Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Ba Tuần thứ 10 Thường Niên
Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu đã cho chúng ta thấy là người Kitô hữu, chúng ta được kêu gọi để trở thành như muối mặn và ánh sáng cho thế giới. Muối mặn không cho khẩu vị thêm cho chính nó, nhưng được dùng để ướp thực phẩm để được giữ lâu, và muối cùng được dùng để làm tăng cho khẩu vị thức ăn. Nếu như chúng ta bị huyết áp cao và bác sĩ nói với chúng ta là muốn sống thêm vài tuổi nữa thì nên có một chế độ ăn uống ít muối, nếu như thế, chúng ta sẽ cảm thấy ngay sự khác biệt trong những bữa cơm hàng ngày, vì thức ăn của chúng ta sẽ vô vị và nhạt nhẽo.
Ánh sáng cho trần gian! ... chúng ta có thể nhìn thấy bất cứ điều gì trong bóng tối? Khi Mẹ Têrêsa Calcutta đã được gọi là muối và ánh sáng, hãy thử nhìn xem những hành động mẹ đã làm? đó là những công việc khó khăn. Mẹ cầu nguyện rất nhiều, mẹ đã nhặt những cái “xác chết” trên các nẻo đường phố, Mẹ chăm sóc những người bị bỏ rơi. Mẹ đã làm những công việc như thế hàng ngày một cách lặng lẽ và không có gì đáng làm vui thích và thu hút nhiều người trên toàn thế giới. Mẹ Têrêsa đã làm cho nhiều người cảm kích, những người này có bao gồm cả những Kitô hữu và những người từ các tôn giáo khác. Mẹ đã cảm phục những người khác làm tốt hơn, để trở thành thiện hơn, từ bi hơn, trở thành người tốt hơn.
Chúng ta hãy làm những công cụ cho sự giác ngộ, như những nắm muối mặn hoặc là những đèn sang để mang đến khầu vị ngon lành, hay chiếu ánh sáng và ý nghĩa cho cuộc sống cho những người khác.
"Lạy Chúa Giêsu, Chúa đã hướng dẫn chúng con bằng ánh sáng của chân lý cứu độ của Chúa. Xin lấp đầy quả tim và tâm trí của chúng con với ánh sáng và chân lý của Chúa và giải thoát chúng con thoát khỏi sự mù quáng của tội lỗi và sự lừa dối để chúng con có thể thấy đường lồi của Chúa một cách rõ ràng và hiểu được thánh ý của Chúa ban cho cuộc sống của chúng con. Xin cho chúng con có thể tỏa ánh sáng và chân lý của Chúa cho những người khác trong lời nói và việc làm của chúng con.
REFLECTION
Christians are called to be salt and light to the world. Salt gives taste not to itself but to all kinds of food. If we are hypertensive and the doctor tells us to take a low-salt diet we'll know definitely the difference. Food will be tasteless and bland.
Light to the world… can we see anything in darkness? When Mother Teresa of Calcutta was being the salt and light – it was hard work. She prayed a lot, she picked up the dying from the streets, she cared for the abandoned. She did her daily chores quietly and without funfair and it attracted many people in the whole world. Mother Teresa gave inspiration to many people, including Christians and those from other religious groups. She inspired others to do better, become more charitable, more compassionate, become better people. Let us be instruments of enlightenment, like the salt or the lamp which gives flavor, illumination and meaning to the lives of others.
Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
2023
Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world…” Matthew 5:13–14
Every Christian has two primary duties in life. First, we must strive for personal holiness. And second, we must work to help others achieve this same degree of holiness. This is what it means to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.”
Consider salt. Salt is a preservative, and it also adds flavor to food. It does so by entering the food and, in a sense, disappearing. So it must be with us. First, our Lord must enter our lives and preserve us from the corruption of sin. But as He does so, He will also bring out our goodness in a way that the “flavor” of holiness is evident to others. In this way, we will be used as salt for others. This is especially done by our works of charity.
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux said in her autobiography, “I see now that true charity consists in bearing with the faults of those about us, never being surprised at their weaknesses, but edified at the least sign of their virtue.” She believed that this was especially the way we act as salt and light to others. We help to preserve others from sin by being merciful to them when they are weak. We enrich their lives by seeing their goodness and rejoicing in it. And we do so in a hidden way. By our gentleness and compassion, our kindness and mercy, we preserve others and help them to grow in God’s abundant grace. And we do so, many times, without them even realizing how God used us.
Consider, also, light. The world in which we live is oftentimes quite dark and despairing. There is corruption all around us and temptations abound. Thus, the light of Christ must be made manifest far and wide. Those all around us need to see clearly the path to holiness and happiness. Again, this is possible if we first work to become light itself. Christ, the true Light of the World, must so permeate our lives that we find it almost automatic to shine brightly in a fallen world. When Christ is alive in us, we will radiate joy and peace, calm and conviction, moral goodness and determination. And when we live this way, we will not have to “impose” the Gospel on others; rather, God’s light will simply shine and be a beacon of hope to those who come into our presence.
Reflect, today, upon these two missions in life. First, ponder your call to holiness. How does God want to bring light into your own life, preserve you from all sin and add spiritual flavor for holy living? Second, who does God want you to love with His love? Who needs hope and joy, mercy and kindness, words of wisdom and encouragement? Be holy and then allow that holiness to shine forth to others and you will indeed be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
My Jesus, the true Light of the World, please shine brightly in my life so that I will see clearly and will be preserved from the darkness of sin. As You fill me with Your light, please use me as an instrument of Your love and mercy to a world filled with chaos and confusion. Dispel the darkness, dear Lord, and use me as Your instrument as You will. Jesus, I trust in You.
Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
2023
Introductory Prayer: Father of love, the source of all blessings, you have led me throughout my life, and you lead me still. Thank you for your paternal care. Jesus, Son of God, you died for me on the cross to pay for my sins and manifest your unconditional love for me. Thank you for showing me the way home to the Father. Holy Spirit, sweet guest of the soul, you heal me and strengthen me and set me on fire from the most intimate depths of my soul. Thank you for your loving presence within me.
REFLECTION
In today's Gospel Jesus suggests, "Such as these (the poor, the hungry, those who mourn, who are merciful, etc.) they are light to the world, salt of the earth." Jesus here uses light and salt as symbols indicating two of the primary services Christians offer to the world. Light brightens something other than itself. Salt seasons and preserves something other than itself. The Christian's life throw light not upon him or herself, but upon the values of Christ so that the world can see them, and seasons these values so that the world will recognize how
attractive they are.
The great danger, however, is that Christians will be corrupted by the values that the world loves and pursues. Capitalism, materialism, consumerism - are values the world extols and propagates and insinuate themselves into Christian living. Christians, perhaps without realizing it, assimilate popular cultural values. Gradually their lives focus on the acquisition of more and more wealth and the latest status symbols. Their lives can no longer be identified as Christian except in terms of vocabulary and ceremony. But you, "your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."
Reflection: (6/9/2013)
Salt does not exist for itself but to give flavor to food. Without salt, we don't enjoy the taste of our food. It dissolves in the food or soup it is mixed with, and walla! the food tastes great! Therefore salt is very important. Same as light. Without light, we cannot move around because we cannot see anything. So light has a very important mission - to illuminate the world. And why are these elements so important in our world today? Because many people live in darkness, they do not know what they are living for. When something goes wrong in their lives, they don't understand what is happening. Someone must enlighten them. Others' lives are tasteless, meaning they are so bored with the same daily routine, to see the same wife and children every day and so they go about their daily lives like zombies. They need spice in their lives and this is where salt comes in.
Jesus did not come for himself but in order to save man from his sins, his darkness, his boredom, etc. So he offered his life for our salvation and now we live in a world redeemed by his blood. With Jesus guiding us, we can be salt and light to others. In front of trials and sufferings, we do not despair but continue to trust in God. In fact we become stronger in our faith. We are also called to be holy in a world where the mere mention of being pure, chaste, kind, generous, self-giving and austere is often ridiculed. We need to be lights shining brightly for all men to see our good works.
Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu đã cho chúng ta thấy là người Kitô hữu, chúng ta được kêu gọi để trở thành như muối mặn và ánh sáng cho thế giới. Muối mặn không cho khẩu vị thêm cho chính nó, nhưng được dùng để ướp thực phẩm để được giữ lâu, và muối cùng được dùng để làm tăng cho khẩu vị thức ăn. Nếu như chúng ta bị huyết áp cao và bác sĩ nói với chúng ta là muốn sống thêm vài tuổi nữa thì nên có một chế độ ăn uống ít muối, nếu như thế, chúng ta sẽ cảm thấy ngay sự khác biệt trong những bữa cơm hàng ngày, vì thức ăn của chúng ta sẽ vô vị và nhạt nhẽo.
Ánh sáng cho trần gian! ... chúng ta có thể nhìn thấy bất cứ điều gì trong bóng tối? Khi Mẹ Têrêsa Calcutta đã được gọi là muối và ánh sáng, hãy thử nhìn xem những hành động mẹ đã làm? đó là những công việc khó khăn. Mẹ cầu nguyện rất nhiều, mẹ đã nhặt những cái “xác chết” trên các nẻo đường phố, Mẹ chăm sóc những người bị bỏ rơi. Mẹ đã làm những công việc như thế hàng ngày một cách lặng lẽ và không có gì đáng làm vui thích và thu hút nhiều người trên toàn thế giới. Mẹ Têrêsa đã làm cho nhiều người cảm kích, những người này có bao gồm cả những Kitô hữu và những người từ các tôn giáo khác. Mẹ đã cảm phục những người khác làm tốt hơn, để trở thành thiện hơn, từ bi hơn, trở thành người tốt hơn.
Chúng ta hãy làm những công cụ cho sự giác ngộ, như những nắm muối mặn hoặc là những đèn sang để mang đến khầu vị ngon lành, hay chiếu ánh sáng và ý nghĩa cho cuộc sống cho những người khác.
"Lạy Chúa Giêsu, Chúa đã hướng dẫn chúng con bằng ánh sáng của chân lý cứu độ của Chúa. Xin lấp đầy quả tim và tâm trí của chúng con với ánh sáng và chân lý của Chúa và giải thoát chúng con thoát khỏi sự mù quáng của tội lỗi và sự lừa dối để chúng con có thể thấy đường lồi của Chúa một cách rõ ràng và hiểu được thánh ý của Chúa ban cho cuộc sống của chúng con. Xin cho chúng con có thể tỏa ánh sáng và chân lý của Chúa cho những người khác trong lời nói và việc làm của chúng con.
Christians are called to be salt and light to the world. Salt gives taste not to itself but to all kinds of food. If we are hypertensive and the doctor tells us to take a low-salt diet we'll know definitely the difference. Food will be tasteless and bland.
Light to the world… can we see anything in darkness? When Mother Teresa of Calcutta was being the salt and light – it was hard work. She prayed a lot, she picked up the dying from the streets, she cared for the abandoned. She did her daily chores quietly and without funfair and it attracted many people in the whole world. Mother Teresa gave inspiration to many people, including Christians and those from other religious groups. She inspired others to do better, become more charitable, more compassionate, become better people. Let us be instruments of enlightenment, like the salt or the lamp which gives flavor, illumination and meaning to the lives of others.
Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world…” Matthew 5:13–14
Every Christian has two primary duties in life. First, we must strive for personal holiness. And second, we must work to help others achieve this same degree of holiness. This is what it means to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.”
Consider salt. Salt is a preservative, and it also adds flavor to food. It does so by entering the food and, in a sense, disappearing. So it must be with us. First, our Lord must enter our lives and preserve us from the corruption of sin. But as He does so, He will also bring out our goodness in a way that the “flavor” of holiness is evident to others. In this way, we will be used as salt for others. This is especially done by our works of charity.
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux said in her autobiography, “I see now that true charity consists in bearing with the faults of those about us, never being surprised at their weaknesses, but edified at the least sign of their virtue.” She believed that this was especially the way we act as salt and light to others. We help to preserve others from sin by being merciful to them when they are weak. We enrich their lives by seeing their goodness and rejoicing in it. And we do so in a hidden way. By our gentleness and compassion, our kindness and mercy, we preserve others and help them to grow in God’s abundant grace. And we do so, many times, without them even realizing how God used us.
Consider, also, light. The world in which we live is oftentimes quite dark and despairing. There is corruption all around us and temptations abound. Thus, the light of Christ must be made manifest far and wide. Those all around us need to see clearly the path to holiness and happiness. Again, this is possible if we first work to become light itself. Christ, the true Light of the World, must so permeate our lives that we find it almost automatic to shine brightly in a fallen world. When Christ is alive in us, we will radiate joy and peace, calm and conviction, moral goodness and determination. And when we live this way, we will not have to “impose” the Gospel on others; rather, God’s light will simply shine and be a beacon of hope to those who come into our presence.
Reflect, today, upon these two missions in life. First, ponder your call to holiness. How does God want to bring light into your own life, preserve you from all sin and add spiritual flavor for holy living? Second, who does God want you to love with His love? Who needs hope and joy, mercy and kindness, words of wisdom and encouragement? Be holy and then allow that holiness to shine forth to others and you will indeed be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
My Jesus, the true Light of the World, please shine brightly in my life so that I will see clearly and will be preserved from the darkness of sin. As You fill me with Your light, please use me as an instrument of Your love and mercy to a world filled with chaos and confusion. Dispel the darkness, dear Lord, and use me as Your instrument as You will. Jesus, I trust in You.
Introductory Prayer: Father of love, the source of all blessings, you have led me throughout my life, and you lead me still. Thank you for your paternal care. Jesus, Son of God, you died for me on the cross to pay for my sins and manifest your unconditional love for me. Thank you for showing me the way home to the Father. Holy Spirit, sweet guest of the soul, you heal me and strengthen me and set me on fire from the most intimate depths of my soul. Thank you for your loving presence within me.
In today's Gospel Jesus suggests, "Such as these (the poor, the hungry, those who mourn, who are merciful, etc.) they are light to the world, salt of the earth." Jesus here uses light and salt as symbols indicating two of the primary services Christians offer to the world. Light brightens something other than itself. Salt seasons and preserves something other than itself. The Christian's life throw light not upon him or herself, but upon the values of Christ so that the world can see them, and seasons these values so that the world will recognize how
attractive they are.
The great danger, however, is that Christians will be corrupted by the values that the world loves and pursues. Capitalism, materialism, consumerism - are values the world extols and propagates and insinuate themselves into Christian living. Christians, perhaps without realizing it, assimilate popular cultural values. Gradually their lives focus on the acquisition of more and more wealth and the latest status symbols. Their lives can no longer be identified as Christian except in terms of vocabulary and ceremony. But you, "your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."
Salt does not exist for itself but to give flavor to food. Without salt, we don't enjoy the taste of our food. It dissolves in the food or soup it is mixed with, and walla! the food tastes great! Therefore salt is very important. Same as light. Without light, we cannot move around because we cannot see anything. So light has a very important mission - to illuminate the world. And why are these elements so important in our world today? Because many people live in darkness, they do not know what they are living for. When something goes wrong in their lives, they don't understand what is happening. Someone must enlighten them. Others' lives are tasteless, meaning they are so bored with the same daily routine, to see the same wife and children every day and so they go about their daily lives like zombies. They need spice in their lives and this is where salt comes in.
Jesus did not come for himself but in order to save man from his sins, his darkness, his boredom, etc. So he offered his life for our salvation and now we live in a world redeemed by his blood. With Jesus guiding us, we can be salt and light to others. In front of trials and sufferings, we do not despair but continue to trust in God. In fact we become stronger in our faith. We are also called to be holy in a world where the mere mention of being pure, chaste, kind, generous, self-giving and austere is often ridiculed. We need to be lights shining brightly for all men to see our good works.
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