Ngày 25 tháng 3 - Lễ Đức Mẹ Truyền
Tin 
Năm
nay chúng ta
cử hành lễ Đức Mẹ Truyên truyền trong mùa Chay. Trong ngày mừng kính lễ này nhìn lại những sự kiện trước khi sự ra đời của Chúa Giêsus Kitô ngay cả khi chúng ta suy gẫm về sự khổ nạn của Đấng Cứu Thế. Trong các bài đọc hôm nay đều mang
lại cho chúng ta chiều sâu về sự mầu nhiệm (huyền kí) xung quanh sự nhập thể,
sự khổ nạn, cái chết và sự phục sinh của
Chúa Giêsu Kitô.
Chúa Giêsus là người mà dân tộc Do thái hằng trông đợi, Ngài là Đấng Emmanuel mà Thiên Chúa đã chọn để ở giữa chúng ta. Đồng thời, Mùa Chay cũng nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng chính Chúa Giêsu cũng là người bị dân tộc mà Thiên Chúa đã chọn làm dân riêng khinh chê, chối bỏ.
Trong Thư gửi tín hữu Do Thái, chúng ta thấy tất cả những lễ vật hy sinh khác để dâng lên làm của lễ hiến tế Thiên Chúa đã bị đánh bại bởi sự hy sinh của Chúa Jêsus như thế nào; một sự hợp thông của linh mục chủ tế, lễ vật hy sinh và bàn thờ. Đây là một dịp tốt để chúng ta suy ngẫm về cuộc sống của chúng ta ... để tìm hiểu những chiều kích hoạt động khác nhau trong cuộc sống của chúng ta là gì: thánh hiến thiêng liêng và thế tục, tâm linh và trần tục, những thành công và thất bại của chúng ta. Đây là khoảnh khắc để chúng ta nhìn vào cuộc sống của chúng ta về mặt triết lý ... Những khoảnh khắc giống nhau mà chúng ta truy niệm có thể bị gieo rắc những nỗi buồn; Những sự cố có vẻ là buồn sầu, nhưng thực sự là mang lại niềm vui.
Lạy Chúa, Xin Chúa hãy ban cho chúng con sự kiên nhẫn để hiểu được tầm quan trọng của mỗi sự việc trong cuộc sống và giúp chúng con biết phân biệt hành động của Chúa trong từng khoảnh khắc của cuộc đời chúng con.
Reflection Annunciation of the Lord 3/15/
It is appropriate that we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation of the Lord within the season of Lent. This feast looks back at the events that preceded the birth of Jesus Christ, even as we meditate on the passion of Christ. Today’s readings together bring to us the depth of mystery surrounding the incarnation, death and resurrection of the Lord. Jesus was the much awaited one, Emmanuel, God who chose to dwell among us. At the same time, Lent reminds us that this same Jesus was the one despised by the chosen race, the priestly nation. In the Letter to the Hebrews we read how all other sacrifices were superceded by this one sacrifice of Jesus — a confluence of the priest, the sacrifice and the altar.
That being so, it is a good occasion for us also to reflect on our lives... to find out what are the different dimensions operating in our life — the sacred and secular, the spiritual and the mundane, our successes and failures. This is the moment for us to look at our lives poetically... philosophically... The very same moments we celebrate might be sprinkled with sadness; incidents which appear sorrowful might indeed bring joy.
Lord, give me the patience to comprehend the significance of each event and to discern your action in every moment of my life.
Solemnity of the Annunciation, March 25
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:26–28
Imagine if the Angel Gabriel, the glorious Archangel who stands before the Most Holy Trinity, were to come to you and announce to you that you were “full of grace” and that “The Lord is with you.” What an indescribable and awe-inspiring experience that would be! And yet this is exactly what happened to this young teenager, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We celebrate today this amazing event that took place, marking the moment when God took on human flesh within her blessed womb. Note that today is nine months before Christmas. The Church gives us this Solemnity today to invite us to walk with Mary over these coming nine months so as to join her in her rejoicing over the birth of her divine Son.
Much could be said about this glorious Solemnity. We could ponder Mother Mary and her Immaculate Conception. We could ponder the very words spoken by the Archangel. We could ponder the mystery surrounding her pregnancy and the way in which God chose to set this gift into motion. And we could ponder so much more. Though all of these aspects are worth fully pondering and praying over, let’s focus upon the reaction of this young woman to the angelic announcement.
First, we read that Mary was “greatly troubled” and “pondered” these words spoken by the Archangel. Being troubled reveals that Mary did not have full knowledge of what the Archangel was revealing. But the fact that she pondered the words also reveals her openness to a fuller understanding. She then seeks a deeper gift of knowledge by asking, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” This response is first an assent of belief in faith followed by a request for a deeper understanding of this revelation. Faith is the ability to assent to that which we do not fully understand, but true faith always seeks a deeper understanding—and this is what Mary did. After being given some further revelation by the Archangel, Mary fully accepts what was revealed and trusts that what she was told was all she needed to know at that time. And then she offers what has come to be known as her “fiat.” She says, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” This fiat of Mary is her perfect prayer of surrender to the will of God, and it is also the perfect model for how we all must respond to the will of God. We must see ourselves as true servants of His will, and we must fully embrace whatsoever God asks of us, completely uniting our wills to His.
Reflect, today, upon these words of our Blessed Mother: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” How is God asking you to make this your prayer also? How is God calling you to serve His most holy will? Are you willing to fully assent to anything and everything God asks of you? As you prayerfully reflect upon this fiat of our Blessed Mother, seek to unite her response to yours so that you, too, will be a servant of the most high God.
Father in Heaven, You sent Your Son to become incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Your glorious Archangel Gabriel brought forth this Good News. May I always be attentive to the messages You send forth to me as You invite me to join in Your divine mission of bringing Your Son into the world. I say “Yes” this day, dear Lord, to serve Your most holy will. Jesus, I trust in You.
Saturday 4th
week of Lent – March 25 Solemnity of the Annunciation
Opening Prayer: Lord, I believe you are making everything new within me. I hope in you, Lord Jesus, that your promise of mercy that you have made to me will be fulfilled in this life and the next. I love you, Lord, for I know you have thought of me from all eternity with a special mission in mind. Give me the strength to fulfill that mission!
2. Mary’s Mission: God’s love for Mary had a specific and momentous mission attached to it: “...you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” Mary accepted this mission in faith, knowing that God had prepared it for her. God also has a mission prepared for us. Perhaps we have already discerned that mission or are still searching. Regardless, we continually need to ask God for the grace to say, “May it be done to me according to your word.”
3. Love Casts Out Fear (cf. 1 John 4:18): Mary showed that the words of St. John in his first letter hold true for all of us: there is no fear in love. Mary was able to say, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord” only because she was sure of God’s love for her, and because she loved the Lord immensely. Now, we aren’t all the Blessed Virgin Mary, but even our imperfect attempts at love are still enough to cast out the devil’s weak attempts to make us afraid. Lord, keep perfecting our love so that we may accept your will!
Conversing with Christ: Lord, you know how imperfect my love is. Still, I know you have loved me from all eternity and created me for a specific mission. Lord, grant me the grace to say with Pope Clement XI:
The way you want it
For as long as you want it.”
In this way, I will be your missionary, Lord, totally open to your will. Fiat!
Resolution: Lord, today, by your grace, I will offer up a small difficulty or confusing moment as coming from you, my loving Lord.
Chúa Giêsus là người mà dân tộc Do thái hằng trông đợi, Ngài là Đấng Emmanuel mà Thiên Chúa đã chọn để ở giữa chúng ta. Đồng thời, Mùa Chay cũng nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng chính Chúa Giêsu cũng là người bị dân tộc mà Thiên Chúa đã chọn làm dân riêng khinh chê, chối bỏ.
Trong Thư gửi tín hữu Do Thái, chúng ta thấy tất cả những lễ vật hy sinh khác để dâng lên làm của lễ hiến tế Thiên Chúa đã bị đánh bại bởi sự hy sinh của Chúa Jêsus như thế nào; một sự hợp thông của linh mục chủ tế, lễ vật hy sinh và bàn thờ. Đây là một dịp tốt để chúng ta suy ngẫm về cuộc sống của chúng ta ... để tìm hiểu những chiều kích hoạt động khác nhau trong cuộc sống của chúng ta là gì: thánh hiến thiêng liêng và thế tục, tâm linh và trần tục, những thành công và thất bại của chúng ta. Đây là khoảnh khắc để chúng ta nhìn vào cuộc sống của chúng ta về mặt triết lý ... Những khoảnh khắc giống nhau mà chúng ta truy niệm có thể bị gieo rắc những nỗi buồn; Những sự cố có vẻ là buồn sầu, nhưng thực sự là mang lại niềm vui.
Lạy Chúa, Xin Chúa hãy ban cho chúng con sự kiên nhẫn để hiểu được tầm quan trọng của mỗi sự việc trong cuộc sống và giúp chúng con biết phân biệt hành động của Chúa trong từng khoảnh khắc của cuộc đời chúng con.
Reflection Annunciation of the Lord 3/15/
It is appropriate that we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation of the Lord within the season of Lent. This feast looks back at the events that preceded the birth of Jesus Christ, even as we meditate on the passion of Christ. Today’s readings together bring to us the depth of mystery surrounding the incarnation, death and resurrection of the Lord. Jesus was the much awaited one, Emmanuel, God who chose to dwell among us. At the same time, Lent reminds us that this same Jesus was the one despised by the chosen race, the priestly nation. In the Letter to the Hebrews we read how all other sacrifices were superceded by this one sacrifice of Jesus — a confluence of the priest, the sacrifice and the altar.
That being so, it is a good occasion for us also to reflect on our lives... to find out what are the different dimensions operating in our life — the sacred and secular, the spiritual and the mundane, our successes and failures. This is the moment for us to look at our lives poetically... philosophically... The very same moments we celebrate might be sprinkled with sadness; incidents which appear sorrowful might indeed bring joy.
Lord, give me the patience to comprehend the significance of each event and to discern your action in every moment of my life.
Solemnity of the Annunciation, March 25
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:26–28
Imagine if the Angel Gabriel, the glorious Archangel who stands before the Most Holy Trinity, were to come to you and announce to you that you were “full of grace” and that “The Lord is with you.” What an indescribable and awe-inspiring experience that would be! And yet this is exactly what happened to this young teenager, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We celebrate today this amazing event that took place, marking the moment when God took on human flesh within her blessed womb. Note that today is nine months before Christmas. The Church gives us this Solemnity today to invite us to walk with Mary over these coming nine months so as to join her in her rejoicing over the birth of her divine Son.
Much could be said about this glorious Solemnity. We could ponder Mother Mary and her Immaculate Conception. We could ponder the very words spoken by the Archangel. We could ponder the mystery surrounding her pregnancy and the way in which God chose to set this gift into motion. And we could ponder so much more. Though all of these aspects are worth fully pondering and praying over, let’s focus upon the reaction of this young woman to the angelic announcement.
First, we read that Mary was “greatly troubled” and “pondered” these words spoken by the Archangel. Being troubled reveals that Mary did not have full knowledge of what the Archangel was revealing. But the fact that she pondered the words also reveals her openness to a fuller understanding. She then seeks a deeper gift of knowledge by asking, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” This response is first an assent of belief in faith followed by a request for a deeper understanding of this revelation. Faith is the ability to assent to that which we do not fully understand, but true faith always seeks a deeper understanding—and this is what Mary did. After being given some further revelation by the Archangel, Mary fully accepts what was revealed and trusts that what she was told was all she needed to know at that time. And then she offers what has come to be known as her “fiat.” She says, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” This fiat of Mary is her perfect prayer of surrender to the will of God, and it is also the perfect model for how we all must respond to the will of God. We must see ourselves as true servants of His will, and we must fully embrace whatsoever God asks of us, completely uniting our wills to His.
Reflect, today, upon these words of our Blessed Mother: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” How is God asking you to make this your prayer also? How is God calling you to serve His most holy will? Are you willing to fully assent to anything and everything God asks of you? As you prayerfully reflect upon this fiat of our Blessed Mother, seek to unite her response to yours so that you, too, will be a servant of the most high God.
Father in Heaven, You sent Your Son to become incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Your glorious Archangel Gabriel brought forth this Good News. May I always be attentive to the messages You send forth to me as You invite me to join in Your divine mission of bringing Your Son into the world. I say “Yes” this day, dear Lord, to serve Your most holy will. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord, I believe you are making everything new within me. I hope in you, Lord Jesus, that your promise of mercy that you have made to me will be fulfilled in this life and the next. I love you, Lord, for I know you have thought of me from all eternity with a special mission in mind. Give me the strength to fulfill that mission!
2. Mary’s Mission: God’s love for Mary had a specific and momentous mission attached to it: “...you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” Mary accepted this mission in faith, knowing that God had prepared it for her. God also has a mission prepared for us. Perhaps we have already discerned that mission or are still searching. Regardless, we continually need to ask God for the grace to say, “May it be done to me according to your word.”
3. Love Casts Out Fear (cf. 1 John 4:18): Mary showed that the words of St. John in his first letter hold true for all of us: there is no fear in love. Mary was able to say, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord” only because she was sure of God’s love for her, and because she loved the Lord immensely. Now, we aren’t all the Blessed Virgin Mary, but even our imperfect attempts at love are still enough to cast out the devil’s weak attempts to make us afraid. Lord, keep perfecting our love so that we may accept your will!
Conversing with Christ: Lord, you know how imperfect my love is. Still, I know you have loved me from all eternity and created me for a specific mission. Lord, grant me the grace to say with Pope Clement XI:
The way you want it
For as long as you want it.”
In this way, I will be your missionary, Lord, totally open to your will. Fiat!
Resolution: Lord, today, by your grace, I will offer up a small difficulty or confusing moment as coming from you, my loving Lord.
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