Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Chúa Nhật thứ 26 Thường Niên A

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Chúa Nhật thứ 26 Thường Niên

Khi chúng ta nhìn lại, chúng ta chỉ có hai khoảnh khắc quan trọng trong cuộc đời chúng ta: hiện tại hay bây giờ và khoảnh khắc cuối cùng là giờ chết của chúng ta. Chúng ta nhìn nhận rằng mỗi khi chúng ta đọc Kinh Kính Mừng, ". . . cầu cho chúng con là kẻ có tội khi nay và trong giờ lâm tử. Amen."
Tiên tri Êdêkieu đã nói như vậy trong bài đọc thứ nhất hôm nay. “Khi người công chính từ bỏ lẽ công chính và phạm tội ác, nó phải chết, chính vì tội ác nó phạm mà nó phải chết”. Nói cách khác, chỉ vì hiện tại chúng ta đang làm khá tốt nên đừng quá tự tin. Thánh Phaolô đã cảnh báo về sự tự phụ của con người như ông nói: “Tôi thực hiện ơn cứu độ của mình trong sự sợ hãi và run rẩy, kẻo sau khi rao giảng cho người khác, chính tôi lại lạc lối”. Đó là những lời nghiêm túc; và qua lời này sẽ làm cho chúng ta nhận ra rằng chúng ta phải liên tục trông cậy vào ân sủng của Thiên Chúa.
    Tuy nhiên, nếu chúng ta có thể chịu mất tất cả vào giây phút cuối cùng thì điều ngược lại cũng đúng. Tiên tri Êdekiêu nói: “ Nếu kẻ gian ác bỏ đàng gian ác nó đã đi, và thực thi công bình chính trực, nó sẽ được sống. Nếu nó suy nghĩ và từ bỏ mọi tội ác nó đã phạm, nó sẽ sống chớ không phải chết".  Là một phó tế, tôi đã chứng kiến nhiều cuộc hoán cải trở lại với Thiên Chúa vào lúc cuối đời. Đó là một trong những điều đẹp nhất khi thi hành nghĩa vụ của một người phó tế. Có một gia đình bà con cô chú xa đang tụ tập quanh giường bệnh của người cha đang hấp hối. Suốt đời ông đã nhạo báng đức tin. Vợ anh đã chịu đựng điều đó nhiều năm và thầm cầu nguyện cho chồng mình. Thế mà khi ông ta sắp chết, vợ ông đặt vào tay anh một cây thánh giá nhỏ. Trước sự ngạc nhiên của cả gia đình, ông ta nắm lấy cây Thánh giá đó và đưa lên môi. Chạm vào cây thánh giá đó trên môi là hành động có ý thức cuối cùng của anh, và trước khi chết vài Ngày ông đã được Rửa tội, chịu phép thêm sưc và đươc rước mình Thánh Chúa.
    Bây giờ đối với một số người điều này có vẻ không công bằng. Làm sao một người có thể phớt lờ Thiên Chúa và được cứu nhờ sự hoán cải trên giường bệnh trong khi những người khác suốt đời làm điều tốt, rồi phải mất tất cả do phạm tội trọng? Thế nhưng Chúa đã hỏi đảo ngược câu hỏi: “Có phải đường lối của Ta là không được công bằng, hay đúng hơn, đường lối của các ngươi không phải là không công bằng sao?” Chúng ta có thể chắc chắn một điều: Thiên Chúa hoàn toàn công bằng và nghiêm minh. Nhưng Thiên Chúa không bao giờ cho phép chúng ta nhìn vào trái tim người khác hay phán xét người khác. Chúng ta chỉ có thể nhìn thấy chính mình.
    Một số chúng ta lo ngại cho những người chưa bao giờ nghe nói về Đứ Ki-tô. Họ sẽ được cứu rỗi như thế nào? Đó là một câu hỏi chính đáng; Câu 1260 trong Sách Giáo lý Công Giáo đề cập đến sư việc này. Nhưng lo ngại cho người khác có thể là một cách để trốn tránh một câu hỏi quan trọng và tức thời hơn nhiều: còn chúng ta thì sao? Chúng ta đều biết về Chúa Giêsu và sự cứu rỗi của chúng ta sẽ phụ thuộc vào cách chúng ta đáp trả lời mời gọi nên Thánh của Ngài.
    Về ơn cứu độ hôm nay Chúa Giêsu nói với chúng ta về hai người con. Người đầu tiên được sai đi làm việc trong vườn nho. Anh ta nói, "không đi", nhưng sau đó đã thay đổi quyết định và đến làm việc trong vườn nho của bố anh như lời yêu cầu của bố.  Còn người thứ hai nói với bố là anh ta sẽ đến và làm trong vườn nho, nhưng anh ta không bao giờ đến. Hôm nay Chúa Giêsu hỏi những người có một câu hỏi rất đơn giản: “Ai đã làm theo ý bố của mình?” Người con nào sẽ được cứu rỗi? Chúng ta có thể nghe thấy những người có mặt trước Chúa Giêsu phải bực tức mà thưa rằng "Người con đầu tiên". Người đã đôi ý và vào vườn nho làm việc.
    Điểm gần giống với bài Tin Mừng trong Chúa nhật tuần trước Chúa Giêsu nói chuyện dụ ngôn người làm vườn nho. Điều quan trọng không nhất thiết là tất cả những việc tốt chúng ta đã làm mà là chúng ta đang ở đâu vào cuối ngày. Những người đến vào giờ cuối cùng được trả lương như những người làm việc cả ngày. Chúa không làm việc theo nguyên tắc nhưng Chúa “trả lương cho mỗi người bằng nhau cho công việc giống như nhau”. Như tất cả chúng ta biết là: “Thiên Chúa thật quảng đại”. Thiên Chúa cũng công bằng, nhưng sự công bằng của Ngài theo một cách sâu sắc hơn tiêu chuẩn công lý thông thường của con người chúng ta.
tiêu chuẩn công lý thông thường của chúng ta.
    Vậy chủ đích của câu chuyện ngụ ngôn này là gì? Có đối với nhiều người thì đó là chúng ta cứ “Hãy tận hưởng bây giờ, rồi sẽ ăn năn hối lỗi sau”.  Mọt số người nghĩ là mình sẽ ngừng Sau sưa rượu chè, chửi thề, ăn chơi... nhưng không phải bây giờ. Một số người khác thì nghĩ là sẽ bắt đầu nghiêm túc trong việc cầu nguyện, xưng tội và đi lễ khi mình về hưu, hay tuổi xé chiều. Và cứ như thế họ nghĩ rằng, chắc chắn Chúa sẽ không đày tôi xuống hỏa ngục chỉ vì tôi làm ăn chơi, rượu chè một chút thôi.

Thưa quý ong bà anh chị em, lối suy nghĩ đó thật tai hại. Khi một người hoán cải trên giường bệnh, tôi tin rằng đó không chỉ là một hành động của lòng thương xót và ân sủng của Thiên Chúa, mà còn có điều gì đó đã chuẩn bị cho con người đó từ lâu. Điều tương tự như thế cũng xảy ra với những người có vẻ tốt bụng trong những ngày cuối đời của họ. Chúng ta hãy nhớ câu nói: “Bạn sống bao nhiêu, bạn sẽ chết bấy nhiêu”.

Khi ngày giờ Chúa định sẽ đên, điều đáng kể là không phải ý định tốt của chúng ta, “Tôi đã định ăn năn, nhưng chờ khi nào tôi được bảy mươi rồi hãy hay”. Chúa không quan tâm đến những lời hứa đáng yêu của chúng ta. Nhưng Ngài muốn chúng ta hành động. Chúng ta có ở trong vườn nho của Chúa hay không? Chắc chắn Giáo Hội có nhiều khuyết điểm. Trong Giáo Hội chắn chắn sẽ có những người không hoàn hảo kể cá hàng Giám mục hay linh mục họ cũng như chúng ta có những khuyết điểm. Nhưng điều mà chúng ta luôn chắn chắn là Chúa Giêsu và cô dâu của Người là Giáo hội luôn luôn thánh thiện và sẽ tồn tại mãi mãi. Khi thời gian cuối cùng của chúng ta đến, hãy nguyện xin Chúa cho chúng ta được thấy mình đang làm việc trong vườn nho của Ngài..

(Homily 26th Sunday Ordinary Time, Year A)

When you come down to it there are only two moments in our lives that matter: the present, now, and the final moment, the hour of our death. We acknowledge that every time we say the Hail Mary, "Pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen."

    The prophet Ezekiel says as much in today's first reading. "When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die." In other words, just because you are doing pretty good right now, don't get overconfident. St. Paul warns against presumption*, "I work out my salvation in fear and trembling, lest after having preached to others, I myself be lost." Those are sobering words; they make us recognize we have to rely constantly on God's grace.

       However, if it is possible to forfeit everything at the very last, the opposite is also true. Ezekiel says, "But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed, and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life." As a priest I have seen many end-of-life conversions. It is one of the most beautiful things about being a priest. A family was once gathered around the bed of their dying father. All his life he had mocked the faith. His wife endured it years and prayed quietly for her husband. As he was slipping away, she placed a small crucifix in his hand. To the astonishment of the family, he grasped it and lifted it to his lips. Touching that crucifix to his lips was his last conscious act.

Now to some people this can seem unfair. How can a person ignore God and be saved by a deathbed conversion while someone else does good all his life, then loses everything by committing a serious sin? But God turns the question around, "Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?" We can be sure of one thing: God is completely just and fair. But he never allows us to peer into another man's heart. We can only see our own. Some worry about the people who have never heard about Christ. How are they saved? That is a legitimate question; our Catechism addresses it. (#1260, see also #161ff.) But worrying about other people can be a way of avoiding a much more important and immediate question: what about you? You and I do know about Jesus and our salvation will depend on how we respond to him.

    Regarding salvation Jesus tells us today about two sons. The first was told to get into the vineyard and work. He said, "no," but later changed his mind. The second said, "yes," but then never went. Jesus asks a simple question, "Which one did his father's will?" Which one will be saved? You can hear Jesus' listeners swallow hard, "The first." The one who got into the vineyard.

    The point is almost identical to last Sunday - the parable of the workers in the vineyard. What counts is not necessarily all the good work you've done, but where you are at the end of the day. Those who came at the last hour get the same pay as those who worked all day. God does not operate on the "equal pay for equal work" principle. As Father Armando had us all say last Sunday, "God is generous." He is also fair, but in a deeper way than our ordinary standard of justice.

    So what is the moral of this story? I am afraid for many people it is, "Enjoy now, repent later." I'll stop swearing and drinking, but not now. I'll start getting serious about praying and going to Mass when I'm older. Surely God won't send me to hell just because I do a little messing around. That way of thinking is fatal. When a person makes a deathbed conversion, I am convinced it was not only an act of God's grace, but there was something which all along prepared the person. The same with the apparently good man who trips at the end. Remember the saying, "As you live, so shall you die." When that moment arrives, what will count is not your good intentions, "I was planning on repenting, but when I turned seventy." God is not interested in a lot of lovely promises. He wants action. Are you in the vineyard or not? Sure, the Church has a lot of imperfections. It's composed of imperfect people, like you and me. But what will endure forever is Jesus and his bride the Church. When our time comes, may we be found working in the vineyard.

 

26th Sunday Ordinary Time, Year A 2023

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go.” Matthew 21:28–30

This parable presents a message of great hope to those who find it difficult to follow the will of God. The first son, the one who said he would not obey the father but then changed his mind, refers to those who have initially rejected the will of God but then repented and turned back to Him. The second son represents those who claim to be faithful followers of the will of God, but are not. This second son presents us with a very dangerous trap we can fall into. He represents the interior disposition of the chief priests and elders of the people. They said one thing but did another. They acted as if they were righteous but were not. They might have even been fooling themselves.

Of course, there is another possible scenario Jesus doesn’t present. Ideally, when the father asked his son to work in the vineyard he would have said “yes” and then followed through with his commitment. But this is not mentioned because no one falls into that category, except for our Blessed Mother. All people have sinned, and everyone needs to repent.

    When we look at these two sons, we must humbly strive to be like the first one. We must begin by acknowledging that we have refused to obey the will of God in many ways throughout our lives. God has invited us to serve Him, and we have said “no.” Acknowledging this is an essential starting point for a life of true conversion and service of God. When we fail to humbly admit that we have sinned, we are acting like the second son. We are living a lie and are trying to convince ourselves that we are faithful to the will of God when we are not. This second son represents a very dangerous interior disposition that we must avoid with all of our might. It is the sin of impenitence, a sin against the Holy Spirit. It is dangerous because this type of self-righteousness keeps a person from truly serving the will of God. They believe their own lie and see no need to repent.

    Which of these two sons are you most like? Are you keenly aware of your weaknesses and sins? Can you humbly admit them to yourself and to God? Or do you tend to present yourself as one who is holy and does not need to repent? Never be afraid to admit your sin. Never pretend to be someone you are not. Never allow yourself to be drawn into self-righteousness. We are all called to a life of ongoing conversion. Seeing that fact, admitting to it and striving for that conversion will win for us the glorious Kingdom of Heaven.

    Reflect, today, upon the many ways that you have initially said “no” to the will of God. Sometimes we do so in grave matters, and sometimes we do so in less serious ways. The humble truth is that we all refuse to fully embrace the will of God every day. The invitation we have been given to obey Him is much more than a black-and-white, yes-or-no answer. God’s call to obedience goes deep and is a call on a continuously deepening level. Keep looking into your soul and confess the ways you reject the will of God. The more clearly you see your sins and confess them, the more fully you will be in a position to say “yes” to the will of God with all your heart.

    Most merciful Lord, You continuously call us to repentance. We have all sinned against You and do so every day. Please give me the gifts of humility and honesty so that I will be aware of the ways in which I refuse to say yes to Your perfect will and so that I can repent of those sins and daily turn back to You. Jesus, I trust in You.

 
26th Sunday Ordinary Time, Year A 2023
Introductory Prayer: In you, Lord, I find all my joy and happiness. How could I offend you by chasing after fleeting success and lifeless trophies? I believe in you because you are truth itself. I hope in you because you are faithful to your promises. I love you because you have loved me first. I am a sinner; nevertheless, you have given me so many blessings. I humbly thank you.
Petition: Lord, help me to follow you, regardless of circumstances and times.
1. A Higher Authority: Jesus is in Jerusalem, exchanging words with the Pharisees. They have tried to trap our Lord by asking where he gets his authority. Our Lord, in his wit, turns it back to them. He asks them a question that causes them to accuse themselves of lacking fidelity to God. Jesus is looking for faith. Faith is the attitude that searches for authority in life higher than one’s own. When God calls us to live his will, we should, in faith, accept it and live it. Even if it seems inconvenient or uncomfortable to us, we should not look for ways to live outside it. It is very important that we bypass inauthentic outlooks on life.
2. Christ’s Mentality: If we are to understand this Gospel passage, we must try to rid ourselves of the “modern mentality.” In the modern mentality, we do whatever we please as long as we don’t step on anyone else’s toes. Jesus proposes a different mentality. Jesus suggests that we not only listen to but also do the will of God in our lives. Neither son in this parable was perfectly in tune with Christ’s suggestion, but at least one of the sons came to his senses and repented for his stubbornness of heart.
3. An Apparent Defeat: Many of us reading through this scene would congratulate Jesus for putting down his enemies and winning the debate. We would toss confetti at the Lord for his wisdom and knowledge in getting out of this predicament. This, though, wasn’t the case. Jesus felt it as a loss. He did not care about appearing better than the others. He left this encounter saddened because he truly desired that the Pharisees believe him and accept his saving message. We ought not to try to shine over our foes. Instead, we should work hard to help them see the light.
Conversation with Christ: With even a little of your charity, I could certainly be a son of two “yeses.” Help me to say “yes” when you ask me something and also to do it immediately – without hesitating for even a moment. Lord, may your will be done!
Resolution: This week, when the alarm goes off early to start my day, I will try to be diligent and punctual for love of God’s will

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy Tuần 25 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy Tuần 25 Thường Niên Luke 9:43-45
Trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu cho chúng ta sẽ biết rằng Chúa đang có một mối lo lắng và một gánh nặng rất to lớn, nếu như chúng ta chứng kiến được những lời cầu nguyện của Ngài trong khu vườn cây dầu vào đêm trước khi Ngài phải chịu nạn chúng ta có thể biết được Ngài đã phải mang cái gánh nặng này đã bao lâu rồi. Chúng ta có hai cách để đọc và suy nghĩ về bàiTin Mừng hôm nay.
1 - Chúng ta có thể đọc đó như là bài chia sẽ mà Chúa Giêsu muốn tâm sự. Ngài muốn chia sẻ gánh nặng này với những các môn đệ của Ngài và những ai muốn gần gũi với Ngài. Nhưng có lẽ họ không có đủ sức mạnh để hiểu và chịu đựng cái nỗi đau thương của Ngài.
2 - Chúng ta có thể đọc bài Tin Mừng hôm nay như là một lời cảnh cáo của Chúa Giêsu cho các môn đệ của Ngài biết rằng; Ngài muốn họ chuẩn bị tinh thần về sự đau khổ và cho cái chết của Ngài.
            Trong những tháng năm cùng rao giảng tin mừng với các môn đệ, Chúa Giêsu có nói với các môn đệ nhiều lần rằng Ngài sẽ phải chịu đau khổ và sẽ bị giết. Nhưng có thể là họ không hiểu được những lời Chúa tiên báo này, họ chỉ mới nhớ lại những lời này sau khi Ngài đã chết đi và sống lại từ cõi chết và ghi nhớ lại những dữ kiện sau cái sự thực đau thương phũ phàng, với Thập Giá trong quá khứ, họ đã được biến đổi, và từ gánh nặng Thập giá đó họ sẽ có được sự mặc khải như bây giờ.
            Chúa Giêsu biết những gì đang đến, sẽ đến và Ngài can đảm, cam kết sẽ thực thi theo ý muốn của Chúa Cha. Cho dù Ngài đã biết về sự đau khổ và phải chết trên Thập Giá nhục nhã trước khi Ngài đã tập đọc được những chữ cái đầu tiên hay Ngài chỉ biết được cái số phận của mình sau này, Ngài luôn luôn biết rằng Ngài sẽ làm theo ý Chúa Cha, mà không làm theo ý riêng mình. Lạy Chúa xin Giúp cúng con có can đảm để làm theo ý Chúa.
 
Reflection Saturday 25^th Ordinary Time
            I wonder when Jesus learned that he would die on the Cross, or if he always knew it. I mean to say, did he know it as a five-year-old boy or did he learn it at some point later in life? He was not taken by surprise: he teaches his disciples about the sufferings to come and he discusses the Cross with Elijah and Moses during the Transfiguration. We know that it was a great burden for him, as is clear from his prayers in the garden on the night before he died, but how long did he carry this burden?
            It seems to me that there are two distinct ways to read the Gospel today. We could read it as Jesus trying to share this burden with those closest to him, but they are not strong enough to help bear it, or we could read it as Jesus, knowing that his disciples would not be able to bear the burden that he carried but also wanting to prepare his disciples for his death, tells them about the suffering and death to come, but prevents them from understanding.
In the year leading up to the Cross, Jesus told his disciples many times that he would suffer and die. They did not understand then, but after he died and rose from the dead they remembered these teachings. Remembering them after the fact, with the Cross in the past, they are transformed, from the burden they would have been, to the revelation they are now.
            These words are a revelation because they teach us so much about Jesus Christ. Because of these words we know that he was fully aware of the death he would suffer, yet he does not say these words as a merely prescient person would.          If you knew right now the death that awaits you, your first instinct would be to consider ways to avoid it, but Jesus does not begin planning ways to avoid his fate. He knows what is coming, and he is committed to doing the will of the Father. Whether he knew about the Cross before he learned his first words or if he did not know until the year before, he always knew that he would do the will of his Father, no matter what.
 
Saturday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time 2023
“Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.  Luke 9:44–45
This is the second time that Jesus predicts His coming passion to His Apostles. After telling them that He will be handed over, the Gospel relates that “they did not understand this saying.” It also states that “they were afraid to ask him about this saying.” Why did they not understand, and why were they afraid to ask Jesus about His coming passion?
The Apostles were deeply attached to our Lord, both on a spiritual level and also through their affections. And this is good. But sometimes our affections can cloud our thinking and make it difficult to understand the deeper spiritual realities in life. Though our affections are natural, they must always be directed by the will of God. For example, if we were to try to understand Jesus’ affections, we’d have to conclude that He both spiritually and affectionately desired to lay down His life for the salvation of souls in accord with the will of the Father. He not only chose this with His will, but He also desired it in His affections, because His affections were perfectly ordered.
The Apostles, however, were unable to understand that Jesus had to lay down His life, be rejected, suffer and die, in part because they were very attached to Jesus in an emotional and affectionate way. So in this instance, their human love and attachment to Jesus hindered their ability to understand the greater spiritual good of Jesus laying down His life.
Consider, also, our Blessed Mother. How would she have reacted to Jesus saying that He had to be handed over, be rejected, suffer and die? Though this would have grieved her with a holy sorrow, the perfection of her human nature would have led her to not only understand and accept this deep spiritual truth, but she would have also desired this to happen within her affections because she perfectly desired the fulfillment of the will of the Father. There would have been no conflict within her between the will of the Father and what she desired.
In our own lives, we will often tend to struggle in the same way that the Apostles struggled. When faced with some challenging cross in life, a cross that the Father calls us to embrace freely, we will often find that our affections resist. When this happens, we become confused and even fearful of the future. Thus, the only way to conquer fear is to work to surrender every emotion, every affection and every human attachment over to the will of the Father so that His will is all we desire with every power of our soul.
Reflect, today, upon the interior struggle of these Apostles as they came face-to-face with this the second time Jesus began to prepare them to accept, understand, choose and desire His passion. Consider the interior struggle they went through at that time and even as they saw this unfold. Eventually they understood. Eventually all fear vanished. And eventually they affectionately rejoiced in Jesus’ sacrifice. But it took much time and much surrender. Reflect upon those ways our Lord is inviting you to choose His Cross in your life. Where you see your affections resisting, try to surrender, pray for understanding and seek the courage you need to desire His Cross with all your soul.
My revealing Lord, You opened Your divine heart to Your Apostles and invited them to understand and choose Your suffering and death. And though they hesitated and struggled, You continued to invite them to embrace the Father’s will. Give me the grace I need, dear Lord, to embrace every spiritual truth first and foremost and to allow that Truth to free me from fear and fill me with the gift of understanding. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Saturday 25th Week in Ordinary 2023
Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, open my ears to hear your words, open my eyes to see as you see, and open my heart to love as you love. I ask for the grace of understanding. 
Encountering Christ:
1. “The Son of Man Is to Be Handed Over”: The disciples of Jesus were amazed at his multiplication of loaves and fishes and the many healings he performed, but at this moment, Jesus intentionally diverted their attention away from his successes. Instead, for the second time, Jesus told them he would suffer and die. Still, it didn’t sink in. Human understanding is not always capable of grasping the ways of God. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways—oracle of the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:5-6). Jesus wanted the apostles to know that suffering fit into God’s plan, so he would tell them as often as they needed to hear it. When we are confused or seek discernment about the way God is working in our life, we need to persevere in prayer until we understand the message.
2. They Did Not Understand: The disciples did not understand but would eventually understand. Faith believes that what one does not currently see, one will see. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). Jesus told his disciples he would suffer so that when it came about, they would remember what he told them. When the guards took him in the garden of Gethsemane, the apostles would recall Jesus’s words and be assured that, despite all appearances, God’s will was being done. 
3. Afraid to Ask: What would have happened had the apostles asked for more details? On other occasions, when they asked Jesus to explain something they did not understand, he spoke more plainly. When we’re confused by life’s circumstances, do we seek clarity from God? What keeps us from asking him to explain? God always wants to hear from us. We can trust him with our confused feelings, anger, and sorrow. He is pleased when we come to him as dependent children, asking for clarity about what we don’t understand. 
Conversing with Christ: Dear Lord, when life gets confusing, help me trust in you even though my understanding is limited. Increase my faith! Help me to confront my fears, to place them before you. 
Resolution: Lord, today, by your grace, I will spend some time in prayer, sincerely pouring out my heart, trusting that my loving Father hears my plea. 
 
Saturday 25th Week in Ordinary 2022
Opening Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I am grateful to have this time of prayer with you. Help me to grow in faith, hope, and love. Let me learn the lessons you wish to impart to me. I need your grace to renew, strengthen, and guide me in my discipleship. I also bring the souls entrusted to my intercession to you in this prayer. 
Encountering Christ:
They Were Amazed: It was easy to be amazed at the words and deeds of Jesus. He “taught them as one having authority” (Mark 1:22), and his miracles left people even more astounded, saying, “We have seen incredible things today” (Luke 5:26). Consequently, enlightened by grace, Peter proclaimed Jesus to be the “Messiah of God” (Luke 9:20). When Our Lord’s words inspired and his miracles cured countless people, it was easy to follow him. He was popular and admired, and some of his admiration would reflect upon his closest collaborators. They could feed off the excitement; they could bask in his glory. It is easy to follow Jesus when things are going well, when prayer brings us consolation, and when our ministry meets with success. 
The Son of Man Is to Be Handed Over: However, Our Lord warned his apostles on various occasions that his life would suffer an ignominious ending (Luke 9:22 and Luke 17:25). The willingness to suffer with and for Christ is an essential aspect of discipleship.“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). To “daily” take up one’s cross implies that denying oneself is a constant disposition, and not merely reserved for the end of life. There will be many sacrifices required of us when we choose to live like Christ. Self-denial goes hand in hand with living his precept of charity since it seeks to place the needs of others before our own comfort and preferences.
They Did Not Understand: Christ’s teaching of self-denial is hard to understand and even harder to live. It goes contrary to our sinfulness, which seeks to affirm oneself at the expense of others. The Catechism states that sin is a “failure in genuine love for God and neighbor [which]… injures human solidarity” (CCC 1849). Therefore, to renew charity in our lives, grace will pull us against the current of our selfishness: “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat” (John 12:24). However, it is in dying to self that we can produce “much fruit” (John 12:24). We can only understand this principle with grace and experience. 
Conversing with Christ: Dear Jesus, throughout my life I have received countless graces from you, which have brought me great joy: consolation in prayer, answered prayers, protection from harm and assistance with many needs, blessings at work and in my family. Help me also to appreciate the blessings that are costly, that challenge my comfort and way of thinking. Let me realize in practice that “all things work for good for those who love God” (Romans 8:28).
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will reflect on how some of the difficult moments in my life have brought blessings.
 
Saturday-25th Week in Ordinary 2013
            Scripture frequently uses the image of a shepherd to speak of God’s protecting love and care for us, as in the passage from Jeremiah which serves as our responsorial Psalm today. People who have grown up with a religious life nourished by the word of Scripture have probably assimilated the image to such an extent that they find no problem with the image and are even moved to great devotion by singing “The Lord is my shepherd”.
            Since, however, we mostly live in urban areas and not in a nomadic culture where actual shepherds do guide and care for their flocks of sheep, it is beneficial and at times even necessary for us to re-think the image of a shepherd and try to reach a real understanding of the truth which Scripture conveys to us. Many other biblical images are no longer part of our urbanized culture and social ambience and need to be re-thought.
            Even Jesus’ disciples found it difficult to understand his message, partly because the notion of a suffering Messiah did not make any sense to them. So then, through prayer and reflection, we need to personalize our religion and cultivate a relationship with God that makes spiritual sense to us and strengthens our faith.  Lord, bless us with the strengthening experience of Your protective love.
 
REFLECTION
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus tries to convey to his disciples a correct view of his mission, but they simply do not understand. The notion of a suffering Messiah is just too much for them to grasp. They even hesitate to inquire more deeply about it. They could understand Jesus' miracles. They could understand the traditional Jewish concept of a conquering Messiah. But the idea of a Messiah who would be killed was totally foreign to them. It seemed like complete defeat.
After Pentecost, however, their eyes would be opened. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, they would come "to understand fully the mystery, the plan God was pleased to decree in Christ to reconcile everything in his person both on earth and in the heavens, making peace through the blood of his cross." With the Spirit they could see beyond the externals of life and religion, and see into the very heart of God. This heart is a heart of love. It is also a heart of mystery. It lives by dying for those it loves. It is glorified in being humbled for those it loves. It is given abundant wealth by becoming poor so that those it loves might share in its wealth. These things are all paradoxes. They are all mystery. Yet they all boldly and clearly proclaim the truth of God's love. This love was most dearly revealed in the death of God's Son, Jesus Christ.
Do we understand this mystery, or do we still seek a Messiah who will come in worldly victory? Do we really seek the action of the Spirit in our life so we might understand this mystery? Do we really allow ourselves to be daily born again in his love by coming to share in a daily death to selfishness and sin? As a Church we must not allow ourselves to remain in ignorance. We must be born again in the true sense of the word.