Suy Niệm thứ Hai Tuần 33 thường Niên

Suy Niệm thứ Hai Tuần 33 thường Niên

Trong cuôc sống con người của chúng ta, đôi khi chúng ta cảm thấy là rất khó để trung thành với con đường của Thiên Chúa hướng cho chúng ta đặc biệt là khi chúng ta đang phải đối diện với nhiều thử thách và cám dỗ trong một xã hội với nền văn hóa chủ chủ trương cá nhân, sống buông thả, ích kỷ. Con người chúng ta có vẻ thú vị, và luôn luôn có sự thôi thúc mãnh liệt để làm sao có thể được giống như mọi người khác.

Như dân Israel đã phải đối mặt với những thách thức này qua sự đô hô và ảnh hưởng nền văn hoá của người Hy Lạp, và nhiều người đã xuôi tay. Đế vương Antioches Epiphanes đã làm hết sức mình để tiêu diệt đạo Do Thái và văn hóa của người Do thái, nhưng hầu hết dân Do thái vẫn luôn biết cương quyết và trung thành với Thiên Chúa của họ. Cuối cùng họ đã thắng.

Qua bài Tin Mừng chúng ta đã chứng kiến cảnh một người mù và tàn tật thường xuyên bị xã hội kinh bỉ. Nhưng anh đã có cái nhận thức và nhìn sâu sắc vào Chúa Giêsu. anh chào đón Chúa bằng một danh hiệu là Đấng Kitô, Chúa cứu thế, con vua David - và viớ long tin anh ta đã xin Chúa cứu chữa cho anh ta, Anh ta đã kiên trì và đầy đức tin, vì vậy Chúa Giêsu chữa cho anh ta được sáng mắt., không phải chỉ sáng mắt nhìn được cảnh vật bên ngoài, mà anh còn sáng cả đôi mắt tâm hồn nữa.

 Chúng ta không thể cho phép người khác hoặc xã hội của chúng ta bịt miệng, ngăn cản và dập tắt ngọn lửa đức tin của chúng ta để đến với Chúa như anh mù. Sự trung tín, và kiên trì là đức tính mà chúng ta cần phải có trong cuộc sống đạo của chúng ta, chúng ta sẽ không bao giờ hối tiếc vì nhờ các đức tính đó mà chúng ta sẽ được ân sủng và cái nhìn sâu sắc trong đức tin hơn.

Lạy Chúa, giúp chúng con biết kiên trì và trung thành với con đường của Chúa.

 

Reflection (SG)

Sometimes it is difficult to remain faithful to the path of the Lord when we are faced with the many temptations present in our culture. They seem exciting, and there is always the strong urge to be just like everyone else. The people of Israel faced this challenge from their Greek rulers, and many gave in. Antioches Epiphanes did his best to wipe out Jewish religion and culture, but most of the people remained firm and faithful. In the end they were victorious. Today it is so important not to be seduced by the many possibilities that are offered to us, nor to be bullied by those who would force us to abandon our spiritual path. We will never lose by being faithful to God. Today it is so important not to be seduced by the many possibilities that are offered to us, nor to be bullied by those who would force us to abandon our spiritual path. We will never lose by being faithful to God.

The blind and disabled were often looked down upon in ancient society. The blind beggar by the side of the road had no status or honour. His requests to see Jesus were met with stern rebukes and orders to keep quiet. But despite being blind, he had insight into the identity of Jesus.  He greeted him with a Messianic title — son of David — and asked for help. He was persistent and faith-filled, so Jesus restored his sight. We cannot allow other people or our society to silence us and snuff out the flame of faith. Fidelity and persistence are virtues that we will never regret. We will be given grace and insight.

Lord, help me to be faithful to Your path.

 

Monday 33^rd Ordinary Time 2023

As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Luke 18:35–39

This beautiful story of the healing of this blind man, named Bartimaeus in the Gospel of Luke, sets for us a model of how we must come to Jesus in prayer. Bartimaeus and his encounter with Christ is an icon upon which we must meditate so as to imitate him in his weakness, openness, confidence and perseverance.

To begin, this “blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.” We must see this as an ideal image of how to begin our prayer. When we start to pray, we must see our littleness, weakness and extreme poverty in our spiritual life. We come to God with nothing. Unable to see. A beggar. And one who is incapable of meeting our own spiritual needs. This is Bartimaeus, and this must be the way we come to our Lord in prayer. Sometimes we can fall into the illusion that our prayers are so elevated and pious that God must be very impressed. If that’s your struggle, then you are more like the Pharisees. This blind man, however, is the ideal to aim for. So when you begin your prayer, come to our Lord as a spiritually poor and needy beggar.

In this state of humility, just as it happened in this Gospel story, you can be certain that “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” So as you sit in your humble and needy state, wait and be attentive to Jesus passing by. Wait upon His gentle voice, His quiet inspiration, His calming and unmistakable presence. 

If you can humble yourself this way and then sense our Lord’s divine presence touching you in some way, then further imitate Bartimaeus by calling out interiorly, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The cry from the depths of your heart in prayer must come as a result of Jesus “passing by.” It must be a response to Him coming to you on His own. As Jesus passes by, spiritually speaking, He waits for you to call to Him. He desires that you call to Him. And He desires that you do it with firm confidence and perseverance.

Notice that as this blind beggar cried out, there were obstacles put in his way. The people “rebuked him, telling him to be silent.” But even this was a gift, because it enabled Bartimaeus to cry out all the more. So also with us, when obstacles arise in our prayer, such as distractions, temptations, a lack of consolation, or any other challenge to our prayer, we must see these obstacles as hurdles that must be overcome. Doing so will deepen our union with Jesus, turning that apparent obstacle into a source of blessing.

Reflect, today, upon these four aspects of a deep prayer life that are presented to us through the witness of this blind beggar. First, ponder your weakness and poverty as you turn to God in prayer. Second, be attentive to the presence of God as He passes by, waiting for you to call to Him. Third, cry out to Him and beg Him to come closer. And fourth, work to overcome every obstacle to prayer and see those obstacles as opportunities to call out to God all the more.

My compassionate Lord, I come to You in my weakness and poverty, I come in need of Your divine touch and healing. As You do pass by, I acknowledge Your presence and call to You. Jesus, please do come to me, have pity on me. Help me to overcome every obstacle to Your love and to trust in You always, never wavering from my commitment to You. Jesus, I trust in You.

 

Monday 33^rd Ordinary Time 2023

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come before you to spend this time in prayer with you. Open my heart to hear and receive the word that you wish to speak to me today. I believe that your desire to spend this time with me is infinitely greater than mine. Even still, let my desire for you grow just a bit more today. I trust in you, and I love you, Lord. Let my faith, hope, and love grow. 

Encountering Christ: 

Roadside Beggars: This blind man must have spent a lot of time sitting beside that road on the way to Jericho. The other townsfolk had probably gotten used to his presence and his occasional shouts from his mat begging for alms or a bite to eat, or maybe just asking for the gossip of the day. He could have just blended into the hustle and bustle of daily routines and important things that occupied the minds and hearts of many that day, as Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. But something in his heart prompted him to reach out, in spite of the others shushing him. There was a thirst, a longing within him for sight, and years of darkness and solitude had not yet quenched the hope that this could be possible. 

The Hidden Blessing of Blindness: How many years had this man suffered blindness, whether from birth or some accident? Only God knows. How he lived and learned to bear the burden of this suffering is a mystery to us, too. But perhaps over time he came to discover a hidden blessing in his blindness. Even though his world was filled with darkness, perhaps he alone, among all those scurrying the streets of Jericho that day, had true sight, the sight of faith. Perhaps his very blindness kept ever before his eyes the real desire of his heart: that he might see. And it was this faith which allowed him to recognize the Savior as he passed by. This faith gave him the confidence to ask for what he needed. 

Faith’s Sight: The blind man could not see, but knew he was looked upon. This experience of being seen and known–accepted despite one’s imperfections and even cherished–is what allows the smallest seed of faith to grow. He could not see, but he knew he was looked upon. In this time of prayer, we, too, pause and sit beside the blind man, seeking a moment of silence in the hustle of my day. Is the Lord passing by? What blindness, darkness, or struggle weighs us down, tempting us to squelch our faith in loneliness and doubt? How can we get up and run to Jesus, let him look upon us, and receive in faith the hidden blessings Jesus wishes to give? 

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, my blindness is not so different from this blind man’s. I, too, find doubts and temptations surrounding me, telling me to be silent, causing me to hesitate. But you are so good and you never tire of coming out to seek me. You draw close and ask me, “What do you want me to do for you?” Lord, please let me see. 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will try to offer this prayer of petition in my heart throughout the day: Lord, please let me see. 

 

Monday 33^rd Ordinary Time 2022

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come before you to spend this time in prayer with you. Open my heart to hear and receive the word that you wish to speak to me today. I believe that your desire to spend this time with me is infinitely greater than mine. Even still, let my desire for you grow just a bit more today. I trust in you, and I love you, Lord. Let my faith, hope, and love grow. 

Encountering Christ: 

Roadside Beggars: This blind man must have spent a lot of time sitting beside that road on the way to Jericho. The other townsfolk had probably gotten used to his presence and his occasional shouts from his mat begging for alms or a bite to eat, or maybe just asking for the gossip of the day. He could have just blended into the hustle and bustle of daily routines and important things that occupied the minds and hearts of many that day, as Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. But something in his heart prompted him to reach out, in spite of the others shushing him. There was a thirst, a longing within him for sight, and years of darkness and solitude had not yet quenched the hope that this could be possible. 

The Hidden Blessing of Blindness: How many years had this man suffered blindness, whether from birth or some accident? Only God knows. How he lived and learned to bear the burden of this suffering is a mystery to us, too. But perhaps over time he came to discover a hidden blessing in his blindness. Even though his world was filled with darkness, perhaps he alone, among all those scurrying the streets of Jericho that day, had true sight, the sight of faith. Perhaps his very blindness kept ever before his eyes the real desire of his heart: that he might see. And it was this faith which allowed him to recognize the Savior as he passed by. This faith gave him the confidence to ask for what he needed. 

Faith’s Sight: The blind man could not see, but knew he was looked upon. This experience of being seen and known–accepted despite one’s imperfections and even cherished–is what allows the smallest seed of faith to grow. He could not see, but he knew he was looked upon. In this time of prayer, we, too, pause and sit beside the blind man, seeking a moment of silence in the hustle of my day. Is the Lord passing by? What blindness, darkness, or struggle weighs us down, tempting us to squelch our faith in loneliness and doubt? How can we get up and run to Jesus, let him look upon us, and receive in faith the hidden blessings Jesus wishes to give? 

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, my blindness is not so different from this blind man’s. I, too, find doubts and temptations surrounding me, telling me to be silent, causing me to hesitate. But you are so good and you never tire of coming out to seek me. You draw close and ask me, “What do you want me to do for you?” Lord, please let me see. 

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will try to offer this prayer of petition in my heart throughout the day: Lord, please let me see.