Trong mùa Chay này, chúng ta được nhắc nhở về trách nhiệm Kitô giáo của chúng ta. Chúng ta phải
nhận thức được
mối liên hệ và
giao ước giữa
Thiên Chúa và chúng ta.
Bài đọc thứ nhất trong sách Đệ Nhị Luật nêu rõ những
lời hứa của Thiên Chúa với con người trong bản một giao ước ngắn gọn,
nhưng với niềm hy vọng là chúng ta sống theo mệnh
lệnh của Thiên
Chúa. Những yếu tố liên tục gắn kết chúng ta với
Thiên Chúa là nhận thức qua kinh nghiệm những
sự tốt lành của
Thiên Chúa cũng như tình yêu vô điều kiện mà Ngài dành cho chúng ta một
cách cụ thể (TV 118), Đây là một
trong những ơn gọi của mỗi người Kitô hữu. Nếu chúng ta sống với khía cạnh này, chúng ta sẽ tìm thấy những sự ngạc nhiên của những
biến đổi đã
diễn ra trong cuộc sống của chúng ta
và qua những sự ngạc nhiên trong cuộc sống đó, chúng ta sẽ thấy mình trở nên giống Chúa Kitô hơn
trong những suy nghĩ và trong những hành động của chúng ta.
Do đó mầu nhiệm Nhập Thể chắc chắn
phải có nghĩa gì trong cuộc sống
của chúng ta. Đấy là những gì mà Thiên Chúa đã mời gọi và
đòi hỏi nơi chúng ta "anh em hãy nên hoàn thiện, như Cha anh
em trên trời là Ðấng hoàn thiện." .
Lạy Chúa, xin
ban cho chúng con
có những ân sũng của Chúa Thánh Thần trong Mùa Chay thánh này để chúng con được
trở nên giống như Chúa Kitô trong những suy nghĩ và hành động của chúng con, nhờ đó chúng
con sẽ mạnh dạn làm chứng cho
tình yêu vô biên, vô điều kiện của Chúa đã ban cho chúng con,
là những người thật là tội lỗi.
Saturday first week of Lent
During the season of
Lent, we are reminded of our Christian responsibility. Firstly, in our
relationship with God. Are we aware of the covenantal relationship between God
and us? The first reading in Deuteronomy states clearly the declaration of this
covenant; a compact treaty that expects us to follow God’s commands. The constant factor that binds us with God in
this covenantal relationship is the awareness and concrete experience of God’s
goodness and unconditional love for us. (Ps. 118). This moves us to witness to
this love by our love for others. This is the other dimension of our Christian
vocation. If we live these two dimensions, we will gradually find, to our
amazement that transformation takes place in our lives. Then to our surprise,
we begin to see ourselves becoming more Christ-like in our thoughts and
actions.
Thus making sure what
Incarnation means in our lives. This is what the call ‘to be perfect as our
heavenly Father is perfect’ entails. “Lord,
grant us the Lenten grace to be more like You in our thoughts and action, thus
witnessing to your unconditional love for us, sinners.”
Saturday first week of Lent 2024
“Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to
court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge
will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I
say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” Matthew 5:26
Was our Lord here giving legal
advice regarding a criminal or civil case and how to avoid prosecution?
Certainly not. He was presenting us with an image of Himself as the just Judge.
And He was exhorting us to show mercy to anyone and everyone who could be seen
as our “opponent.”
Forgiveness of another is
essential. It can never be withheld. But forgiveness is actually not even
enough. The ultimate goal must be reconciliation, which goes much further. In
this Gospel above, Jesus exhorts us to “settle” with our opponents, therein implying
reconciliation. The RSV version of the Bible says it this way, “Make friends
quickly with your accuser…” Working to foster a “friendship” with one who has
accused you, especially if it is a false accusation, goes far beyond simply
forgiving them.
To reconcile with another and
to reestablish a true friendship means that you not only forgive but also do
all you can to ensure that you reestablish a relationship of love with that
person. It means that you both put your grievance behind you and start anew. Of
course, that takes both people to cooperate in love; but, for your part, it
means that you work hard to establish this reconciliation.
Think about someone who has
hurt you, and, as a result, your relationship with them has been damaged. Have
you prayerfully forgiven that person before God? Have you prayed for that
person and asked God to forgive them? If so, then you are now ready for the
next step of reaching out to them in love to mend your relationship. This takes
great humility, especially if the other person was the cause of the hurt and
especially if they have not spoken words of sorrow to you, asking for your
forgiveness. Don’t wait for them to do so. Look for ways to show that person
that you love them and want to heal the hurt. Don’t hold their sin before them
or hold on to a grudge. Seek only love and mercy.
Jesus concludes this
exhortation with strong words. Essentially, if you fail to do all you can to
reconcile and reestablish your relationship, you will be held accountable for
it. Though this may seem unfair at first, it is clearly not, because this is the
depth of mercy that our Lord offers us every day. We will never be adequately
sorry for our sin, but God forgives and reconciles with us anyway. What a
grace! But if we fail to offer this same mercy to others, we essentially limit
God’s ability to offer this mercy to us, and we will be required to pay back
“the last penny” of our own debt to God.
Reflect, today, upon the person
who comes to mind with whom you need to fully reconcile and rekindle a
relationship of love. Pray for this grace, commit yourself to it and look for
opportunities to do so. Do it without reserve and you will never regret your
decision.
My most merciful Lord, I thank
You for forgiving me and for loving me with such perfection and totality. Thank
You for reconciling with me despite my imperfect contrition. Give me a heart,
dear Lord, that always seeks to love the sinner in my life. Help me to offer
mercy to the fullest extent in imitation of Your divine mercy. Jesus, I trust
in You.
Saturday first week of Lent 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you offer your covenant to humanity so that we
can share in your divine life. You are truly blessed and offer me a share in
this beatitude. I thank you for this offer and will do my best to remain in
your love as I journey toward you.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Old Covenant Law of Moses: Today’s
First Reading introduces us to one of the many covenants that God made with
humanity and his people – the Covenant of Deuteronomy. The idolatry, apostasy,
and sin of the people of Israel at Baal-Peor (Numbers 25:1-6) led to Moses
giving Israel the “Second Law” or Law of Deuteronomy. Compared to the original
covenant at Mt. Sinai, which was the “First Law,” the covenant of Deuteronomy
was a lesser covenant and law and was given by Moses because of Israel's
hardness of heart. The Deuteronomy covenant, made right before the people of
Israel crossed the Jordan River and entered into the Promised Land of Canaan,
had the purpose of restoring and rehabilitating the twelve tribes after their
apostasy at Baal-Peor. This Second Law, given by Moses, wanted Israel to
recognize its weakness and inability to achieve holiness without God’s help.
From the beginning, God wanted his people to be holy and sacred. This was God’s
intention when he created Adam and Eve – that all human beings, created in his
image and likeness, share in his divine life. This promise was symbolized by
the Sabbath rest. The path that leads to this divine rest, holiness, and life
is marked out by the Lord’s statutes, commandments, and decrees. The path is
characterized especially by docile obedience to the voice of God.
2. The New Covenant Law of Christ: The true
model for the one who obeys God’s voice is Jesus Christ. He obeyed his Father
always and, through his filial obedience, freed us from the curses of the Old
Covenant and established the New Covenant in his blood. Like every covenant,
the New Covenant has a law associated with it. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount
articulates the heart of the New Law of the New Covenant. Like the passage from
Deuteronomy, which calls the people of Israel to holiness, the passage from
Matthew today concludes with a call for the restored tribes of Israel and for
us to be holy, to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is holy and perfect.
3. Living under the New Law: It is good to
remember that we are not able to reach this holiness and perfection on our own.
We need God’s grace and mercy. God’s grace is what enables us to go beyond our
human limitations and live and act according to Christian charity. This means
loving our enemies, praying for those who persecute us, and welcoming those
around us in the Lord. Today’s message is similar to the one we heard yesterday
when we were invited to be reconciled with our brothers and sisters and with
our opponents. We should not be discouraged when we hear Christ command us to
forgive and love and pray for our enemies. Rather, we should be confident that
he will empower us with his grace to live the New Law!
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your New
Law is one of charity and grace. You empower us with your Holy Spirit to love
as children of your Father. Because of this, the yoke you place on my shoulders
is easy and the burden you ask me to carry is light.
Resolution: Am I living the New Law of Jesus?
What part of this New Law do I struggle with? What part do I practice? What can
I, with God’s grace, do better?
Saturday first week of Lent
Opening Prayer: Lord, thank you for this moment I have to reflect on your
written word. I am grateful for this “time out” from my busy day. Please help
me to absorb the lessons you have for me and act accordingly.
Encountering Christ:
1. The Challenge: Few passages of Scripture are as
unpalatable as today’s Gospel. Over two thousand years after our Lord spoke
these words, they can be just as hard to hear. Generally, we don’t want to love
people who do not love us nor do not want to pray for them. We prefer to greet
and spend time with those whose company we enjoy. And as for people who
persecute us, isn’t it enough to try to stay out of their way? Jesus was
speaking to a people who knew all too well what it was to have enemies. The
Jews of his time lived under military occupation. Furthermore, Jesus certainly
knew of the persecution that was to come against the early Christians. Still,
he insisted that his followers set aside hatred and radiate his love to all,
even their bitter enemies. What a challenge!
2. Perfect Abundance: Jesus wants to set us free from evil, hatred,
and jealousy. He knows that when we fume and stew over injustices, real or
perceived, we are turning away from the abundant life he offers us. He wants to
give us the joy and freedom that comes from forgiving others. He promises deep
peace when we pray for a person who has wronged us. Jesus asks of us something
that is possible only with his grace. Perhaps today the closest we can get to
perfect is to ask Jesus to give us the will to forgive, or the words to pray
for someone who has wronged us. In Jeremiah 29:11, we are promised, “I know the
plans I have for you...plans to prosper and not harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future.” When Jesus breaks the bonds of hatred, revenge, and
bitterness in our hearts, we are truly set free to live as children of God.
3. It’s A Battle: The world tells us to stand up for our
needs and seek out what gives us pleasure. The Word tells us to “seek first his
kingdom and his righteousness, and all else will be given to you” (Matthew
6:33). As a soldier remains constantly alert and on guard, we must be vigilant
and constantly beg the Holy Spirit for the grace to love our enemies, to pray
for those who do us wrong. Our Father, in his wisdom, knows that this is our
only path to peace.
Conversing with Christ: Lord, fill my heart with trust in your promises. When the enemy
of my soul whispers and I feel hatred towards others, grant me the grace to
turn to you for strength. Teach me to see others through your eyes and fill my
heart with your love. Thank you for enlightening me and guiding me to seek out
the abundant life you promise.
Resolution: Lord,
today by your grace I will pray an intentional rosary, naming any individual I
need to forgive and asking for the grace to do so.
REFLECTION
It
is so easy for us to love those who are lovable and who love us in return.
In the Gospel
reading Jesus extends the commandment "to love your neighbor" to
"your enemies" and to "those who persecute you." Speaking
with the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, he recalls to them the rule to "love
your neighbor and not do good to your enemy." He clearly states this is
not enough: for even tax-collectors and pagans do the same.
Jesus teaches us to love all, even the unlovable, even those who have
betrayed us, those who have hurt us and taken advantage of us. Love of neighbor
is much related to forgiveness of those who have offended us, those who have transgressed
against us. This comes from our Lord who at the cross prayed, "Father,
forgive them for they do not know what they do." (Lk 23: 34)
We can ask who our friends are: no problem about loving them and
being friendly and good to them. How about those we do not particularly like?
How can we show them love and friendship? How about those who have wronged us?
Can we forgive them and show them love and friendship? Hopefully we can do much
better than the tax collectors and pagans mentioned by our Lord!
And let us heed the
Lord's words, "As for you, be perfect as your heavenly Father is
perfect."
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