of Ordinary Time: Beware, be vigilant, and pray. The first commands us to beware of carousing, drunkenness, and anxiety, which can result in drowsy hearts. We have the Catechism to elaborate on what happens if we fall into grave sins: “Mortal sin...results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God's forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ's Kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back.” (CCC 1861). Jesus’ admonition to “beware” is the most loving message he can give us, for his heart’s desire is that we spend eternity with the Father in Heaven. 
·         Be Vigilant: It can be all too easy to grow lax and negligent, especially when we look forward to family gatherings over the holidays. Our schedules change, we celebrate with food and drink, and we see more family and friends than usual. To be vigilant is to be alert, attentive, and on guard over our souls. Vigilance begins with a good examination of conscience to discern what God is asking of us. Then we lean on the grace of God to guard against temptation so that we can act prudently and charitably to carry out his will. 
·         Pray: “Pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” Alone we are weak; with God we can do all things. This is why prayer is so important; it places us in a right relationship to God, the source of grace and life and strength. Without him, we are small and helpless; the tribulations wash over and destroy us, just as the waves destroy the house built on sand. When we do not pray, we are telling God that we think we can manage things without him. When we pray we are placing all our confidence in him. When we pray, love replaces fear or drowsiness in our hearts. Hope grows so that we can be confident that we will one day stand before the Son of Man when he comes at the end of time.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I desire to keep you company, to watch and pray with you. This is prayer: rousing my heart from earthly concerns to simply be with you. Teach me to obey your commands and thereby save myself much grief, for I know you always want the best for me. Christ Our King, Thy Kingdom Come!
Resolution: Lord, I thank you for the year 2021. Today by your grace I ask for the grace to live this upcoming Advent season well.
 
Reflection (SG)
Water is a powerful symbol throughout the Bible. It is absolutely essential for life and those who dwelt in the desert like the Israelites — were keenly aware of how vital it was. It was also a metaphor for the life-giving Spirit of God. When living things draw on springs and hidden rivers, they thrive and grow; without it, they wither and die. So it is with God’s Spirit. Human beings are dying of thirst and many don’t even know it. 
The image from Revelation portrayed a future state in which a life-giving divine river would run through the heavenly Jerusalem, bringing life and fruitfulness. God will be present in a way that we cannot imagine; God will be our light. But we need not wait — we can begin to approach that river of life now as we walk the path of love, humility, holiness, and service.  The early Christians thought that Jesus would return in their own lifetimes and judge humanity. So much time has passed; most people do not expect this to happen anytime soon. But we never know when disaster or death will overtake us. Our lives can end in an instant by accident or by illness. The Lord urges us to be spiritually awake and alert. Do not become distracted or bogged down in things that do not matter.
Use each day as a precious gift — spend it in love and service. Be ready to meet the Lord at all times and it will not matter when he returns. Every day is the day of the Lord’s return.  Give God thanks for the gift of this day.
Lord, help me to use each day wisely.
 
Meditation: "Lest your hearts be weighed down"
Is there anything holding you back from the joy and freedom of the Lord? God wants our hearts for him and for his kingdom of peace, joy, and righteousness (Romans 14:17). But our hearts can be weighed down by many different things, such as greed, gluttony, drunkenness, and so many other harmful addictions and sinful habits. Jesus, our Lord and Master, offers us true freedom - freedom from the power of sin and wasted life, and freedom from our unruly desires and disordered passions - such as making food, drink or anything else our master rather than our servant. Jesus wants our hearts to be ruled by one thing only - his love and truth which enables us to choose whatever is good and to reject whatever is evil and harmful for us.
Jesus also warns us of the temptation to slacken off - to become spiritually idle, lazy, indifferent, or inattentive to God's word and guidance for our lives. We can fall asleep spiritually if we allow other things to distract us from the reality of God and his kingdom. It is very easy to get caught up in the things of the present moment or to be weighed down with anxious cares and concerns.
            The Lord knows our struggles, weaknesses, and shortcomings. And he assures us that we do not need to carry our burdens alone nor struggle without his help. He is always very present and ready to give us whatever strength, guidance, and help we need to fight temptation and to stay the course which he has set for us. But there is one thing he doesn't tolerate: indifference, an attitude of not caring, and doing nothing! The Lord wants us to cast our anxieties on him and to ask for his guidance and help. Do you pray for God's strength and wisdom?
            Until the Lord comes again we can expect troubles, trials, and temptations. Our adversary the devil does not rest in his attempt to lure us away from God's will for our lives. If he cannot succeed in getting us to renounce our faith in Christ, he will try, little by little, to distract us from pursuing God, especially in prayer and listening to his word. Ask the Lord Jesus to rekindle the fire of his love in you so that you will be ready and eager to meet him when he comes again.
            "Lord Jesus, rouse my spirit to the truth that this world is passing away. Give me a lively faith, a joyful hope, and a fervent love to see you face to face when you return in glory."