Trong Bài Đọc I, một số phép lạ đã xảy ra trong
nhà tù. Trước hết, là việc động đất và tất cả các dây xích sắt của các tù nhân đã đuợc
cắt đứt và được mở ra, nhưng không tìm
cách trốn thoát. Tuy nhiên, phép lạ
lớn nhất đấy chính là người
cai ngục, người mà luôn
ngược đãi các tù nhân, đã được Thiên Chúa mở mắt và nhận ra rằng Thánh Phaolô và Silas là đặc sứ của Thiên Chúa. Vì vậy, ông đã xin
họ cho ông được ơn cứu độ nơi Thiên Chúa. Chính ông là người đã đem họ ra khỏi nhà tù và đem về nhà săn sóc những vết
thương của họ và ngồi lắng nghe lời họ giảng dạy về Chúa Giêsu và ơn cứu rỗi của Ngài. Tất cả những người trong gia đình ông chủ ngục đã được rửa tội và nhận đức tin của Chúa
Giêsu Kitô. Đây chính là một phép lạ!
Chúng ta đã được chứng kiến những phép lạ
mà mọi người đã được
biến đổi hoàn toàn cuộc sống của họ?
Việc đó chắc chắn sẽ là
một điều sẽ là tuyệt vời để chứng
kiến phép lạ như vậy bởi vì chính việc đó thực sự đã làm củng cố
đức tin của chúng ta vào Thiên Chúa. Việc biến đổi của Thánh Phaolô cũng là một phép lạ như vậy. Sự biến đổi kỳ diệu chính là công việc của Chúa Thánh Thần. Khi Chúa
Thánh Thần chạm vào một người nào đó, Thì Thánh Thần có thể
thay đổi những người ấy và
làm cho họ có được tâm hồn đầy
dẫy lòng nhiệt thành để vâng
lệnh của Ngài.
Chúng ta không nên nản lòng và bỏ rơi bất
cứ ai, không cần biết là họ xấu thế nào, bởi vì Thiên Chúa có sức mạnh hơn tội lỗi của chúng ta. Ngài có thể thay đổi chúng ta hoàn toàn nếu chúng ta
tin vào Ngài và mong muốn được biến đổi theo như cách làm việc
và sự suy nghĩ của Ngài. Những việc
Chúa Thánh Thần làm là hủy bỏ
hoàn toàn các việc làm của của ma quỷ và thánh hoá chúng ta. Vì vậy, chúng ta không nên sợ những điều ác vì Thiên Chúa đã chiến thắng ma quỷ
và sự dữ trong ngày Chủ Nhật Chúa
Phục Sinh.
Tuesday 6th Week of Easter
In the first reading, several
miracles occur. First, there is an earthquake and the chains of all the
prisoners fall off. But the bigger miracle is that no one tries to escape. Most
probably Paul talked to them and convinced them not to run away. However, the
biggest miracle is about to happen. The jailer, who must have maltreated many
of the prisoners, realizes that Paul and Silas are envoys of God. So he asks
for salvation from God through them. He brings them to his house (still another
miracle), washes their wounds and then sits down to listen to their preaching.
All his family members are converted to the faith and are all baptized. Now
that is a miracle!
Have you witnessed miracles in
which people completely change the direction of their lives? It would be
great to witness such miracles because they truly strengthen our faith in God.
The conversion of St. Paul is one such miracle. Miraculous conversions are the
work of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit touches a person, he can change
immensely and is filled with zeal to obey God and His commands. We should not
give up on anyone no matter how bad they might be because God is more powerful
than our sins. He can change us totally if we believe in Him and desire to be
converted to His way of doing and thinking. The work of the Holy Spirit is to
undo the works of the devil. So we should not be afraid of the evil one because
God has already triumphed on Easter Sunday over the prince of this world.
The gospel says so.
Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are
you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I
tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the
Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:5–7
Jesus continues to speak
prophetically to His disciples about the necessity for Him to go to the Father
so that He can send the Holy Spirit. What’s interesting in this passage is that
Jesus points out to His disciples that “grief” has filled their hearts because
of what He has said to them. Clearly, this grief in their hearts is because
they do not understand what they will soon experience and do not want their
relationship with Jesus to change.
Throughout our lives, our Lord
will call us to change. At times, He calls us away from that with which we are
familiar and comfortable, and He calls us to something new. This can be
frightening and can become the cause of “grief” for us also. To help, let’s
consider this passage above in detail.
Recall that there were many
times, prior to Jesus’ death, that Jesus slowly started to reveal to His
disciples, especially to the Twelve, that He would be going to the Father and
that He would no longer be with them in the way He had been. Jesus wanted the
Twelve to begin to understand that their relationship with Him, with the Father
and with the Holy Spirit would soon take on new meaning in their lives. But the
fact that this was something new, a change to what they had grown accustomed,
meant that they were more focused upon the grief that accompanies loss than
they were focused upon the joy that awaited.
This same experience can often
be found in all of our lives. Though dramatic change is not necessarily a
regular occurrence throughout life, most everyone will experience change at
various moments in life. And when that change occurs in accord with the will of
God, it must be embraced with hope and great expectation.
For example, vocational
changes, such as getting married, having children, or entering a religious
vocation, always bring with it much change—but a change that God can use for
much good. Also, the death of a loved one, a move to a new community, a new job
or school, the establishment of new relationships and the like can be difficult
but also fruitful. Since the Gospel passage above specifically refers to the
change that comes from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, it might be helpful
to consider the fact that whenever some new change takes place in our lives,
the Holy Spirit is there, waiting to enter into the new situation in ways we
could have never imagined. So if you find yourself at times experiencing the
grief of some loss, or difficulty with some new endeavor in life, know that the
disciples experienced something similar. But in the end, Jesus’ words came
true—“it is better for you that I go.” Though they did not want to see Jesus
die and then ascend to Heaven out of their sight, this was part of the plan of
God for their lives. So also when the changes we encounter in life are part of
God’s divine plan, we can be certain that good things await.
Reflect, today, upon anything
that our Lord may be asking of you in regard to a change in your life. Are you
open, ready and willing to do whatever He asks? Or are you fearful or grieved
by the thought of some change. Be open to anything our Lord asks of you and
know that the full embrace of His holy will is the only path to true happiness
in life.
My dear Jesus, You prepared
Your disciples for the new life of grace that they would receive after Your
death and Resurrection. Though fearful and uncertain, they embraced the new
life You called them to live, and You did marvelous things through them. Please
open my heart to the full embrace of my vocation and any changes that You
desire for my life. I say “Yes” to You, my Lord, and pray that You work
powerfully through me by the Holy Spirit. Jesus, I trust in You.
Tuesday 6th Week of Easter 2023
Opening Prayer:
Dearest Lord, I know that you will always speak the truth no matter how
difficult it may be for me to hear or understand. Send your Holy Spirit to keep
me on the path of righteousness.
Encountering Christ:
1. Where Are
You Going?: Jesus had to leave this world to fulfill his mission.
Perhaps none of the apostles asked where he was going because they trusted him
despite their lack of understanding. In our own experience, we can trust that
everything happens for a reason, even though sometimes we may not understand
and even desire a different course or outcome. We trust because we know we are
beloved sons and daughters of our loving Father.
2. Grief Has
Filled Your Heart: The apostles had met Jesus, devoted three years of
their life to following him, learning from him, depending on him—and now he was
talking about departing. No doubt, they were more than sorrowful—they were
probably frightened, confused, and angry. Their vague understanding of “the
Advocate” who was to come did not assuage their grief. We know that most of
them scattered during Our Lord’s passion. Grief, fear, and uncertainty—are
difficult and powerful emotions. When we suffer loss in our own lives, Our Lord
desires to accompany us, perhaps mitigate our suffering, or at the very least
give us supernatural strength to carry it. We can’t suffer well without his
help, so we stay close to Jesus in prayer, knowing that he works everything out
for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28).
3. Humility:
Jesus made it clear to his apostles that he had to leave to send the Holy
Spirit. He was passing his ministry onto the apostles, who were to be
strengthened and readied by the Holy Spirit. He shows us that there can come a
time when it is good and necessary to hand our mission over to the next person.
We don’t want to pridefully cling to our work if that’s not his will, so let’s
beg for the Spirit’s discernment and, if required, let go.
Conversing with
Christ: Christ Jesus, when I feel
“abandoned” and filled with sorrow, confusion, or anger, help me to trust that
you are with me and give me the grace to lean into your loving embrace.
Additionally, help me know when to stay focused and when to let go of the work
you have given me.
Resolution: Lord, today, by your grace, I will prayerfully evaluate
all areas of work to see if it is time to let go. If so, I will begin a
transition plan.
Tuesday 6th Week of Easter
The sudden change in
the attitude of the jailer in the first reading invites study and reflection.
In one instant he's a terrified, fearful man, bent on suicide. In the next he's
leading his prisoners out of the jail, bathing their wounds, and spreading a
feast before them. He was fearful because he thought his prisoners had escaped
from detention. Now, by his own volition and decision he gives freedom to these
same men who have been entrusted to his charge by his superiors.
Paul, of course, along with Silas,
reacted much differently when confronted with crisis. Without any semblance of
a trial, Paul had been scourged publicly. He was a Roman citizen, and to
scourge a Roman citizen was a crime punishable by death. Furthermore a Roman
citizen could not be punished at all without a trial. Yet, in spite of this
public, very painful, humiliating, and unjust experience, we find Paul, and
Silas with him, marvelously calm, though chained in prison. When the earthquake
struck, their calm continued. Paul calmly called out to the jailer to dissuade
him from killing himself.
Paul and Silas, and the jailer as
well, found their faith an enormous source of strength. Depending on the depth
of our faith and the intensity of our love for the Lord Jesus, we share this
same source of strength with them. In time of crisis, for instance when we must
accept rejection by those we love and admire for the sake of Christ's values or
when because of these same values we must say no to wealth immorally acquired,
we can dip into this strength-source. The Lord Jesus himself will share his
strength with us. Then we will profess Jesus joyfully, even though the
environment be hostile.
Tuesday
of the Sixth Week of Easter
1. Sadness at Jesus’ Parting: As
Jesus’ imminent self-sacrifice approaches, the apostles are overwhelmed with
confusion and grief. “Who is going to betray him?” “Why is he going?” “What
will we do without him?” Questions like these — fruit of their concern for
their Master and friend are whispered to and fro. They have given up everything
to follow him. Jesus strives to console them although he is immersed in grief
himself. Sorrow is not lacking in the life of any pilgrim, and as Christians we
are exiles in a foreign land. Our joy and hope comes from the vision of faith,
which enables us to follow in the footsteps of Our Lord. His sacrifice and
victory give meaning to our daily trials.
2. The Consoler’s Coming: We
are called to an intimate friendship with the Holy Spirit, the “Sweet Guest of
the Soul.” Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon us at our baptism to be the
craftsman of our holiness, and our consolation and strength as we await
Christ’s return. No one would wish to face a criminal trial alone and unaided;
nor should we try to face the ordeal against sin without the help of Christ’s
advocate. Am I aware of the gentle presence of the Holy Spirit in my soul? Am I
attentive and docile to his inspirations and movements?
3. Setting Things Right: Nothing
is so unsettling as to see the “bad guy” win. Whether it be in the movies or in
real life, somehow it seems written in the very fabric of the universe that good
should prevail. Many times evil has appeared to usurp the upper hand
momentarily, but a Higher Power has always intervened, causing one tyranny and
dictatorship after another to crumble. In our own day, evils abound in
societies where the lives of the most vulnerable are greatly undervalued.
Christ reminds us, however, that the Holy Spirit is at work. Time and again the
Holy Spirit continues renewing the face of the earth and changing hearts,
bringing good out of evil. Am I too pessimistic in the face of evil, or do I
have the optimism of a Christian? Do I confide in the grace and action of the
Holy Spirit?
Conversation with Christ: Lord
Jesus, you have left us to go to the Father, and yet you are still with us
through the action of your Holy Spirit. Help me to find strength and
consolation as I strive to follow his guidance.
Resolution: I will
take a moment out of my day today to thank the Holy Spirit for his action in
the world and my life.
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