Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy tuần thứ Hai Mùa Phục sinh.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy tuần thứ Hai Mùa Phục sinh.
Tin Mừng hôm nay đã cho chúng ta thấy được những chủ đề về bóng tối và hy vọng. Như việc các môn đệ ra khơi trên một chiếc thuyền trong buổi chiều tối. Bóng tối của buổi chiều có thể tượng trưng cho bóng tối ma quỷ, sự dữ và sợ hãi. Trong văn hóa của người Do Thái biển được biểu hiện cho sự hỗn loạn, sức mạnh của sự dữ và khó thuần hóa. Các môn đệ đang bị bao phủ giữa màn tối tăm trên mặt biển là như thế.
"Chúa Giêsu vẫn chưa đến với họ." Ý chỉ đến sự vắng mặt của Thiên Chúa ở giữa họ. Và chẳng bao lâu,  thuyền của họ bị cơn bão táp, gió mạnh đánh ập vào  thuyền làm cho thuyền của họ gập ghềnh, chao đão như muốn lật úp. Giữa sự sợ hãi và tuyệt vọng của họ, Chúa Giêsu đã đến với họ trên mặt nước. Ngài an ủi họ “ Thầy đây! Đừng sợ”.  Sự hiện diện đột nhiên của Ngài làm lắng dịu đi tình trạng hỗn loạn hoang mang sợ sệt của họ và mang lại niềm hy vọng mới và sự sống.
            Nhiều lần trong cuộc sống của chúng ta, chúng ta cũng đã phải đối mặt với những cơn giông tố của cuộc đời, với những sự lo âu, hỗn loạn của những thử thách và đau khổ. Nhưng nếu chúng ta bình tĩnh, biết lắng nghe, thì trong những tiếng gầm của bão tố, chúng ta vẫn có thể nghe tiếng Chúa đang nói với chúng ta: "Thầy đây!, đừng sợ."
            Lạy Chúa, xin giúp chúng biết bình tĩnh để chúng con có thể nghe được tiếng thì thầm đầy hứa hẹn và đầy hy vọng của Chúa nhất là trong những lúc chúng con đang ở trong bóng tối và đang bị những cơn bão tố của cuộc sống hoàng hành.
 
Reflection SG 2016-04-06
Last April a devastating earthquake hit Nepal. People lost all: life, possessions and livelihood. But in the darkness of despair and devastation, faith and hope shone through people's faces as they tried to rise above the tragedy. As the people narrated the event, they often reiterated that God visited them in their inaccessible places through volunteers, NGOs and INGOs.
            Today’s gospel presents the theme of darkness and hope. As the disciples set out into in a boat, it was evening. The darkness of evening can symbolize darkness, evil and fear. In Jewish culture the sea could represent chaos, evil and untamable force. The disciples were surrounded by such a sea. “Jesus had not yet come to them.” These words indicate the absence of the Divine among them. Soon their boat was tossed by a strong wind. Amidst their fear and despair, Jesus walked towards them on the water, saying ‘It is I! Do not be afraid.’ His revelation quieted the turmoil and brought new hope and life.
            Many times in our lives, we have to face the winds and turbulent waters of trials and tribulations. But if we listen, through the roar of the waves and wind, we may hear the voice that says ‘It is I — do not be afraid.’
Lord, help us hear Your promising and hope-filled whispers in times of darkness.
 
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter 2024
When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”  John 6:19–20
On October 22, 1978, Pope Saint John Paul II was inaugurated as the 264th pope of our Holy Church. During his homily, the Holy Father said, “Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power.” The phrase “Do not be afraid” was repeated over and over again throughout his pontificate. In his book, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, which was written as a preparation for the new millenia, the Holy Father explained the following: “When pronouncing these words in St. Peter’s Square, I already knew that my first encyclical and my entire papacy would be tied to the truth of the Redemption. In the Redemption we find the most profound basis for the words “Be not afraid!”: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (cf. Jn 3:16).
This exhortation against fear is repeated throughout the Bible numerous times. It is found in the Old Testament over a hundred times in some form and in the New Testament over fifty times. Again and again, God wants us to conquer fear, worry, and anxiety. He wants us to trust in Him in all things and place all of our hope in Him.
What is it that you fear the most in life? For some, fear comes on a daily basis. Perhaps you face financial insecurity, poor health, a broken relationship, psychological difficulties, etc. There are numerous things in life that can easily tempt us to fear.
In the Gospel passage for today, Jesus walks toward His disciples on the water during a turbulent time on the Sea of Galilee. The wind was blowing, and the waves were distressing. And though these fishermen had spent many nights on the sea, Jesus chose to come to them at this moment, not so much to help them get to shore but to teach all of us that no matter what “storm” we face in life, He will be there in ways that are truly miraculous. Certainly, none of the disciples ever expected to see Jesus walking on the water in the middle of the night while the waves were crashing upon their boat. But Jesus did this and spoke those words, “Do not be afraid,” because He wanted us to know that no matter what we struggle with in life, He is always there, coming to us in love, and will see us safely to the shore of His peace.
If fear is something you struggle with on a personal level, then turn your eyes to the reality of the Redemption. The Father sent the Son into the world to save you. Jesus did not only come to teach, or to inspire, or to help. He came to save. To redeem. To destroy death, fear, sin and all that keeps us from the Father. His saving act changes humanity forever. If you understand that and believe it, then nothing can steal away your peace and fill you with fear.
Reflect, today, upon this powerful little phrase: “Do not be afraid!” Imagine yourself in the boat with the disciples at night, being tossed by the waves, surrounded by darkness. And then see Jesus coming to you speaking those words. Know that He speaks them to you in the darkest moments of your life and that He will never leave you. Hope in Him and let His saving act of the Redemption transform your life forever.
Jesus, my Redeemer, I thank You for coming into this world to save us. Thank You for the gift of the Redemption of the world. When I am tempted to fear and turn my eyes to the difficulties of the world, give me the grace I need to turn to You in hope and trust. Enter the storms of my life, dear Lord, and lift my burden of fear. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I believe in your Son. He is true God and true man. I believe that he is the Savior of the world. Grant me the strength to overcome my fears and set out courageously on the path that leads to eternal communion with you.
Encountering the Word of God
Jesus is God: After the multiplication of the loaves, Jesus manifests his divine power by walking on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples struggled against the strong winds and saw Jesus approach them on the waters. Without Jesus we can do nothing, but with him all things are possible. Jesus’ simple words, “It is I” or “I am” (Greek: ego eimi) recall the revelation of God’s name to Moses: “I Am” (Exodus 3:14). Jesus is revealing to his disciples that he is truly God and that all creation is subject to him. The Alleluia verse in today’s liturgy recalls both the divine power of Christ, who created all things, and his divine mercy toward the human race. In the Gospel, we see how the divine power of Christ mercifully saves his disciples from the strong winds and the raging sea. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his disciples to not be anxious about their life (Matthew 6:25). We learn in today’s Gospel that God cares for us and that we are called to trust in him and his providence without reservation. We believe that he is all-powerful and that he will guide us to safe harbor.
The First Seven Deacons: We see God’s care for his people in the First Reading from the Act of the Apostles. There was an injustice that needed to be addressed: the widows of the Hellenists – Jewish converts who spoke Greek – were being neglected in the daily distribution (or service) of food and money. The Apostles addressed the problem by asking the people to choose seven reputable men, filled with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom, for the task of serving the people. Wisdom is a gift from the Holy Spirit and will enable these to act in a just manner in their duties. The seven men were presented to the Apostles and they laid hands on them. The laying on of hands was and still is a symbolic and sacramental gesture of consecration and commission. It confers the grace of the Holy Spirit and is linked with the sacrament of ordination (1 Timothy 4:14). The seven men were commissioned to serve, not just in the administration of temporal goods, but also in preaching (8:5) and baptizing (8:12). They are called “deacons,” based on the Greek word for service (diakonia).
The First Degree of Holy Orders: Like the seven men chosen for service in the Acts of the Apostles, deacons today receive the first degree of Holy Orders. The Sacrament of Holy Orders conforms them, not to Christ the Head as a priest, but to Christ the Servant as a deacon. Deacons do not receive the ministerial priesthood, but rather assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity (CCC, 1569-70). The sacramental grace strengthens them in their dedication to the People of God in the service of the liturgy, of the Gospel, and of works of charity (CCC, 1588).
 
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I am called, as a Christian, to be a servant of the Word and of charity. Help me to know when and how to preach the Gospel to others. Help me to know when and how to love others, alleviate their suffering, and care for those in need. 
Living the Word of God: Today’s readings are a call to humble service. First, we recognize that we are creatures and that without God we can do nothing. Second, we are challenged by Jesus' words: “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matthew 23:11); “If anyone would be first, he must be the last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35). At the end of our lives, if we have been faithful to God’s grace and welcome his mercy, we will hear his words of welcome: “Well done good and faithful servant... enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21).
 
Saturday of 2nd Week of Easter
Opening Prayer: Lord come to me as I begin this time of prayer. Calm my stormy mind so that I can recognize your presence in these words.
Encountering Christ:
In Context?: After feeding the five hundred, the Gospel of Matthew tells us Jesus “made his disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side” (Matthew 14:22). Jesus wanted to be alone to pray. Although John left this detail out, it makes sense that the disciples would have gotten into the boat only if Jesus insisted, telling them he intended to pray. They had seen this behavior before. Jesus often got up early, or stayed up late, to share some quiet time with his Father. What a witness Jesus was to them and to us. No matter how busy our ministry, no matter how needy the crowds, no matter what our collaborators say, we must make time for prayer. “Let the men eaten up with activity and who imagine they are able to shake the world with their preaching and other outward works, stop and reflect a moment... they would be much more useful to the Church and more pleasing to the Lord, not to mention the good example they would give to those around them, if they devoted more time to prayer and to the exercises of the interior life” (Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard, The Soul of the Apostolate).
It Was Dark: Jesus prayed well into the night, leaving the Apostles in the dark, in a boat tossed about by waves. Of course, he knew their plight. Why did he wait until the fourth watch of the night (Mark 6:48) to make his presence known? When Jesus postponed his visit to Mary and Martha, it was to raise Lazarus from the dead—to work a miracle so resplendent that doubting souls might finally believe (John 11). When the woman with the hemorrhage touched his cloak, Jesus told her, “Courage daughter, your faith has saved you” (Matthew 9:22). The disciples in today’s Gospel “had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened” (Mark 6:52). Their faith needed a booster shot. Jesus was making it perfectly clear that he is master of the seas, and through his dramatically bringing them to safety their faith in him would be strengthened. In our own darkness, we can be assured that Jesus knows our plight, that his timing is perfect, and that he seeks only our good. No one relishes the darkness, but “this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
No Fear: The Bible contains more than 140 admonitions to fear not, forty of them in the New Testament. Jesus’s disciples were afraid. Jesus knows our hearts are also anxious, that storms crop up to disturb our peace, that we struggle with strong emotions like anger, jealousy, and loneliness. In this instance, he approached the boat with the words, “It is I. Do not be afraid,” and so “They wanted to take him into the boat.” We too want to cling to Jesus in the storm and lay our problems at his feet. When we do, Jesus calms our anxious hearts, reminding us that he is enough. Our peace is restored.
Conversing with Christ: Lord, you speak to me about faith in these lines of Scripture. I see that my faith is weak. I beg you to strengthen me. Many of the ordinary daily stressors I experience are opportunities to grow in faith. I know that I can do all that you ask of me with peace and joy, if I only have faith in you.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will say, “Jesus I trust in you,” every time I feel the least bit stressed. 
 
Suy NiệmTin Mừng Thứ Bẩy Tuần thứ Hai Phục Sinh
Chúng ta thường có tất cả những kinh nghiệm bất ổn trong cuộc sống của mỗi người, mỗi gia đình của chúng ta và ở những mức độ khác nhau. Có những cuộc sống của chúng ta như đang bị những đám mây đen dường như đang lơ lửng trên đầu và đe doạ chúng ta không ngừng. Có những lúc chúng ta như có thể đang bị bảo tố, mưa gió làm ngập lụt cuộc sống của chúng với các vấn đề phức tạp trong cuộc sống… như đau bệnh, thất nghiệp….hay những khó khăn trong việc đối xử vớ những vị thành niên, tuổi trẻ trong gia đình của chúng ta hoặc thậm chí, khủng hoảng tài chính, hoặc những xích mích bất đồng ý kiến trong đời sống vợ chồng. Và mỗi ;lần như thế chúng ta như đang cảm nhận được "cơn sóng lớn trên biển với những cơn bão thổi mạnh." Đôi khi chúng ta thầm hỏi, "Thiên Chúa ở đâu? mà Chúa để chúng ta phải chịu đựng những điều này?"
            Chúng ta có bao giờ nghĩ rằng: những gì chúng ta đang trải qua là một phần quá trình của sự cắt tỉa của chúng ta? Có bao giờ chúng ta nghĩ rằng: có thể Thiên Chúa đang dạy chúng ta bài học gì đó mà chúng ta cần phải học để trở thành một người tốt, vững chãi hơn và trưởng thành hơn. Có lẽ Ngài cho chúng ta và những người xung quanh chúng ta một cơ hội để nên thánh. Hoặc có thể đó là gốc rễ của sự đau khổ mà chúng ta đã tạo ra cho chính mình và nhờ đó mà Thiên Chúa mời gọi chúng ta đến được gần gũi với Ngài hơn, để Ngài có thế nâng cái  gánh nặng của chúng ta, và để Ngài sẽ đến gần con thuyền của chúng ta và đưa chúng ta vào bờ.
Có lẽ những gì chúng ta muốn, những gì chúng tôi đang theo đuổi không phải là những gì là tốt đẹp, hay hữu ích nhất cho chúng ta, không phải là ý của Thiên Chúa muốn cho chúng ta, đó là lý do tại sao chúng ta không thành công.
            Thiên Chúa luôn luôn ở bên cạnh chúng ta để trấn an chúng ta, "Đừng sợ." Chúng ta hãy để cho Ngài kiểm soát và hướng dẫn cuộc sống của chúng ta. Chúng ta hãy để cho Ngài đi đầu dẫn chúng ta theo. Hãy để những lời cầu nguyện của chúng ta được hài hòa với ý của Thiên Chúa bằng cách cầu nguyện cho sự biết phân biệt và nhận định. Chúng ta hãy dành thời gian để lắng nghe Ngài, để chúng ta sẽ có sự bình an trong tâm hồn để chúng ta có thể bất chấp những sự bất ổn và những cơn bão xung quanh cuộc sống của chúng ta.
 
REFLECTION
We have all experienced turbulence in our lives in different degrees, where dark clouds seem to be hovering unceasingly above us. We may be deluged with problems at work, difficulties in handling our teenage or even grown-up kids, financial woes, or communication gap with our spouse. We feel the "roughness of the sea with a strong wind blowing." Sometimes we ask, "Where is God in all this?"
Have we ever thought that what we are going through is part of our pruning process? Maybe God is teaching us something that we need to learn to be a better person. Maybe He is giving us and those around us opportunities to be holy. Or maybe the root of our suffering is our own doing and God is calling us to be closer to Him, to lift up our burdens to Him so that He will come close to our boat and bring us to shore. Maybe what we want, what we are pursuing is not what is best for us, not God's will for us – which is why we are not succeeding.
God is always there to reassure us, "Don't be afraid." Let us allow Him to take control of our lives. Let us let Him take the lead. Let our prayers be harmonious with God's will by praying for discernment. Let us take time to listen to Him so that we will have peace in our hearts regardless of the turbulence and the storms around us.