Suy
Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy tuần 24th Thường Niên.
Trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay,
Chúa Giêsu đã cho chúng ta bài học mới về Nước Trời giống như một người
gieo giống một hình ảnh mà dân Việt Nam chúng ta rất
quen thuộc.
Hình ảnh người gieo giống hôm nay là người đem đến niềm hy vọng, đem sự sống mới
cho thế giới. Khi người gieo giống gieo những hạt giống mới, ông ta vui mừng và hy vọng sau một vài tháng, những hạt giống này sẽ mọc lên thành cây và sẽ mang lại những hoa trái và họ sẽ được hưởng lợi sau mùa thu hoạch. Mặc dù ông ta biết rằng một số hạt giống ông đã gieo có thể sẽ bị chim
tha mất, sẽ bị vướng trên nhữnh bụi gai và sẽ không phát triển được, nhưng ông vẫn tiếp tục gieo.
Qua bài dụ ngôn
này, chúng ta có thể nhận ra
rằng chính Thiên Chúa là người gieo giống, Ngài gieo Lời của Ngài trong trái tim của chúng ta. Ngài cũng biết rằng Lời
của Ngài
cũng như những hạt giống bị rơi vương vãi, bị lạc mất trong những người
tự coi mình là cái rốn của vũ trụ, hay những người chỉ biết đến sự những đam mê vật chất tiền tài và xác thịt... Cũng có một số người
trong chúng ta đã khép chặt tâm hồn và từ
chối nhận Lời của Thiên Chúa, Có những người khác cũng đã đón nhận Lời của
Chúa một cách hời hợt, vì họ quá bận
rộn với việc kiếm cơm
nuôi gia đình và vì đó mà Lời của Chúa không còn chỗ trong tâm hồn của họ nữa.
Nhưng, như những
người nông dân gieo giống trên các đồng lúa, Thiên Chúa của chúng ta là Thiên Chúa của niềm hy vọng và niềm vui. Ngài biết rằng dù
có những hạt lúa giống bị chim trời tha đi, có những hạt rơi vào bụi gai bên đường,
hay bất cứ nơi nào nhưng Ngài biết rằng cũng có những người đã nghe và sống thực hành Lời của Ngài, đó là
những "người biết suy ngẫm về Lời của Chúa ngày và đêm" và làm cho Lời Chúa hoàn toàn sống trong cuộc
sống của họ và trong cuộc sống của những người khác.
Còn chúng ta, chúng ta là những loại đất nào trong cánh đồng mà Chúa đã
và đang gieo những hạt giống của Ngài? Để đón
nhận Lời Chúa dành cho chúng ta, Chúng ta hãy nâng tâm hồn và cất lên tiếng hát
và hát thật chân thành bài hát: "Ôi lạy Chúa, Lời Chúa hằng sống của con, xin hãy để Lời Chúa đâm rễ thật sâu ngay trong con người chúng con, trong trái tim của
chúng con. Ôi Lời Chúa của chúng con, Xin Chúa hãy khoả lấp đầy tâm trí của chúng con.
REFLECTION
A sower is a man of hope, a man of life. As he sows, he rejoices
that one day those seeds will sprout up to yield a harvest. Even though he
knows that some seeds that he sows will be lost — will not grow, he still
continues to sow In this parable of the
sower, we realize that the sower is God Himself, who sows His Word in our
hearts. He too knows that the Word will be lost in those who are chocked up
with problems, tensions, self-centeredness, consumerism and materialism. He
knows that some hearts are shut and refuse to receive the Word of God. There
are others too, who are so busy making money, so busy trying to gain prestige,
power and recognition that the Word of God gets crowded out. But, like every
sower, our God is a God of hope and joy.
He knows that there are also
people who listen attentively to His Word, “who ponder on His Word day and
night” and make God’s Word fully alive in their lives and in the lives of
others. And what of us? Let us sincerely sing/say: “O, the Word of my Lord, deep within my being. O,
the Word of my Lord, You have filled my mind.”
Saturday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in
Ordinary Time
“Whoever has ears to hear ought to
hear.” Luke 8:8
This short line
is, in a sense, a summary of the Parable of the Sower. This parable presents us
with four different ways in which the Word of God is received. The seed that is
sown is the Word of God. The four different categories of people are compared to
seed sown on a path, rocky ground, among thorns and in good soil.
Jesus explains
that the seed sown on the path are those “who have heard, but the Devil comes
and takes away the word from their hearts.” The seed sown on rocky ground are
those who “receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only
for a time and fall away in time of temptation.” The seed sown among thorns are
those who have heard the Word and received it, but over time they are “choked
by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce
mature fruit.” Finally, those who are like rich soil are those who heard the
Word and “embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through
perseverance.”
As you look at
those categories of people, where do you fall? Most likely, for those who pray
daily and try to follow our Lord, one of the last two categories is where they
fall. Note that for those who are like seed sown in the thorns and those sown
in rich soil, fruit is born from the Word of God. In other words, their lives
do change and they do make a difference in the world on account of God’s holy
Word and presence in their lives. The difference, however, is that those who
struggle with “the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life” will fail to
produce “mature fruit.” This is a good teaching for faithful Christians to
ponder.
When you look at
your life, what sort of fruit do you see? The “fruit” of which our Lord speaks
can be identified with the fruits of the Spirit: charity, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, forbearance, gentleness, faith, modesty, self-control, and
chastity. Thus, if you want to discern whether you are more like one who bears
mature fruit vs. immature fruit, look at those holy qualities carefully. How
“mature” are each of these fruits of the Spirit alive in your life? They make a
wonderful examination of conscience for those looking to go deeper than just
the Ten Commandments or Seven Capital Sins. If these good fruits are born from
your life in a truly mature way, you should be able to see how they affect
others through you. For example, how has your kindness, patience, faith and
self-control helped others in their Christian Walk?
Reflect, today,
upon the fruits of the Spirit. Review them carefully and prayerfully as you
examine your own life. Where you see them in abundance, rejoice and give
thanks, and work to foster their growth. Where you see them lacking, rejoice
also in that insight and consider the reason they are lacking. Are there
worldly anxieties, desires for riches or pleasures that hinder their growth?
Seek to be that truly rich soil, and our Lord will indeed bring forth much good
fruit in you and through you.
My divine Sower,
You sow the perfect seeds of Your Word in abundance. Please help me to open my
heart to receive that Word so that an abundance of good fruit can be born.
Please free me from the anxieties and deceptions of life so that I can hear
clearly Your holy Word and nurture that Word in my heart. I rejoice, dear Lord,
in all that You have and continue to do in and through me. Jesus, I trust in
You.
Saturday 24th Ordinary
Time
Opening Prayer: Jesus, as I reflect on these
words, please cleanse me of the thorns, weeds, and rocks in my life. May your words
take root in me and bloom. I desire to be a person who, having heard your word,
does “embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through
perseverance.”
Encountering Christ:
Our Enemy: Jesus is quite clear in this
parable: The devil is real, and he is the enemy of our souls. Satan delights in
distracting our hearts away from the words of the Gospel. He knows our
weaknesses and uses them against us. In the Netflix series The Good Place, the
demons use the characteristics and personalities of each person against them;
Strategically, they torment each soul in a specific and personal way. When we
pray to St. Michael the Archangel to “defend us in battle” and ask God to “cast
into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the
ruin of souls,” we are not speaking in hyperbole. The threat is real; the
battle is constant. Our enemy is wily and loves to mess with our minds, hearts,
and souls to distract us and lure us away from our Savior. “The battle against
the devil, which is the principal task of St. Michael the Archangel, is still
being fought today because the devil is still alive and active in the world”
(St. John Paul II, 1987).
Rocks and Weeds: Anyone who has done any gardening
knows how quickly the weeds can take over. A few days of neglect can result in
weeds edging out the plants. Here Jesus warns us that the “rocks and weeds”
(distractions and sins) can quickly overtake the garden of our souls and leave
the seeds sown by Christ choking and fighting for sun, water, and air. Many of
the “rocks” are good things–our work, our friends, our hobbies, our families,
exercise, chores–but we need to make sure that they do not overtake the
greatest thing of all—our relationship with Our Lord, nurtured in the
sacraments and his word. For a Catholic Christian, this means making sure that
our first priority is this relationship with Christ, followed by the duties and
joys of our vocation in life.
Rich Soil: How does the farmer prepare the soil? He
tills it and takes out the weeds, old roots, and rocks. He adds fertilizer. How
do we prepare our souls to nurture the words of Christ? By availing ourselves
of the sacraments, reading Scripture, and surrounding ourselves with friends
who love God—all of these things work mightily to keep our souls fertile and
allow the word to take root. And, every single day we take the time to turn to
the Lord in prayer, sit with him in silence, and allow him to do till and sow
in our souls.
Conversing with Christ: Jesus, you are the master
gardener. Please come into my soul and root out anything that is choking out
your words. Guard me against my enemy, protect me from my own weaknesses.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will
pray the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel:
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in
battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May
God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou, Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, by
the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about
the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Reflection: Saturday
24th Ordinary Time
Seeds are the
basic units of life. In the parable story, the seed is the Word of God. God has
been so generous with us and blessed us with His word. But only a few listen
because the others are blinded by the material things and idols on earth.
Though the word may be hidden for a few, it is still there. They only need
faith in order to overcome all these hindrances that stray them from the Lord.
People are concrete seeds of God. We are made by the creator and we should all
therefore be filled with positive characteristics. It is only the people
tainted by the devil who are the bad seeds who have no root, no stable ground
for their faith. Therefore they crumble into the depths of hell. Though all of
us have the natural tendency to sin and be sinners, we also have the choice to
do the right thing because we are always given choices. It is our duty to pick
the right choice and do the right thing so that way, we may be pure in the eyes
of God.
Let us recognize the fact that
God accomplishes his purposes by helping us to attain ours. Let us continue to
ask God to help us be more receptive to his word and become more serious about
our spiritual growth. In other words, let God's seed fall on in our hearts and
produce crops a hundredfold
May
we hear it, cherish it and live it with patience and perseverance.
Reflection:
Jesus was a great story-teller; he made use of the common life of
the people, "You have been granted to know the mystery of the kingdom of
God. But to others it is given in the form of stories, or parables, so that
seeing they may not perceive and hearing they may not understand."
The parable of the sower and the seed tells us how the word of God
is received by people, comparing the reception and response of people to the
way seeds sown on various soils and environments prospered or died.
Obviously all of us wish to be like the seed which fell on good
soil, grew and produced fruit a hundred-fold. Our Lord explained that "the
good soil are people who receive the word and keep it in a gentle and generous
mind, and persevering patiently, they bear fruit."
Are we people like those who our Lord said bore good and plentiful
fruit?
Or are we people, like the wayside, who do not even have the
patience to listen to God's word or like rocky ground "who receive the
word . . . but they have no root, they believe for a while and give way
in time of trial" or, like among thorns, "who hear the word but as
they go their way, are choked by worries, riches, and the pleasures of life;
they bring no fruit to maturity."
We
hear God's word in many ways: in Church and at various talks and gatherings, in
our own reading and study of the Scriptures, in private prayer and through the
Spirit in the silence of our own hearts, in our dealings with and from the
example of others. May we hear it, cherish it and live it with patience and
perseverance.
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Ngày 21/9 Lễ kính Thánh Matthêu Tông Đồ
Trong tất cả những người đã theo Chúa Giêsu, Những người
đã được chọn làm bạn và làm tông đồ của Ngài, chắc chắn ông Mathêu là người trong
những người được Chúa chọn đã phải gặp rất nhiều tranh cãi nhất và là người
có nghề nghiệp và đời sống khắc hẳn những người khác. Nhưng có một điều là ông
là ngưòi có học, có khả năng và "thạo đời" hơn mọi người trong nhóm
môn đệ của Chúa Giêsu. Sau hết, Ông là có một người nghề nghiệp 'chuyên môn'
hơn trong số hầu hết là dân đánh cá. Nhưng "nghề" của ông trong những
ngày đó, không phải là một nghề có rất uy tín "trong thực tế, đó là một
nghề mà dân do thái được coi là một nghề tội lỗi vì là người thu thuế cho chính
phủ ngoại bang. Để kiếm sống, những người làm nghề này thường lạm dụng
quyền hành của mình để là giàu một cách nhanh chóng, họ luôn tìm cách áp đặt thuế nặng trên người
dân, và vì thế Chúa Giêsu đã bị người pharisêu chỉ trích vì Ngài đã cùng ăn
chung bàn với những Người Thu thuế .
Tin Mừng
hôm nay cho chúng ta thấy việc Chúa Giêsu đã gọi Matthêu. Nhưng đoạn Tin Mừng này cũng nói thêm và chú
trọng hơn về những gì xảy ra sau bữa ăn tối, Chúa Giêsu đã mạnh mẽ lên tiếng
bênh vực cho người môn đệ mới của Ngài. Đối với nhóm người biệt phái, và những
người chỉ biết quan tâm đến những việc thi hành luật lệ bề ngoài, Ngài nói:
"Hãy đi và tìm hiểu về ý nghĩa của những Lời Chúa đã dạy: “ Những gì Ta
muốn là tâm hồn có lòng biết thương xót, chứ không không là sự hy sinh".
Nhiều người đã kinh ngạc và thất vọng vì Ngài đã nói rằng Ngài đã đến là để kêu
gọi người tội lỗi, chứ không phải là những người đạo đức, thánh thiện. Những
người Kitô hữu tốt, đôi khi đã bị sốc nặng khi được nhắc nhở về những lời của
Chúa Giêsu, và Ngài đã dành nhiều thời giờ cho những người mà xã hội đã coi
là "không thích hợp".
Trong số bạn bè, những theo Chúa đều
không có sự giới hạn, và mỗi người chúng ta đều có một chỗ vị trí đặc biệt
trong bàn tiệc với Chúa và chúng ta cũng có những vài trò riêng của chúng
ta ngay tại bàn của Ngài.
Lạy Chúa, xin giúp chúng con được sống
trưởng thành hơn trong tình bạn với Chúa và tất cả những người khác, trong cùng
một Thân Thể Chúa Kitô.
Reflection SG 21/9 Saint Matthew
Of
all the followers Jesus called to be His close friends and then apostles,
surely Matthew must be the most controversial and different from the others.
For one thing, he was likely the most “worldly-wise” of the whole group: he
was, after all, a ‘professional’ among mostly fishermen. But his “profession”
was, in those days, not a very reputable one” in fact, it was considered a
sinful occupation because tax-collectors made their living by squeezing money
from people, and they were sometimes really harsh and grasping. That Jesus
counted tax-collectors among His friends was a constant criticism of Him by
self-righteous people.
The Gospel is very brief about the actual calling of
Matthew. But it says more about what happened afterwards at the dinner-table,
when Jesus strongly spoke up for His new friend. To Pharisees, who were so keen
on exact observance of God’s word and laws, He said: “Go and learn the meaning
of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice”. They must have been shocked
at this; and even more when He said He had come to call sinners, not those
already virtuous. Good Christians are sometimes shocked to be reminded of these
words of Jesus, and that He spent time with people who were considered socially
“improper”.
There is room for every sort of person among Jesus’ friends,
and each of us has our own special place and role at His table.
Lord, help us to mature in
friendship with all of the others, in the Body of Christ.
Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, September 21
“Why does your teacher
eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are
well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the
words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous
but sinners.” Matthew 9:11–13
Just prior to this
passage quoted above, Jesus saw Matthew, a tax collector, sitting at his custom
post collecting taxes. Jesus walked up to him and said two simple words:
“Follow me.” What did Matthew do? He got up and followed Jesus and invited Him
to his home for a meal. When the Pharisees saw this, they acted with judgment
and cruelty. They said, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and
sinners?” Their reaction and Jesus’ subsequent response to them says much about
the goodness of our Lord.
When Jesus said that
He “did not come to call the righteous but sinners,” He was not speaking of the
truly righteous. For example, the most righteous person alive at that time,
other than Jesus, was His dear mother. And we can be certain that not only did
Jesus call her but that she always responded with her whole heart. However,
Jesus was speaking of those who were “self-righteous.” A self-righteous person
is one who thinks highly of themself, ignoring the truth of God but choosing,
instead, to elevate their own image in their own eyes and in the eyes of
others. Simply put, to be self-righteous is to believe a lie and, in fact, to
believe the worst of lies. It’s the worst of lies because this sin has the
effect of causing a person to remain obstinate and stuck in their sin. The
self-righteous person does not see any need for repentance or change in their
life. Therefore, they are not open to the Word of God and to allowing that Word
to transform them.
Saint Matthew, whom we
honor today, was different. He was a sinner indeed. Most likely he was greedy
and overly attached to his money. Tax collectors were not highly regarded at
that time because they were Jews who worked for the Romans and were, therefore,
seen as traitors to their own people. Additionally, they were seen as thieves,
because they often extorted more than they should receive so that they could
pocket some of the money. For this reason, many Jews also feared the tax
collectors because they knew the tax collectors had Rome’s support in this
illicit activity.
What’s amazing is that
Jesus approached Matthew, the sinner and tax collector, and confidently called
him to be a follower. Most likely, Jesus could see into his heart. He knew
Matthew was not happy with his life and was searching for more. Therefore, as
soon as Jesus called him to follow Him, it is clear that something took place
within Matthew’s soul. The fact that he got up and followed our Lord shows that
the spiritual draw to Jesus was far more powerful than his desire for earthly
wealth.
This same truth
applies to each and every one of us. No matter what we find ourselves drawn to
and no matter how we seek satisfaction in life, the supernatural truth is that
there is only one thing that will satisfy. We could have all the money in the
world, all earthly power and prestige, and still, in the depths of our souls,
we will not find peace until we turn to Jesus and follow Him. Some people learn
this truth early in life, some later in life, and some never discover it at
all.
Reflect, today, upon
how satisfied you are with your life. Is there something missing? If so, look
at your goals and priorities in life. What do you spend most of your time
thinking about, talking about and daydreaming about? If it is not our Lord Who
occupies your mind, heart and every desire, then you can expect that you will
experience discontentment in life. In that case, look to the witness of Saint
Matthew. He is a saint today because he responded to Jesus’ invitation to
abandon his life of sin and greed so as to follow Him in poverty. But in that
worldly poverty and abandonment of earthly things, Saint Matthew became
abundantly rich and will remain so forever in Heaven.
Lord of all
satisfaction, You call all Your people to follow You. Please open my mind and
heart to that call so that I can not only hear You but also respond with all my
heart. Please help me to detach from the things of this world that keep me from
You, so that I can follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.
Saturday 24th Ordinary
Time
2024 Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Opening Prayer: Lord God, overcome any resistance
I may have to the call of your Son. When I hear his words, “Follow me,” move me
to abandon all that keeps me from you or holds me back. I am your disciple and
apostle. Here I am, Lord, send me!
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Public Sinner: Matthew, also called Levi, was the
tax collector at Capernaum. As a tax collector, he was regarded by many Jewish
people as a public sinner. He “worked hand in glove with the reigning power and
had to be classed as a public sinner on account of his social position”
(Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, Vol. 1, 178). We do not know if
Matthew was a fair and just tax collector or a corrupt one. In either case, he
was judged by many as a sinner: “Matthew, in fact, not only handled money
deemed impure because of its provenance from people foreign to the People of
God, but he also collaborated with an alien and despicably greedy authority
whose tributes, moreover, could be arbitrarily determined” (Benedict XVI, Jesus,
the Apostles, and the Early Church, 82).
2. True Holiness: By calling Matthew the tax
collector to be one of his disciples, Jesus likely provoked the harsh judgment
of the Pharisees, who sought to be pure and insulate themselves from any
foreign Gentile contact. The Pharisees are often an example of hypocritical and
false holiness. They thought they were righteous by their own efforts to keep
the law and abide by their human traditions. By contrast, the life of Matthew
shows us what true holiness consists in: “[I]n the figure of Matthew, the
Gospels present to us a true and proper paradox: those who seem to be the
farthest from holiness can even become a model of the acceptance of God’s mercy
and offer a glimpse of its marvelous effects in their own lives” (Benedict XVI,Jesus,
the Apostles, and the Early Church, 83). Matthew immediately left
everything to follow Jesus. He rose up, detached himself from a sinful
situation, and began a new life in communion with Jesus (see Benedict
XVI, Jesus, the Apostles, and the Early Church, 84). Filled with
and empowered by God’s grace, Matthew was able to preach the Gospel to the ends
of the earth.
3. The Gospel according to Matthew: Each of the
Gospels approaches the mystery of Jesus from a different angle and with a
unique perspective. John likely wrote his Gospel last. He told stories about
Jesus not recorded in the other three Gospels, defended the divinity of Jesus,
gave us the words of Jesus on the night before he died, and delved into the
sacramental mysteries of the Church. Luke’s Gospel is informed by eyewitness
testimony and the preaching of Paul. It offers the Good News of salvation to
Israel, the Gentiles, the poor, the lowly, the humble, and the outcast. Mark’s
Gospel is directed to Gentiles in the Roman Empire and is based on the
preaching of Peter. It focuses on Jesus as the suffering Messiah and Son of God
who invites his disciples to share in his suffering and glory. Matthew’s Gospel
presents Jesus as the New Moses, who through his five discourses and many
actions inaugurates the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. The Kingdom, Matthew
teaches, belongs to the poor in spirit and those who are persecuted. The
Kingdom will grow until the end of time, transform society, and give shelter to
both sinners and saints.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I am like Matthew the
Apostle. I have been anxious and worried with the things of this world and need
to leave them and follow you. Inspire me today to know what I am attached to
and what I need to leave behind.
Living the Word of God: How familiar am I with each of the
four Gospels? If someone were to ask me to tell them about the Gospels and what
is unique to them, would I be an effective witness? What can I do to know the
Gospels better? Time with each of them in prayer? Do I need to dedicate time
this month to study them?
21/9 Saint Matthew 2023
Introductory Prayer: You are pure goodness and life, Lord. Closeness to you
brings peace and joy. You deserve all of my trust and my love. Thank you for
the gift of life, my family, and my faith. I’m grateful, too, for the gift of
the Church, which you founded on the Apostles.
Petition: Lord,
help me to be simple and straightforward in my faith.
1. Simplicity Is Bliss: The tax collectors were considered traitors to the Jewish
people since they worked for the Romans, the “oppressors” of God’s chosen
people. The ordinary Jew would not even converse with one such as this. But
Jesus says to him, “Follow me.” Matthew got up and followed him immediately; no
questions asked, no conditions. What beautiful simplicity! He didn’t know that
Christ would make him one of the Twelve. In a certain sense, we might say that
he signed a blank check and gave it to Jesus. Matthew doesn’t sit down to
calculate; he only accepts. He then goes further: He invites Jesus to his house
for dinner. A Jew generally invited only his true and closest friends and
relatives to dinner. It was a sign of intimacy, friendship, and love. Matthew
goes overboard and lays out the red carpet for Christ.
2. Complicated Calculations: Unlike Matthew’s straightforwardness, we see the
Pharisees’ “righteousness.” Jesus’ dining with a sinner like Matthew is a
scandal for them. They have to confront this Rabbi about his “shameful
conduct.” The problem is that they haven’t understood the first thing about the
Messiah. Their very point of departure is flawed. They are looking at Christ
(and God) from a very rational perspective when the only valid outlook is faith
and love. This frequently happens in our lives as we begin to judge events,
circumstances, and others without faith and charity. Before we realize it, we
may have rejected and possibly even defamed our neighbor, a civil authority, or
a priest or bishop. We are not looking at things from a supernatural vantage
point but rather from our merely human standards.
3. Back to the Basics: Christ puts everything back into perspective. "Those
who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Learn the meaning of the
words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous
but sinners." Once again, Jesus invites us to elevate our thoughts to a
supernatural plain. Why did God become man? We repeat it frequently, at least
every Sunday in the Creed: “For us men and for our salvation, he came down from
heaven.…” It is important to examine the degree to which I see and judge
everything in my life through the prism of faith. A true believer, a real
apostle, must form this “sixth sense” in daily dealings. We develop this habit
through prayer and frequent and intimate contact with God. We need to ask God
for the gift of faith, which gives us a new perspective on life.
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, I want to be a simple person who accepts you
and your demands without calculations and complications. Free me from all
impediments and grant me your grace so that I might become a convinced,
faithful, and intrepid apostle of your kingdom, as was St Matthew.
21/9 Saint Matthew
Opening Prayer: Dear
Lord Jesus, I come before you in prayer. I consider it both a duty and an honor
to spend time with you in prayer. Increase in me the virtues of faith, hope,
and love. Please open my heart and mind with your grace, so that like St.
Matthew I may hear your call and respond with generosity.
Encountering Christ:
“Follow Me”: “As
Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs
post. “He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.” It is a
mystery why Jesus called the men whom he did to be his apostles. Matthew was a
tax collector, Simon was a Zealot, many were simple fishermen, and Judas would
betray him. He was aware of who they were and what they would do, and still, he
called them. In another passage, it states that Jesus “summoned those whom he
wanted and they came to him” (Mark 3:13). Therefore, Jesus’s love for the soul
is the reason for his call. Our Lord calls every soul to live in union with
him. This is the universal call to holiness, which is at the heart of every
vocation. However, Our Lord’s call is never generic. Jesus looks on each person
with particular love and beckons them to a unique path (Mark 10:21).
Matthew Immediately Followed: When Jesus called his apostles, they immediately
left everything and followed him. The apostles’ immediacy says something about
the command and attraction in Jesus’s voice and demeanor, but it also says
something about the apostles since not everyone responded with such generosity
(Mark 10:22). They were interiorly prepared to hear the call and respond. What
was it that prepared them? How did grace touch their hearts prior to their
encounter with Jesus? Specific to Matthew, we can imagine that certain fatigue
and disillusionment with the lifestyle associated with being a tax collector
had taken root. The high life of money and parties no longer filled him. He
longed for more—for truth and for goodness. He longed for God. Then, when he
heard Our Lord’s voice, a deep stirring in his spirit told him, “This is
it—what you have been waiting for! Follow him!”
“Many Tax Collectors and Sinners Came”: “While he was at table in his house, many tax
collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples.” Matthew may
have come to despise the lifestyle he had been living, but he did not despise
those with whom he had shared such a lifestyle. They had been his friends, and
now he wanted to introduce them to Jesus, the rabbi who had so quickly and
dramatically changed his own life. They came not only because of Matthew’s
invitation, but because they had heard that Jesus was a friend of sinners and
tax collectors (Matthew 11:19). Our Lord’s goodness gave them the confidence
they needed to approach him. Perhaps several of them decided to follow Jesus
that evening. Matthew had done so, why couldn’t they?
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus Christ, I marvel at the grandeur of your
patient and persistent pursuit of each soul. However, you also seem to
frequently gain followers in clusters. In calling Matthew to follow you, you
also reached out to his immediate circle of friends and acquaintances. You
called Andrew, Peter, James, and John as a group. In calling St. Bernard of
Clairvaux to the monastery, you also encouraged his brothers and several
friends to join him. May I also be so receptive to you that your grace may
reach many more through me.
Resolution: Lord,
today by your grace I will share with a friend something you have done to build
up the Kingdom.
Suy Niệm
Tin Mừng Matthew 9:9-13. Lễ kính Thánh Mat-thêu Tông Đồ
Thánh
Mat-thêu là một người Thu thuế và chắc chắn là Mat-thêu cũng đang cố gắng nhiệt
tình và rất chăm chỉ trong việc làm của ông vì ông mong muốn có được sự giàu
có. Nghề thu thuế của ông là nghề rất dễ làm giàu và cũng là nghề mà dân chúng
Do Thái rất chê ghét và kinh miệt vì họ là những người thu thuế cho đế quốc La
Mã và họ là những ngưòi hay dựa vào quyền thế của La Mã để hà hiếp và bóc lột
dân lành bằng cách lấy thuế cao. Ông được xem như là người hợp tác với kẻ thù,
làm giàu trên sự đau khổ và cực nhọc của dân Do Thái. Tất cả những người dân Do
Thái dù là giàu hay là nghèo, dù là hợp pháp hay bất hợp pháp họ coi thường những
người thu thế và thuờng hay tẩy chay họ. Để chấp nhận một cuộc sống như vậy,
Mat-thêu phải có một tham vọng, phải ham muốn và đam mê sự giàu có.
Rồi một ngày đó, Chúa Giêsu dừng lại ngay
bàn thuế nơi Mat-thêu làm việc. Chúa Giêsu chỉ nói ba tiếng ngăn gũi: “Hãy theo ta” Mat-thêu ngay lập tức đứng dậy, bỏ lại
tất cả để theo Chúa, Mat-thêu đã bỏ lại
sau lưng tất cả, thậm
chí cả những mộng ước,
và những đam mê trong việc làm giàu của mình, để
theo Chúa Giêsu, để đi theo một lối sống
bình dị, đơn sơ, nghèo đói, để phó thác và lệ thuộc hoàn toàn vào Chúa. Thánh Mat-thêu đã tìm thấy một tình yêu vô biên nơi Thiên Chúa còn
quý trọng hơn nữa so với sự giàu có ỏ trần gian.
Chúng ta cũng mời gọi để
theo Chúa làm làm
tông đồ
như Thánh Mat-thêu. Trong phép Thánh tẩy, mỗi
người chúng ta đã nhận được ánh sáng của Chúa qua người đỡ đầu vì thế, hôm nay Thiên Chúa
mong muốn chính chúng ta hãy thắp lên ngọn nến đó để toả sáng ánh sáng của Chúa Kitô đã
ban cho chúng ta lúc Rửa tội để đọi chiếu ánh sáng Yêu Thương của Chúa Kitô và giá trị ơn cứu độ của Chúa cho thế giới trần thế của chúng ta
hôm nay. Lòng tham muốn cho sự giàu có vật chất là một trong những trở ngại chính cho
sự thành công trong nhiệm vụ này.
Vì nếu như chúng ta thật
lòng với chính mình, chúng
ta phải thừa nhận rằng: những
của cải vật chất thế trần này rồi sẽ mất đi, chỉ có tình yêu của Thiên Chúa mới
có giá trị cho cuộc sống đời đời của Chúng
ta.
Meditation:
What is God's call on your
life? Jesus chose Matthew to be his follower and friend, not because Matthew
was religious or learned, popular or saintly. Matthew appeared to be none of
those. He chose to live a life of wealth and ease. His profession was probably
the most corrupted and despised by everyone because tax collectors made
themselves wealthy by over-charging and threatening people if they did not hand
over their money to them. What did Jesus see in Matthew that others did not
see? When the prophet Samuel came to the house of Jesse to anoint the future
heir to the throne of Israel, he bypassed all the first seven sons and chose
the last! "God looks at the heart and not at the appearance of a man"
he declared. David's heart was like a compass looking for true north – it
pointed to God. Matthew's heart must have yearned for God, even though he dare
not show his face in a synagogue – the Jewish house of prayer and the study of
Torah – God's law. When Jesus saw Matthew sitting at his tax office – no doubt counting
his day's profit – Jesus spoke only two words – "follow me". Those
two words changed Matthew from a self-serving profiteer to a God-serving
apostle who would bring the treasures of God's kingdom to the poor and needy.
John Chrysostom,
the great 5th century church father, describes Matthew's calling: "Why did
Jesus not call Matthew at the same time as he called Peter and John and the
rest? He came to each one at a particular time when he knew that they would
respond to him. He came at a different time to call Matthew when he was assured
that Matthew would surrender to his call. Similarly, he called Paul at a
different time when he was vulnerable, after the resurrection, something like a
hunter going after his quarry. for he who is acquainted with our inmost hearts
and knows the secrets of our minds knows when each one of us is ready to
respond fully. Therefore he did not call them all together at the beginning,
when Matthew was still in a hardened condition. Rather, only after countless
miracles, after his fame spread abroad, did he call Matthew. He knew Matthew
had been softened for full responsiveness."
When the
Pharisees challenged Jesus' unorthodox behavior in eating with public sinners,
Jesus’ defense was quite simple. A doctor doesn’t need to visit healthy people;
instead he goes to those who are sick. Jesus likewise sought out those in the
greatest need. A true physician seeks healing of the whole person – body, mind,
and spirit. Jesus came as the divine physician and good shepherd to care for
his people and to restore them to wholeness of life. The orthodox were so
preoccupied with their own practice of religion that they neglected to help the
very people who needed spiritual care. Their religion was selfish because they
didn’t want to have anything to do with people not like themselves. Jesus
stated his mission in unequivocal terms: I came not to call the righteous,
but to call sinners. Ironically the orthodox were as needy as those they
despised. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans
3:23).
On more than one
occasion Jesus quoted the saying from the prophet Hosea: For I desire mercy
and not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6). Do you thank the Lord for the great mercy he
has shown to you? And do you show mercy to your neighbor as well?
"Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come
to you: Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our
hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak;
strengthen them with your joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty; fill them with
your divine presence. Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and
only for yourself.” (Prayer of Augustine, 354-430)
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Sáu tuần thứ 24
Thường niên
Trong
các thư của thánh Phaolô, ngài thường hay nói về đức tin, niềm hy vọng và tình
yêu, nhưng đôi khi ngài chữ "kiên định, không lay chuyển" hay
"kiên trì, lòng bền bỉ" thay vì "niềm hy vọng". Trong đoạn
cuối của lá Thư Thứ Nhất gửi Timôthê, Thánh Phaolô đã kêu gọi, khuyên nhủ chúng
ta là hãy nên "tìm kiếm sự vẹn toàn , lòng đạo đức, niềm tin, tình yêu
thương, sự kiên định, và một tinh thần nhẹ nhàng." Sự bền bỉ, lòng kiên
trì, sự trung thực, những chữ chúng ta dùng dù thật có chính
xác, không mấy quan trọng, nhưng thái độ hay nhân đức thì mới là việc
cần thiết để đạt được sự tới sống đời đời. Trong thư này, Thánh Phaolô còn nhắc
nhở chúng ta về việc tuyên xưng đức tin của chúng ta, đức tin mà đã kêu gọi
chúng ta đến với sự sống đời đời.
Trong
bài Tin Mừng, Chúa Giêsu cảnh báo chúng ta về những sự nguy hiểm trong thế
giới của chúng ta, đồng thời ngài cũng an ủi cho chúng ta với lời hứa
rõ ràng: Nhưng kẻ nào kiên nhẫn đến cùng, kẻ ấy sẽ
được cứu!" (Mt 24:13) chỗ nào có lời hứa của Thiên Chúa, thì chỗ đó
cũng có ân sủng của Thiên Chúa. Những bài Thánh Vịnh cũng nhắc nhở chúng ta là:
"không có một cách nào mà một người có thể cứu chuộc cho chính mình."
Vì thế, hãy lắng nghe lời Chúa Giêsu nói với người do thái là : thật là khó cho
những ai chỉ biết tin tưởng vào của cải và sự giàu có mà có thể vào
được Nước Trời, vì thề đã khiến các môn đệ đã hỏi lại: "Vậy thì ai mới được
cứu rỗi?"
Chúa
Giêsu đã trả lời câu hỏi này kèm theo với lời cảnh báo kết hợp và một lời hứa:
".Đối với con người thì điều này là không có thể thực hiệc được, nhưng đối
với Thiên Chúa thì mọi thứ đều có thể làm được" Như Chúa Giêsu đã sống lại
từ cõi chết, chúng ta biết rằng sự cứu rỗi không phải là chỉ có thể là có thể
được: Sự cứu rỗi đó có thể tiếp cân được, vì đó chính là các món quà của Thiên
Chúa, món quà chúa Giêsu, Đấng Cứu Rỗi của chúng ta. Những ân sủng thần học của
đức tin, hy vọng và tình yêu củng cố chúng ta để giúp chúng ta luôn vẫn trung
thành cho đến chết và để đạt được cuộc sống vĩnh cửu.
Lạy
Chúa Cha, xin ban cho chúng con được ơn biét trung thành với
Chúa cho đến chết.
Reflection SG. thứ 6 Ordinary
As I
noted in the reflection for September 2nd, Paul speaks of faith, hope and love,
but sometimes he uses the word “constancy” or “perseverance” instead of “hope”.
Towards the end of today’s passage from the First Letter to Timothy, we are
urged to “seek after integrity, piety, faith, love, steadfastness, and a gentle
spirit.”
Steadfastness,
perseverance, constancy, fidelity — the exact word we use may not be so
important, but the attitude or the virtue is necessary to attain to eternal
life. The Letter reminds us of our profession of faith which has called us to
everlasting life.
Jesus
warned us of the many dangers facing us in the world but at the same time
consoles us with a definite promise: “Those who stand firm will be saved.” (Mt
24:13) Where there is God’s promise, there is also God’s grace. The Psalmist
reminds us that “in no way can a man redeem himself.” Then, too, listening to
Jesus telling them how hard it is for those who trust only in riches to enter
the kingdom of God, the disciples were driven to ask: “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus
answered with a combined warning and a promise: “For mere humans this is
impossible but for God everything is possible.” As Jesus rose from the dead, we
know that salvation is not only possible: it is accessible because of God’s
gift of Jesus as our Savior. The theological graces of faith, hope and love
strengthen us to remain faithful unto death and so attain eternal life.
Father,
grant us the grace to be faithful unto death.
Friday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus journeyed from one town and
village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of
God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil
spirits and infirmities… Luke 8:1–2
Our Lord was on a
mission. He traveled on foot from one town to another, “preaching and
proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.” His message truly was “good
news.” He healed the sick, cast out demons and, most importantly, He forgave
sins. As a result, many began to follow Him. Not only did His followers consist
of the Twelve whom Jesus personally called and who He would eventually send
forth as His Apostles, but others followed Him also. Today’s Gospel also
mentions three women by name: Mary of Magdala, Joanna and Susanna. These are
but a few of the people who were deeply touched by our Lord, who in turn left
all to follow Him.
The choice of these
first followers to abandon all and follow Jesus invites us to examine the
extent to which we have committed our lives to following Him also. Among the
many people who heard Jesus preach, there were undoubtedly various responses.
Some rejected Him, others were intrigued by Him, others believed in Him but
were not willing to become His disciple, and some did commit themselves
wholeheartedly to Jesus and His mission of proclaiming good news. For the
latter, the good news they heard changed their lives.
What is your response
to our Lord? One good way to properly answer this question is to examine the
amount of time and energy you have committed to our Lord and His message of
good news. How much time have you spent reading His holy Word, praying to Him, speaking
about Him and learning the faith that He has taught? How much does His message
affect the decisions you make in life? Being a Christian is not something we
can compartmentalize. We cannot have our “faith time” a few moments of each
week and then spend the rest of our time on other activities. True, our days
will be filled with many activities that are simply normal parts of our lives.
We all have duties and responsibilities that occupy much of our days. But being
“all in,” so to speak, means that Jesus and His message permeates everything we
do. Even our ordinary daily activities such as work, chores, and the like must
be done for God’s glory and in accord with His divine will.
For Jesus’ first
followers, though they traveled with Him from town to town and radically
changed the course of their daily lives, they still would have engaged in many
ordinary activities. But those ordinary activities were ultimately done so as
to help them and others fulfill their ultimate mission of listening to and
responding to the Word of God.
Reflect, today, upon
the extent that you have consecrated every part of your life to our Lord and
His mission. Doing so does not necessarily require that you become a public
evangelist, spend all day at Church or the like. It simply means that Jesus and
His mission are invited into everything you do every day all day. We can never
serve our Lord fully enough. As you examine your daily activity, look for ways
to bring our Lord into everything you do. Doing so will truly make you one of
His faithful disciples who are all in with your life.
My divine Lord, You
are on a mission to save souls and to build up Your glorious Kingdom. I thank
You for inviting me to not only become transformed by Your holy Word but to
help spread that Word to others. My life is Yours, dear Lord. Please enter into
every part of my daily life and use me for Your glory. Jesus, I trust in You.
Friday 24th
Ordinary Time, 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you call all people to
accompany your Son and form part of the Church. Help me to know what my role is
in the company of your Son. Enable me to place the gifts and talents you have
given me at the service of the Gospel.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Women who Accompanied Jesus: Jesus
continued to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the towns and
villages of Galilee. Jesus was accompanied not only by the Twelve Apostles but
also by several women. The Gospels tell us several things about these women.
First, they were cured by Jesus of both evil spirits and infirmities. The
natural leader of the group, Mary Magdalene, was cured of seven demons. Second,
the women provided for Jesus and his Apostles out of their resources. The city
of Magdala, for example, was an affluent city because of the fish trade there
and Mary Magdalene was wealthy. Third, the women followed Jesus and ministered
to him. Like the Apostles, they responded to Jesus’ call: “Follow me.” They
listened to Jesus’ teaching and put it into practice. They expressed their love
through service. Fourth, they came up with Jesus to Jerusalem. Going up to
Jerusalem means more than just a physical journey. It is a spiritual journey
that leads to the Cross and the Resurrection. It means preparing yourself to
die with Jesus. It means walking alongside Jesus and walking in the light.
2. More about the Women: Fifth, the
women were brave enough to approach Jesus as he carried the Cross. They did not
abandon Jesus in the hour of his Passion (Benedict XVI, February 14, 2007). As
he carried the cross, Jesus told the women not to weep for him, but for
themselves and their children. Jesus made all things new through his passion
and obedient sacrifice. This is not a cause for sadness but for joy (Saint
Athanasius, Festal Letter 9). Sixth, the women who followed
Jesus contemplated the mystery of the Cross both from afar (Matthew 27:55) and
at the foot of the Cross (John 19:25). Of the Apostles, only John we are told
stood by the cross of Jesus. The women, on the other hand, are with Jesus at
the Cross: Mary, the Mother of Jesus; Mary, the wife of Clopas; and Mary
Magdalene. Seventh, the women saw where Jesus was laid and prepared spices to
anoint Jesus' Body after the Sabbath rest. Several women hurried to the tomb on
the morning of the third day. They are celebrated in the East as the
“myrrh-bearers”: Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha of Bethany, Joanna, Salome,
Susanna, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary the Mother of James and Joseph. They
did not find Jesus’ Body but rather encountered the angel who announced the
Good News to them that Jesus had risen! Mary Magdalene became an “Apostle to
the Apostles” and announced the Lord’s Resurrection to the Apostles in the
Upper Room. “Just as a woman announced the words of death to the first man, so
also a woman was the first to announce to the Apostles the words of life”
(Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on the Gospel of John, 2519).
3. Paul’s Understanding of the
Resurrection: The great mystery of the Resurrection is at the center of
the passage we read from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. He had to
correct the error of those who believed that Christ rose from the dead, but
that there is no resurrection of the dead for anyone else. For Paul, the two
truths go together. If Christ did not rise from the dead, not only would the
apostolic witness be empty, but the faith of Christians would be in vain.
Furthermore, if Christ did not rise from the dead, then we would still be in
our sin. The Resurrection of Jesus means that when we die, the body decays, but
the soul goes to meet God and awaits its reunion with its body at the final
Resurrection. “God, in his almighty power, will definitively grant
incorruptible life to our bodies by reuniting them with our souls, through the
power of Jesus’ Resurrection” (CCC, 997). All of the dead will rise,
“those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done
evil, to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:29). How our bodies will rise on
the last day exceeds our imagination and understanding. But our participation
in the Eucharist already gives us a foretaste of Christ’s transfiguration of
our bodies. As Saint Irenaeus writes, “Just as bread that comes down from the
earth, after God’s blessing has been invoked upon it, is no longer ordinary
bread, but Eucharist, formed of two things, the one earthly and the other
heavenly: so too our bodies, which partake of the Eucharist, are no longer
corruptible, but possess the hope of the resurrection” (Irenaeus, Against
the Heretics, 4, 18, 4-5; CCC, 1000).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, as
I contemplate the group of your followers and the mystery of your Resurrection,
I am filled with hope. I know that you can welcome me, purify me, and
strengthen me to work for your Kingdom. You are the Resurrection and the Life!
Friday 24th
Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to your will. Make me
courageous in proclaiming my faith and generous in sharing my resources.
Encountering Christ:
Journeying with Christ: What an amazing time in salvation
history was unfolding! The Son of God, who came “eating and drinking” (Matthew
11:19) going from town to town, preaching, sharing meals with the people he
met, joyously proclaiming the good news! Not only the chosen apostles
accompanied him. Grateful women who had experienced his healing accompanied him
on this joyous journey. We can only imagine the excitement as people in the
towns and villages gathered to hear the good news or the wonder of the Twelve
as they came to a deeper awareness of who Jesus is. We too feel the wonder and
excitement of knowing Jesus as we draw nearer to him on our own journey through
prayer and the sacraments.
Cured of Evil Spirits: The women who accompanied Jesus were
living witnesses to his divinity. They were living proof that the long-awaited
Messiah could cure a person of evil spirits by driving out demons. Their
presence among the disciples became a witness to the crowds of Jesus’s divine
power and authority. As modern disciples of Jesus, we are also called to
acknowledge the miraculous presence of Christ in our own lives and witness to
those in need of God’s healing power.
Providing from Their Resources: The women who followed Christ offered
practical help that Jesus needed to continue his mission. They provided food
and drink for the journey; by taking care of these physical needs, the women
freed Jesus and the Twelve to focus on their divine objective—spreading the
good news of the Kingdom of God! These corporal works of mercy had an
immeasurable impact on Christ’s mission. When we perform corporal or spiritual
works of mercy, we are serving our neighbor, but also in a very real and
tangible way serving Christ, as these women did.
Conversing with Christ: Jesus, I am touched when I
contemplate how many people served behind the scenes to help you in your
earthly ministry. Please open my eyes so that I can see where my time, talent,
and treasure might better serve you today. Make me keenly aware of the many
blessings you have bestowed on me. Ignite a fire in my heart to give myself to
others with a generous and thankful spirit.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will
identify a specific area where I can practice one of the corporal works of
mercy in my life and act upon it.
Suy
Niệm bài đọc Thứ Sáu Tuần 25 Thường Niện (Luke 8:1-3, 1Tm 6:2c-12)
Trong bài đọc thứ Nhất hôm nay, Thánh Phaolô đã dạy dỗ và nhắn nhủ cho thánh Timôthê
là nên cố tránh những sự cám dỗ vật chất và việc sử dụng
tôn giáo như là "một phương tiện để đạt những sinh lợi riêng tư,"
nhưng phải biết sống trong "công lý, đức tin, sự tận tâm, yêu thương, sự
kiên nhẫn và dịu dàng."
Trong đoạn Tin Mừng hôm nay, những người phụ nữ đi theo Chúa Giêsu đã diễn tả cho
chúng ta thấy rõ lời khuyên này của Thánh Phaolô, là họ đã
tận tâm, trung thành và "lo lắng và giúp đỡ cho Chúa Giêsu và Nhóm Mười
Hai tông đồ những nguồn tài nguyên của họ." Chúng ta có thể đọc một cách
rõ ràng hơn là Họ đã theo cuộc hành trình (của họ) trong tình yêu của Chúa Kitô
qua những thị trấn và làng mạc, đã chứng tỏ được sự hy sinh, kiên nhẫn, vui
tươi với sự dịu dàng của họ khi họ gặp gỡ những người trên đường với Chúa
Kitô. Một điều rất ngạc nhiên và thú vị
là Chúa Giêsu không những chỉ đón chào những người phụ nữ này, nhưng Ngài còn đặt
các phụ nữ này vào hàng đầu trong việc loan truyền Tin Mừng cho tất cả những
người khác. Những người phụ nữ này đã là những công cụ rất hữu hiệu để
cải hoá được nhiều người trở lại trong
thời kỳ tiên khởi của Giáo Hội Thiên Chúa Giáo, thời kỳ mà Giáo Hội đang phải chịu đau khổ vì
sự bắt bớ, giam cầm và bị giết chết vì đạo.
Chúng ta đã có Hội Thánh và tất cả,
Hãy cám ơn Chúa Giêsu Kitô người đã chấp nhận phụ nữ với quyền bình đẳng
như nam giới trong cùng một Mầu Nhiệm Nhập Thể của Ngài, là Giáo Hội. Trong suốt
lịch sử Giáo Hội, những người phụ nữ đã gặp những rất nhiều những khó khăn và
phức tạp trong những nỗ lực sống đạo và truyền giáo cũa họ hơn nhiều so với nam
giới họ đã chứng minh được tiềm năng của họ là không
gì thua nam giới. Chúng ta hãy cầu nguyện cho Giáo Hội,
không những chỉ duy trì mà còn tiếp tục tìm cách để nâng cao vai trò và giá trị
của người phụ nữ trong cộng đồng Kitô hữu của chúng ta.
REFLECTION
St. Paul is wrapping up his
letter to Timothy by advising him to avoid the temptation of material things
and using religion as "a means of gain," but instead "pursue
righteousness, devotion faith, love, patience, and gentleness." The women
who follow Jesus in today's Gospel passage illustrate this advice from St.
Paul. They were devoted, faithful and "provided for Jesus and the Twelve
out of their resources." We can read between the lines that they journeyed
in love for Christ through towns and villages, obviously with patience and
likely with gentleness to those they met. It is a pleasant surprise that Jesus
not only welcomed women but also placed them in the forefront of proclaiming
the Good News to all. Women have been instrumental in gaining converts for the
early Christian Church, have suffered just as much as men as martyrs, and have
been just as responsive to religious vocation.
We have
all these to thank in Jesus who accepted women as equals among men in His
mystical Body, the Church. But as women have struggled probably much harder
than men throughout history to demonstrate their equal potential, let us pray
that the Church will not only sustain but also continue to find ways to improve
the role of women in our Christian communities.
Reflection
on 1Tm 6:2c-12
“The love of money is the root
of all evils.” This famous phrase from our reading today is often shortened,
incorrectly, to “money is the root of all evil”, which then becomes, “money is
evil.” Then people begin to wonder, if money is so evil, why is the Church
always asking us for some, and this sort of line of thinking is considered to
witty. Then people decide that the Bible says nice things which are terribly
impractical and can simply be ignored. Bad exegesis has bad consequences.
Money of course does not refer strictly to coins or
dollar bills. Money is time. Money is power. Money is wealth. Money is comfort.
Money is respect. Money is simply how we keep track of invisible concepts. No
one wants money. People want stuff that can be bought with money. People want
more money than their neighbors. People want other people to do what they say.
If you had a genie’s lamp with unlimited wishes, it would be foolish to wish
for money; just wish for all the things you would use the money for. So the
love of money does not refer to the love of money but the love of the world and
what the world has to offer, the love of everything that can be bought and
sold.
If we return to what St. Paul actually wrote, rather than
the corruption of what he wrote, we can learn that the Bible is filled with
practical wisdom which we would do well to listen more carefully to. The root
of all evils is not necessarily evil. Paul is not saying that evil always
springs up wherever money is found, but that, wherever evil is found, love of
money can always be found at the root.
This is simple logic. All trees are plants, but not all
plants are trees. All evil is rooted in the love of money, but not every desire
for money leads to evil. If you desire money in order to feed your family and
put a roof over their heads, this is not evil. If you desire money in order to
build a good business, this is not evil. Love of money is simply part of being
a member of society, but watch out! Love of money, even for good purposes, can
lead to evil. How can we avoid evil then? Love something else more than money.
Love money for what it can do, but love other people more and God the most.
