Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai Tuần thứ 6 Phục Sinh:

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai Tuần thứ 6 Phục Sinh:

 “Người và vai trò của Chúa Thánh Thần”
Khi sắp đến giờ Chúa Giêsu được tôn vinh,  qua cái chết trên thập giá và sự phục sinh của Ngài, Chúa Giêsu đã tỏ lộ cho các môn đệ của Ngài đầy đủ hơn về vai trò của Chúa Thánh Thần.  Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay,  Chúa Giêsu đã nói gì với chúng ta về Chúa Thánh Thần?  Trườc hết, Chúa Thánh Thần không thể tách rời một mình ra khỏi Chúa Cha và Chúa Con.  Chính Chúa Thánh Thần là Đấng ban sự sống; Sự sống trong  Thiên Chúa;  và là Đấng làm cho đức tin trở nên sống động trong tâm hồn và lòng trí của những người tiếp nhận Lời Chúa.
Nhờ Chúa Thánh Thần mà chúng ta có thể biết Thiên Chúa một cách mật thiết hơn. Chúa Thánh Thần giúp cho chúng ta có được kiến ​​thức và kinh nghiệm về Thiên Chúa là Cha chúng ta. Ngài là nhân chứng nhân của Thiên Chúa để cho chúng ta biết rằng chính Thiên Chúa Cha đã sai ban Con một của Ngài xuống thế gian để cứu chuộc con người tội lỗi và đã đem Con của Ngài, Chúa Giêsu Kitô sống lại từ cõi chết và đã ngự bên hữu của Ngài trong quyền lực và vinh quang .
            Chúa Thánh Thần ban ơn soi sáng cho chúng ta để chúng ta có thể nhận biết vế những kiến ​​thức, trí tuệ và kế hoạch của Thiên Chúa dành cho muôn thế hệ và Chúa Thánh Thần cũng đã  mở "con mắt đức tin"  của chúng ta đê chúng ta thấy được những gì mà Chúa Cha và Chúa Con đang làm cho chúng ta. Qua những ân sũng và hoạt động của Chúa Thánh Thần chúng ta được trở nên những chứng nhân cho những công việc tuyệt vời của Thiên Chúa trong Đức Giêsu Kitô.
            Chúa Giêsu đã cảnh báo các môn đệ của Ngài là họ có thể sẽ gặp phải những sứ chống đối,  băt bờ và  đàn áp cũng giống như Chúa Giêsu đã bị dân Do Thái chống đối, phản đối và bị đối xử với thái độ thù địch. Qua phép Thánh Tẩy và Thêm sức, Chúa đã ban cho chúng ta Chúa Thánh Thần để giúp chúng ta được sống như những môn đệ của Chúa Giêsu Kitô.  Chúa Thánh Thần sẽ ban cho chúng ta lòng can đảm và sự kiên trì khi chúng ta gặp nghịch cảnh và thách thức. Chúng ta hãy cầu nguyện xin Chúa  Thánh Thần ban cho chúng ta có thêm sức mạnh trong đức Tin, đức Cậy (hy vọng) và đức Mến (tình yêu thương ) và để ban cho chúng ta sự can đảm và sự kiên trì khi gặp những nghịch cảnh và thử thức.
 
Reflection 2016
Part of the Last Supper discourse of our Lord, the core of our gospel today, contains two very important elements. The first is his promise to his disciples that he will send the Holy Spirit to be their guide, strength and consolation in their mission. The second is a grim but very real warning of their coming persecution by some misguided people who may truly think that they are doing God's will in persecuting them. 
            How do these apply to us living in a different time and place? The history of mankind is also a record of wars and violence throughout the ages. After two millennia of Christianity, Europe still suffered two devastating world wars and more recently, the Balkan civil wars. These were marred by genocide and various atrocities. 
            Nearer home, we can still recall the cruel behavior of the Japanese Imperial armies on the people of China and Southeast Asia. Closer to our times, the racial riots in Malaysia and Indonesia continue to haunt us,  as well as the recent emergence of radical extremists from different faith traditions all over the world. In our grief over the injustice and senseless violence, our hearts cry out for justice and vengeance upon the perpetrators.  However we are all victims of our sinful nature and we share common brokenness. 
            Would we allow the healing love of the Holy Spirit to soften our hardening hearts and mend our broken hearts in our grief and anger over the senseless violence and great injustice we see and experience around us? Why then did the almighty God choose to be vulnerable and suffer the greatest injustice and violence of the cross?
 
Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter2023
Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:26–27
Jesus informs His disciples that “the Spirit of truth” will come and that the Spirit, as well as the disciples, will “testify” to Him. When Jesus first spoke these words to His disciples, they would not have comprehended what He meant. Since these words are prophetic in nature, they are words spoken that were to come to fulfillment and, then, once fulfilled, the words would be understood. So what does Jesus mean?
When we look at the Acts of the Apostles and read about the early Church, it is clear that something incredibly transforming took place after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Up until that time, the disciples and other followers of Jesus had faith, but they were also fearful. They communicated with those others who believed, but did so in secret and with fear. But as soon as Pentecost came and the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, descended upon them, the Apostles began to be used by God to powerfully proclaim the Gospel without fear and with great effect upon many. It was this experience of the disciples of our Lord, being filled with the Holy Spirit, to which Jesus was referring.
After Jesus died, and perhaps even more so after Jesus ascended into Heaven, it is likely that some of His disciples immediately concluded that the new movement Jesus started was now over. They could have never conceived of the idea that what Jesus started was only beginning. They could have never conceived of the fact that soon they would share in the beginning of the Church, proclaim the Gospel with courage and power, see the conversion of countless lives, witness the ongoing forgiveness of sins, and ultimately give their lives in imitation of our Lord. These disciples had no idea just what awaited them with the coming of the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth. What was awaiting them was their sharing in the ability to “testify” to Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. They soon realized that Jesus was actually more alive than ever and that He was now going forth to convert souls by the power of the Holy Spirit and through the instrumentality of all of His new disciples.
The same is true in our lives today. It is far too common for Christians to simply believe in Jesus personally, but then fail to wholeheartedly give testimony to Him by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. It is far too common for followers of Christ to act more like the disciples prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit. Too often, Christians keep the Gospel to themselves, fearful of giving testimony by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Reflect, today, upon these prophetic words of Jesus. Though these words were initially spoken to the Twelve, Jesus also speaks these words to you today. He wants you, too, to be a witness to Him, giving testimony to others so that they will come to believe. Reflect upon how well you fulfill this prophetic calling. Where you are lacking, pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life so that God can reach many hearts through you.
Most glorious Jesus, You promised to send upon Your disciples and also upon me the Holy Spirit, the Advocate and Spirit of Truth. Holy Spirit, I welcome You into my life and offer myself to You without reserve to be used to give testimony to the Truth. Please do use me, my God, and touch many lives through me. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
 
Monday 6th Week of Easter  2023
Opening Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. Heavenly Father, grant me the gift of courage and conviction for when the hour comes, and my faith is tested.
Encountering Christ:
1. You Shall Give Testimony: This age of divisive internet exchanges and hot-headed political conflict can intimidate persons of faith into disengagement from the culture. Bishop Barron gave some excellent advice about how to argue religion when he spoke in 2018 to Google and Facebook. As “ordinary” Catholics, we can follow his rules of engagement to address “hot-button” topics to “give testimony.” However, the greatest testimony we can give is to live a holy life by being faithful to Christ in our thoughts, words, and actions, and make amends when we fail to cooperate with his grace. 
2. Being Prepared: Our Lord prepared his disciples to suffer by telling them in advance so that they wouldn’t “fall away.” He prepares us for the big moments in our lives as well. Through the Sacrament of Ordination or Marriage, he gives us the grace we need to persevere in our vocational call. Through Reconciliation, he gives us the strength to withstand temptation. Through our faith community, he gives us the spiritual gifts of the whole church (healing, prophecy, etc.) to accompany us through hardships. In the Anointing of the Sick, Our Lord prepares us for our final journey home. In his mercy, Jesus prepares us with every spiritual gift to succeed in “winning the race and keeping the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
3. When the Hour Has Come: We Christians will face persecution. It may be in small, discreet ways, such as being given sideways looks when we make the Sign of the Cross in public, walk around with ashes on our forehead, or wear a crucifix around our neck, or in larger confrontational ways when our beliefs are challenged at family gatherings or in the workplace. Jesus gave us fair warning. May we stand strong in our convictions not out of pride but out of love for Jesus and this faith that he gave us as a most precious gift.
Conversing with Christ: Dearest Jesus, faithful friend of my soul, grant me the courage to stand by my convictions as an act of love for you. May I lay my life down for you by dying to my pride, vanity, and desire for comfort and ease.
Resolution: For you, Lord, today I will be alert to opportunities to stand by my convictions with love and out of love for you.
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai Tuần thứ 6 Phục Sinh:
Chúa Giêsu đã chắc chắn rằng những người theo Ngài là những người sẽ không bao giờ phải cô đơn trong cuộc sống vì Ngài sẽ sai Chúa Thánh Thần là Đấng Bảo Hộ, là Người sẽ An ủi hay là Người bênh vực của Chúa đến để làm chứng, hướng dẫn và giảng dạy chúng ta, những người đã tin theo Chúa. Chúng ta sẽ cần đến Chúa Thánh Thần! Ngài cảnh cáo cho chúng ta biết rằng Nếu chúng ta theo Chúa sống và làm theo những giáo huấn của Ngài thì thế giới này sẽ ghen ghét và thù nghịch với chúng ta. Và một ngày sẽ đến khi chúng ta sẽ bị một số người bách hại chúng ta nhưng họ cứ nghĩ là họ đã làm đẹp lòng Thiên Chúa. Thật sự như thế cho đến cả hôm nay bao nhiều quốc gia Hồi Giáo quá khích đã gây ra chiến tranh, bạo động và họ cố gắng tiêu giệt các tôn giáo khác, kể cả Thiên Chúa Giáo, họ nghĩ là họ vậy là làm đẹp lòng và trung thành với Thiên Chúa.  Thiên Chúa không bao giờ muốn hay chấp nhận bạo lực hay thù hận vì danh Chúa.
  Chúng ta hãy cẩn thận, sống làm đẹp lòng Chúa trong lời nói, trong sự suy nghĩ, lời nói của chúng ta không bao giờ có thể thể hiện sự bạo lực, không dung nạp, hoặc hận thù với bất cứ ai vì lý do nào, đặc biệt là liên quan đến Thiên Chúa. Lạy Chúa, xin ban cho con lòng khoan dung và luôn biết tôn trọng người khác.
 
Monday 6th Week of Easter  
Many of the first converts to Christianity were women. Paul and his companions met a Greek woman named Lydia outside of Philippi next to a river (there is a beautiful outdoor chapel there now). She was a God-fearer — a pagan who was attracted to Judaism and open to its teachings. The Lord opened her heart; she and her household were baptized, and she extended hospitality to Paul. Often the contributions of women in the church have not been adequately appreciated and recognized, and the Holy Father has called for a greater voice for women. Let us open our own minds and hearts.
Jesus made sure that his followers would never be alone. He left them the Paraclete; comforter or advocate ; to witness, guide, and teach. They would need it! He warned that by following him they would earn the world's hatred. A day would even arrive when those who killed them would think that they were doing God a favor. How true — even today, many resort to violence in the belief that they are being faithful to God. God does not ask for or accept violence or hatred in His name. Let us take care in word, thought, and speech that we do not demonstrate violence, intolerance, or hatred to anyone for any reason, especially concerning God. Lord, grant me tolerance and respect for others.
 
\REFLECTION 2006
The first reading relates the path that Paul and Barnabas took after leaving Jerusalem and as they progressed towards the area of the Gentiles. In the first reading, they meet Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, listened and as a result, the Lord enlightened and opened her heart to hear what Paul was saying.
We can relate this particular instance in our daily lives. When we allow ourselves to listen and open our hearts to what God is trying to tell us, we may be able to hear and understand him. However, there are times no matter how hard we try, it seems that his Word refuses to give meaning in our lives. During those times, we need to ask the help of the Holy Spirit to open our ears, mind and heart so that we can reap the full benefit from the Lord's Word.
In the Gospel today, Jesus emphatically states that he will be sending the Advocate to the disciples and to us. Jesus reminds us that the Spirit of truth will testify to you and me. These words of Jesus should comfort and encourage us all. The disciples were once a group of people who were afraid for their own lives, especially during the period after Jesus was crucified. But they turned into a group of brave men, unafraid to proclaim the teachings of the Lord and enduring all kinds of suffering and persecution. In the last forty days which Jesus spent with the disciples after his resurrection, Jesus gave his disciples a lasting hope and courage which they needed to fulfill their mission that was entrusted to them - that of bringing the Word of the Lord to all nations.