Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai sau
Chúa nhật Thứ 5 Mùa Chay
So với bản chất con người của chúng ta, Chúa Giê-su là một vị thầy không bao giờ lên tiếng trách móc hay lên án với những người có tội. Người phụ nữ bị bắt ngoại tình hôm nay rất đáng xấu hổ và cũng thật tội nghiệp . Trong thời của Chúa Giêsu không có nhóm nggười nào dám đứng lên để bênh vục cho những người phụ nữ bị lên án như cô gái hôm nay trong bài Tin Mừng.
Nếu chúng ta thử suy luận, thì cái tôi ngoại tình là cái tội không phải là chỉ có người phụ nữ, mà cả người đàn ông cũng có tội nữa. Nhưng theo luật của Do Thái là tội ngoại tình chỉ có phạt người phụ nữ, còn những người đàn ông ngoại tình thì không có ai thắc mắc gì cả. Có nghĩa là người đàn ông có thể "lănh nhăng" với những phụ nữ mà không bị buộc vào tội ngoại tình và không bị trừng phạt. Mà họ lại lên án quá khắt khe và tàn nhẵn với người phụ nữ khi mà thôi.!
Khi Thiên Chúa tạo dựng nên con người theo hình ảnh của Ngài, hình như chỉ là người đàn ông đã được chú ý và có tầm quan trọng hơn người nữ vì người phụ nữ đến sau. Chúng ta có thể hiểu như thế khi Kinh Thánh được viết bởi con người nên ý nghĩa có thề không đầy đủ. Nhưng hôm nay qua bài Tin Mừng, chúng ta đã nắm rõ hơn về tình yêu của Thiên Chúa. Nhiệm vụ của Đức Chúa Con là đến để làm cho con người chúng ta biết yêu kính và phụng sự Thiên Chúa, Việc làm và hành động của Chúa Kitô đã làm nổi bật lên được trong việc này. Tôn kính, thương yêu mọi người vì tất cả mọi người dù là nam hay nữ đều mang một hình ảnh của Thiên Chúa và được biểu lộ thật rất rõ ràng trong những hình ảnh con người của chúng ta.
Mùa Chay Thánh này giúp chúng ta có cơ hội để suy gẫm về sự chăm sóc của Thiên Chúa đối với tất cả chúng ta. Trong thế giới ngày nay, có vẻ như chỉ có sức mạnh. và sự khôn ngoan thông trị được thiên nhiên vì thế chúng ta hay đổ lỗi cho người khác và tha thứ cho chính mình? Vì vậy, ở đây hôm nay Chúa Giêsu cho chúng ta một bài học. Ai là người trong chúng ta không có tội, và có thể đổ lỗi cho người khác.? Tại sao chúng ta không biết cầu nguyện cho nhau và giúp đỡ lẫn nhau trong cuộc hành trình đầy khó khăn và thử thách trong khi chúng ta tiến về Nước Trời của Thiên Chúa ? hơn là tìm cách phán xét người khác một cách bất công.
Reflection:
Considering human nature, Jesus as a teacher did not pronounce any condemnation against the sinner. Being appreheded is already very shameful for the woman. At that time there were no feminine groups to help a condemned woman. If we consider adultery here, it is not only the woman who was at fault but both man and woman. Does it mean that man can play with women without being charged with adultery and left unpunished?
When God created man in his own image and likeness, it appears that it was only man that was given importance for the woman came later. We understand how Holy Scripture written by man is very inadequate. Now we have a better grasp of God's love. The mission of God the Son to make us know, love and serve God is very well manifested in this action of Christ. Respect for people as image of God is very clear in this episode. This season of Lent gives us a chance to reflect on God's care for all of us.
In our world today, it seems only the strong, the powerful, and the wise lord over nature. Do we blame others and excuse ourselves? So here Jesus gives us the example. He who is blameless can blame others. But is there any among us who is blameless? Would we not rather pray for one another and help one another in our not-so-easy journey to God's kingdom?
Monday, Public Sinners
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7
This is a powerful line spoken by Jesus. The judgmental and condemning Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus who had apparently been caught “in the very act of committing adultery.” Was she a sinner? Yes, indeed she was. But this story is not so much about whether or not she was a sinner. It was about the attitude Jesus had toward sinners as compared to that held by the self-righteous, judgmental and condemning Pharisees.
First of all, let’s look at this woman. She was humiliated. She had committed sin, was caught, and was publicly presented to all as a sinner. How did she react? She didn’t resist. She didn’t remain in denial. She didn’t get angry. She didn’t fight back. Instead, she stood there humiliated, awaiting her punishment with a sorrowful heart.
Humiliation over one’s sins is a powerful experience that has the potential to bring forth true repentance. When we encounter someone who has sinned in a manifest way and is humiliated over their sin, we must treat them with compassion. Why? Because the dignity of the person always supersedes their sin. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God, and every person deserves our compassion. If one is obstinate and refuses to see their sin (such as in the case of the Pharisees), then an act of holy rebuke is necessary to help them repent. But when one experiences sorrow and, in this case, the added experience of humiliation, then they are ready for compassion.
By stating “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” Jesus is not justifying her sin. Rather, He’s making it clear that no one holds the right of condemnation. No one. Not even the religious leaders. This is a hard teaching to live for many in our world today. It is commonplace for the headlines in the media to almost compulsively present us with the most sensational sins of others. We are constantly being tempted to be outraged at what this or that person has done. We easily shake our heads, condemn them and treat them as if they were dirt. In fact, it seems that many people today see it as their duty to act as the “watchdogs” against every sin they can dig up on others.
Reflect, today, upon whether you are more like the Pharisees or Jesus. Would you have stood there in the crowd wanting this humiliated woman to be stoned? How about today? When you hear about the manifest sins of others, do you find yourself to be condemning of them? Or do you hope that mercy is shown to them? Seek to imitate the compassionate heart of our divine Lord; and when your time of judgment comes, you also will be shown an abundance of compassion.
My merciful Lord, You see past our sin and look to the heart. Your love is infinite and awe-inspiring. I thank You for the compassion You have shown to me, and I pray that I may always imitate that same compassion to every sinner all around me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Reflection on Monday 5th week of Lents 2022
Shedding Light: The eighth chapter of John’s Gospel started with the dark tale of a woman caught in adultery and an angry mob threatening to stone her. The situation was defused by impelling the crowd to come out of the darkness and look at themselves in the light of Christ. Jesus now explained in the following verses that he himself is the light. How should we approach this light? We must follow, close enough to “hear the shepherd’s voice” (John 10:27) and to allow our hearts to be moved by his actions in our lives. May we cultivate a stronger habit of daily prayer, along with more frequent reception of the sacraments, confident that this prescription will keep us from slipping back into darkness.
I am the Light of the world
Today Jesus gives us a definition of Himself that fills with sense the life of those of us that despite our many deficiencies, wish to follow him: «I am the Light of the world» (Jn 8:12). Jesus' person, his teachings, his examples of life, are light that lightens all our existence, whether in the good hours or in moments of suffering or contradiction.
What does that mean? That under any circumstances which we may find ourselves in, such as in our work, in our relations with others, in our relation to God, in our joys and in our pains... we may ponder: —What did Jesus do in a similar situation?; we can always look into the Gospels and reply: —So I will do the very same thing! Precisely, John Paul II has incorporated to the Saint Rosary —a “compendium of the Gospels”, as he himself recalls— the mysteries on the public life of Jesus, and has named them “Mysteries of Light”. Thus, the Holy Father says: «It is He who, after being named favored Son of the Father at the Baptism in the Jordan, announces the arrival of the Kingdom, and bears witness of it with his deeds while proclaiming his demands».
Jesus is Light and «the one who follows him will not walk in darkness, but will have light and life» (Jn 8:12). As his own disciples, the Lord also invites us to be light for the world; to shine a light of hope amidst the violence, mistrust and fear of our brothers; a light of faith amidst their darkness, doubts and queries; a light of love amidst the many lies, bitterness and passions that surround us. The Holy Father, as a backdrop to all the mysteries of light, reminds us of Mary's words at the Cana wedding: «Do whatever He tells you» (Jn 2:5): this is the right way for Jesus to be the Light of the World and for ourselves to be able to illuminate with this same light.
Monday 5th week of Lents 2021
1. What Authority? The Pharisees exercised their authority over others by merciless recrimination. Christ reached out to others with compassion and mercy. The Pharisees saw authority as a means to banish a sinner from society. Christ seeks the lost and returns him or her to the sheepfold. In this Gospel, the adulterous woman was about to be stoned for her sin, but Jesus put a stop to the Pharisees’ hypocrisy and, with a warning to sin no more, sent the woman off to begin anew. He perfectly exemplified authority, compassion, and mercy. We are called to imitate him in our dealings with others.
Reflection:
Jesus invites us to examine ourselves. There are numerous instances when we tend to judge others, looking at them as unworthy of forgiveness and love. However, we fail to acknowledge our own sinfulness. All of us are sinners. Yet, it is so easy for us to pass judgment on the wrongdoings of others. We find ourselves like the self-righteous Pharisees and teachers of the law who mercilessly and with no compassion wished to exact punishment on presumed sinners like the adulteress in the Gospel.
When Jesus told them, "Let anyone of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her," one by one the crowd left. They seemed to have felt shame and guilt, perhaps because they themselves have sinned.
Jesus teaches us to forgive. It is only by forgiving that we allow God back in our lives. The same is true when we become remorseful of a wrongdoing and sin no more; we find ourselves back in the loving embrace of God. When we are forgiving, we are not inclined to judge others. We have seen this in Christ's example. His forgiving nature led him to become merciful, patient and compassionate to the adulteress. His forgiveness gave her the chance to repent and be a better person.
So với bản chất con người của chúng ta, Chúa Giê-su là một vị thầy không bao giờ lên tiếng trách móc hay lên án với những người có tội. Người phụ nữ bị bắt ngoại tình hôm nay rất đáng xấu hổ và cũng thật tội nghiệp . Trong thời của Chúa Giêsu không có nhóm nggười nào dám đứng lên để bênh vục cho những người phụ nữ bị lên án như cô gái hôm nay trong bài Tin Mừng.
Nếu chúng ta thử suy luận, thì cái tôi ngoại tình là cái tội không phải là chỉ có người phụ nữ, mà cả người đàn ông cũng có tội nữa. Nhưng theo luật của Do Thái là tội ngoại tình chỉ có phạt người phụ nữ, còn những người đàn ông ngoại tình thì không có ai thắc mắc gì cả. Có nghĩa là người đàn ông có thể "lănh nhăng" với những phụ nữ mà không bị buộc vào tội ngoại tình và không bị trừng phạt. Mà họ lại lên án quá khắt khe và tàn nhẵn với người phụ nữ khi mà thôi.!
Khi Thiên Chúa tạo dựng nên con người theo hình ảnh của Ngài, hình như chỉ là người đàn ông đã được chú ý và có tầm quan trọng hơn người nữ vì người phụ nữ đến sau. Chúng ta có thể hiểu như thế khi Kinh Thánh được viết bởi con người nên ý nghĩa có thề không đầy đủ. Nhưng hôm nay qua bài Tin Mừng, chúng ta đã nắm rõ hơn về tình yêu của Thiên Chúa. Nhiệm vụ của Đức Chúa Con là đến để làm cho con người chúng ta biết yêu kính và phụng sự Thiên Chúa, Việc làm và hành động của Chúa Kitô đã làm nổi bật lên được trong việc này. Tôn kính, thương yêu mọi người vì tất cả mọi người dù là nam hay nữ đều mang một hình ảnh của Thiên Chúa và được biểu lộ thật rất rõ ràng trong những hình ảnh con người của chúng ta.
Mùa Chay Thánh này giúp chúng ta có cơ hội để suy gẫm về sự chăm sóc của Thiên Chúa đối với tất cả chúng ta. Trong thế giới ngày nay, có vẻ như chỉ có sức mạnh. và sự khôn ngoan thông trị được thiên nhiên vì thế chúng ta hay đổ lỗi cho người khác và tha thứ cho chính mình? Vì vậy, ở đây hôm nay Chúa Giêsu cho chúng ta một bài học. Ai là người trong chúng ta không có tội, và có thể đổ lỗi cho người khác.? Tại sao chúng ta không biết cầu nguyện cho nhau và giúp đỡ lẫn nhau trong cuộc hành trình đầy khó khăn và thử thách trong khi chúng ta tiến về Nước Trời của Thiên Chúa ? hơn là tìm cách phán xét người khác một cách bất công.
Considering human nature, Jesus as a teacher did not pronounce any condemnation against the sinner. Being appreheded is already very shameful for the woman. At that time there were no feminine groups to help a condemned woman. If we consider adultery here, it is not only the woman who was at fault but both man and woman. Does it mean that man can play with women without being charged with adultery and left unpunished?
When God created man in his own image and likeness, it appears that it was only man that was given importance for the woman came later. We understand how Holy Scripture written by man is very inadequate. Now we have a better grasp of God's love. The mission of God the Son to make us know, love and serve God is very well manifested in this action of Christ. Respect for people as image of God is very clear in this episode. This season of Lent gives us a chance to reflect on God's care for all of us.
In our world today, it seems only the strong, the powerful, and the wise lord over nature. Do we blame others and excuse ourselves? So here Jesus gives us the example. He who is blameless can blame others. But is there any among us who is blameless? Would we not rather pray for one another and help one another in our not-so-easy journey to God's kingdom?
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7
This is a powerful line spoken by Jesus. The judgmental and condemning Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus who had apparently been caught “in the very act of committing adultery.” Was she a sinner? Yes, indeed she was. But this story is not so much about whether or not she was a sinner. It was about the attitude Jesus had toward sinners as compared to that held by the self-righteous, judgmental and condemning Pharisees.
First of all, let’s look at this woman. She was humiliated. She had committed sin, was caught, and was publicly presented to all as a sinner. How did she react? She didn’t resist. She didn’t remain in denial. She didn’t get angry. She didn’t fight back. Instead, she stood there humiliated, awaiting her punishment with a sorrowful heart.
Humiliation over one’s sins is a powerful experience that has the potential to bring forth true repentance. When we encounter someone who has sinned in a manifest way and is humiliated over their sin, we must treat them with compassion. Why? Because the dignity of the person always supersedes their sin. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God, and every person deserves our compassion. If one is obstinate and refuses to see their sin (such as in the case of the Pharisees), then an act of holy rebuke is necessary to help them repent. But when one experiences sorrow and, in this case, the added experience of humiliation, then they are ready for compassion.
By stating “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” Jesus is not justifying her sin. Rather, He’s making it clear that no one holds the right of condemnation. No one. Not even the religious leaders. This is a hard teaching to live for many in our world today. It is commonplace for the headlines in the media to almost compulsively present us with the most sensational sins of others. We are constantly being tempted to be outraged at what this or that person has done. We easily shake our heads, condemn them and treat them as if they were dirt. In fact, it seems that many people today see it as their duty to act as the “watchdogs” against every sin they can dig up on others.
Reflect, today, upon whether you are more like the Pharisees or Jesus. Would you have stood there in the crowd wanting this humiliated woman to be stoned? How about today? When you hear about the manifest sins of others, do you find yourself to be condemning of them? Or do you hope that mercy is shown to them? Seek to imitate the compassionate heart of our divine Lord; and when your time of judgment comes, you also will be shown an abundance of compassion.
My merciful Lord, You see past our sin and look to the heart. Your love is infinite and awe-inspiring. I thank You for the compassion You have shown to me, and I pray that I may always imitate that same compassion to every sinner all around me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Shedding Light: The eighth chapter of John’s Gospel started with the dark tale of a woman caught in adultery and an angry mob threatening to stone her. The situation was defused by impelling the crowd to come out of the darkness and look at themselves in the light of Christ. Jesus now explained in the following verses that he himself is the light. How should we approach this light? We must follow, close enough to “hear the shepherd’s voice” (John 10:27) and to allow our hearts to be moved by his actions in our lives. May we cultivate a stronger habit of daily prayer, along with more frequent reception of the sacraments, confident that this prescription will keep us from slipping back into darkness.
Today Jesus gives us a definition of Himself that fills with sense the life of those of us that despite our many deficiencies, wish to follow him: «I am the Light of the world» (Jn 8:12). Jesus' person, his teachings, his examples of life, are light that lightens all our existence, whether in the good hours or in moments of suffering or contradiction.
What does that mean? That under any circumstances which we may find ourselves in, such as in our work, in our relations with others, in our relation to God, in our joys and in our pains... we may ponder: —What did Jesus do in a similar situation?; we can always look into the Gospels and reply: —So I will do the very same thing! Precisely, John Paul II has incorporated to the Saint Rosary —a “compendium of the Gospels”, as he himself recalls— the mysteries on the public life of Jesus, and has named them “Mysteries of Light”. Thus, the Holy Father says: «It is He who, after being named favored Son of the Father at the Baptism in the Jordan, announces the arrival of the Kingdom, and bears witness of it with his deeds while proclaiming his demands».
Jesus is Light and «the one who follows him will not walk in darkness, but will have light and life» (Jn 8:12). As his own disciples, the Lord also invites us to be light for the world; to shine a light of hope amidst the violence, mistrust and fear of our brothers; a light of faith amidst their darkness, doubts and queries; a light of love amidst the many lies, bitterness and passions that surround us. The Holy Father, as a backdrop to all the mysteries of light, reminds us of Mary's words at the Cana wedding: «Do whatever He tells you» (Jn 2:5): this is the right way for Jesus to be the Light of the World and for ourselves to be able to illuminate with this same light.
1. What Authority? The Pharisees exercised their authority over others by merciless recrimination. Christ reached out to others with compassion and mercy. The Pharisees saw authority as a means to banish a sinner from society. Christ seeks the lost and returns him or her to the sheepfold. In this Gospel, the adulterous woman was about to be stoned for her sin, but Jesus put a stop to the Pharisees’ hypocrisy and, with a warning to sin no more, sent the woman off to begin anew. He perfectly exemplified authority, compassion, and mercy. We are called to imitate him in our dealings with others.
Jesus invites us to examine ourselves. There are numerous instances when we tend to judge others, looking at them as unworthy of forgiveness and love. However, we fail to acknowledge our own sinfulness. All of us are sinners. Yet, it is so easy for us to pass judgment on the wrongdoings of others. We find ourselves like the self-righteous Pharisees and teachers of the law who mercilessly and with no compassion wished to exact punishment on presumed sinners like the adulteress in the Gospel.
When Jesus told them, "Let anyone of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her," one by one the crowd left. They seemed to have felt shame and guilt, perhaps because they themselves have sinned.
Jesus teaches us to forgive. It is only by forgiving that we allow God back in our lives. The same is true when we become remorseful of a wrongdoing and sin no more; we find ourselves back in the loving embrace of God. When we are forgiving, we are not inclined to judge others. We have seen this in Christ's example. His forgiving nature led him to become merciful, patient and compassionate to the adulteress. His forgiveness gave her the chance to repent and be a better person.
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