Friday, November 29, 2024

Thứ Bảy tuần thứ 34 Thường Niên

Thứ Bảy tuần
thứ 34 Thường Niên
       Hôm nay chúng ta đã đến ngày cuối cùng cùa Mùa Thường niên, và cùng như sắp đến những ngày cuối cuộc đời rao giảng công khai của Chúa Giêsu, Thánh Luca trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay để lại cho chúng ta một lời cảnh báo khá nghiêm khắc là chúng ta phải biết sống tốt và cầu nguyện trong mọi lúc. Như thánh Luca đã bảo chúng ta là chúng ta phải sống trong sự sẵn sàng cho cái chết, phải chuẩn bị cho cái chết của chúng ta bất cứ lúc nào, và sự chết sẽ đến với chúng ta bất cứ khi nào. Những lời này có vẻ không phải là một ý nghĩ để an ủi chúng ta trong ngày cuối của năm phụng vụ, vào ngày cuối cùng trước khi chúng ta bước vào Chúa Nhật đầu của Mùa Vọng.
Tất cả phụng vụ, qua những mùa Vọng, đại lễ giáng Sinh, Mùa Chay và Phục Sinh, cũng như mùa Thường Niên trong năm, Giáo Hội có ý muốn dạy chúng ta sống cuộc sống tốt đẹp, phải chuẩn bị cho cuội sống mai sau với cuộc sống của chúng ta trên trái đất này trong hòa khí, an vui. Trong bài Thánh Vịnh đáp ca hôm nay Giáo Hội muốn dùng để đưa chúng ta trở lại với sự sáng thế hay khởi đầu của tất cả mọi thứ: Thiên Chúa Đấng là Tạo Hóa, người mà đà tạo dựng nên chúng ta và chúng ta thuộc về Người và chúng ta phải cúi xuống và quỳ lạy và  thờ phượng trước mặt Người, vì Thiên Chúa đã tạo dựng nên chúng ta, chúng ta thuộc về Người trong cuộc đời của chúng ta trong thế gian này, chúng ta hy vọng một cuộc sống mãi mãi và đời đời.
 Lạy Chúa là Cha trên Trời, Chúa đã tạo dựng nên chúng con và phục hồi chúng con trong tình yêu của Chúa trong Đức Giêsu Kitô, để hướng dẫn chúng con cách sống trong sự thánh thiện và vẹn toàn để chúng con có thể sống với Chúa  mãi mãi đến muôn đời.
 
Saturday 4th Week in Ordinary Time
 Almost at the end of his account of the public life of Jesus, Saint Luke leaves us with a rather stern warning to lead good lives and to pray at all times. It is as if he were telling us to live our lives in readiness for death, to be prepared for death at any moment, whenever it comes. It may not seem a very consoling thought with which to end out the liturgical year, on the last day before the first Sunday of Advent.
The whole liturgy, through the great season as well as through the Ordinary time of the year, is intent on teaching us to live good lives, to be prepared to face the end of our lives on earth in peace and joy.
The responsorial psalm brings us back to the beginning of all things: to God the Creator, to whom we belong and before whom we should bow down and kneel in worship, for God made us, we are his during our life in this world, and we hope, for ever in eternal life.
 Father in Heaven, You created us and restored us to your love in Christ, so guide us in the way of holiness that we may live with You forever.
 
Saturday 4th Week in Ordinary Time
 
Saturday 4th Week in Ordinary Time 202
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I have heard the call of your Son and will follow him. I have abandoned my nets and left my former life behind. I only desire the new life you offer with your Son and in the Spirit.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Andrew, the First-Called: The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee and called two brothers, Peter and Andrew, to become fishers of men. We know from the Gospel of John that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist and encountered Jesus near the Jordan River before this call to become a fisher of men (John 1:40). That is why Andrew gets the title “protoclete,” which means “the first-called.” The fact that Andrew was already spending time away from fishing with his brother in the Sea of Galilee and the fact that he was with John the Baptist in the wilderness indicates that his heart was detached from the things of this passing world and open to the things of the age to come. His heart was open to the seed of the word of God, whether it came through the ancient prophets, through John the Baptist, or through the definitive Word of God, Jesus Christ.
2. Bringing the Good News to Jew and Greek: The First Reading is taken from an important section of the Letter to the Romans. In Romans 9-11, Paul focuses on the place of Israel in the plan of God. Paul argues that there are not two ways of salvation, one for Israel and one for the Gentiles, but that there is only one way of salvation, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life. Andrew, as an apostle, was sent out by Jesus to preach the one way of salvation. Andrew went to the northern part of Asia Minor, to the region south of the Black Sea, and to Scythia, and went as far as Kyiv, preaching the Good News to the peoples he encountered. The people heard the Good News from Andrew’s lips. They believed in the Lord, began to call upon him, and were enriched and justified with God’s grace. Andrew preached salvation in the name of Jesus, and many welcomed God’s salvation in Christ through the apostolic ministry of Andrew. Like his Lord, Jesus, and his brother, Peter, Andrew gave the supreme witness when he was crucified.
3. Praying and Working for Unity: Saint Andrew is connected especially to the Greeks and the city of Constantinople. Tradition holds he founded the see of Byzantium (later Constantinople and Istanbul) in A.D. 38 and appointed Stachys as its first bishop. Andrew’s brother, Peter, on the other hand, is connected especially to the city of Rome. After the tragic division – the Great Schism – of the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church in A.D. 1054, the Feast of St. Andrew has become, in recent years, a call to work toward the reestablishment of full communion between the Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople. When Benedict XVI visited Türkiye on the Feast of St. Andrew in 2006, he said that the Catholic Church was willing to do everything possible to overcome obstacles to full communion and seek more effective means of pastoral cooperation. While we work tirelessly for unity among Christians, we can ask Peter and Andrew to intercede for us. May we work and pray to overcome division, not just between Catholics and the Orthodox, but between every Christian community. 
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you prayed at the Last Supper to the Father that we be one, as you and the Father are one. We should not be divided, and yet we are. I pray today that I may be an apostle of unity and not a cause of division. Enlighten my mind and move my heart as I work for your Kingdom today.
our faith with others, especially by being generous in loving God and our fellowmen.
 
 
Reflection (SG) Saturday 34th Sunday in Odinary Time
Water is a powerful symbol throughout the Bible. It is absolutely essential for life and those who dwelt in the desert like the Israelites were keenly aware of how vital it was. Water was also a metaphor for the life-giving Spirit of God. When living things draw on springs and hidden rivers, they thrive and grow; without water, they wither and die. So it is with God’s Spirit. Human beings are dying of thirst and many of us don’t even know it. 
The image from Revelation portrayed a future state in which a life-giving divine river would run through the heavenly Jerusalem, bringing life and fruitfulness.  God will be present in a way that we cannot imagine; God will be our light. But we need not wait; we can begin to approach that river of life now as we walk the path of love, humility, holiness, and service.
In today's Gospel, Jesus is telling us to be awaken to the true facts of life and of death. Jesus does not ask us to ignore or despise this earth or this life, but he does ask us to estimate it for what it is, a period of transit, which properly used, will earn for us our eternal home. If we take a sincere look at our actions daily, we need not be afraid for the day of judgment. The challenge for every Christian is to continue to live, believe and hope in God's unbounded love for us. It is not easy to do so these days since the challenges of everyday life, temptations and the appeal for being "bad" are powerful.
The world seeks to fill us up with false gods in place of the loving God.  Every day is the day of the Lord’s return.  Give God thanks for the gift of this day.
Let us pray that the grace of the Advent Season, which begins tomorrow, will help us to endure and persevere even when we are faced with challenges, until we see God as he is.\
 
Saturday 34th Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer: Lord God, accompany me in my prayer on this final day of the liturgical year. Stay close to my heart so that I can learn what it means to stay awake and please you in all things.
Encountering Christ:
·         Beware: Christ the King issued three commands in this final Gospel of the season of Ordinary Time: Beware, be vigilant, and pray. The first commands us to beware of carousing, drunkenness, and anxiety, which can result in drowsy hearts. We have the Catechism to elaborate on what happens if we fall into grave sins: “Mortal sin...results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God's forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ's Kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back.” (CCC 1861). Jesus’ admonition to “beware” is the most loving message he can give us, for his heart’s desire is that we spend eternity with the Father in Heaven. 
·         Be Vigilant: It can be all too easy to grow lax and negligent, especially when we look forward to family gatherings over the holidays. Our schedules change, we celebrate with food and drink, and we see more family and friends than usual. To be vigilant is to be alert, attentive, and on guard over our souls. Vigilance begins with a good examination of conscience to discern what God is asking of us. Then we lean on the grace of God to guard against temptation so that we can act prudently and charitably to carry out his will. 
·         Pray: “Pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” Alone we are weak; with God we can do all things. This is why prayer is so important; it places us in a right relationship to God, the source of grace and life and strength. Without him, we are small and helpless; the tribulations wash over and destroy us, just as the waves destroy the house built on sand. When we do not pray, we are telling God that we think we can manage things without him. When we pray we are placing all our confidence in him. When we pray, love replaces fear or drowsiness in our hearts. Hope grows so that we can be confident that we will one day stand before the Son of Man when he comes at the end of time.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I desire to keep you company, to watch and pray with you. This is prayer: rousing my heart from earthly concerns to simply be with you. Teach me to obey your commands and thereby save myself much grief, for I know you always want the best for me. Christ Our King, Thy Kingdom Come!
Resolution: Lord, I thank you for the year 2021. Today by your grace I ask for the grace to live this upcoming Advent season well.
 
Reflection (SG)
Water is a powerful symbol throughout the Bible. It is absolutely essential for life and those who dwelt in the desert like the Israelites — were keenly aware of how vital it was. It was also a metaphor for the life-giving Spirit of God. When living things draw on springs and hidden rivers, they thrive and grow; without it, they wither and die. So it is with God’s Spirit. Human beings are dying of thirst and many don’t even know it. 
The image from Revelation portrayed a future state in which a life-giving divine river would run through the heavenly Jerusalem, bringing life and fruitfulness. God will be present in a way that we cannot imagine; God will be our light. But we need not wait — we can begin to approach that river of life now as we walk the path of love, humility, holiness, and service.  The early Christians thought that Jesus would return in their own lifetimes and judge humanity. So much time has passed; most people do not expect this to happen anytime soon. But we never know when disaster or death will overtake us. Our lives can end in an instant by accident or by illness. The Lord urges us to be spiritually awake and alert. Do not become distracted or bogged down in things that do not matter.
Use each day as a precious gift — spend it in love and service. Be ready to meet the Lord at all times and it will not matter when he returns. Every day is the day of the Lord’s return.  Give God thanks for the gift of this day. Lord, help me to use each day wisely.
 
Meditation: "Lest your hearts be weighed down"
Is there anything holding you back from the joy and freedom of the Lord? God wants our hearts for him and for his kingdom of peace, joy, and righteousness (Romans 14:17). But our hearts can be weighed down by many different things, such as greed, gluttony, drunkenness, and so many other harmful addictions and sinful habits. Jesus, our Lord and Master, offers us true freedom - freedom from the power of sin and wasted life, and freedom from our unruly desires and disordered passions - such as making food, drink or anything else our master rather than our servant. Jesus wants our hearts to be ruled by one thing only - his love and truth which enables us to choose whatever is good and to reject whatever is evil and harmful for us.
Jesus also warns us of the temptation to slacken off - to become spiritually idle, lazy, indifferent, or inattentive to God's word and guidance for our lives. We can fall asleep spiritually if we allow other things to distract us from the reality of God and his kingdom. It is very easy to get caught up in the things of the present moment or to be weighed down with anxious cares and concerns.
            The Lord knows our struggles, weaknesses, and shortcomings. And he assures us that we do not need to carry our burdens alone nor struggle without his help. He is always very present and ready to give us whatever strength, guidance, and help we need to fight temptation and to stay the course which he has set for us. But there is one thing he doesn't tolerate: indifference, an attitude of not caring, and doing nothing! The Lord wants us to cast our anxieties on him and to ask for his guidance and help. Do you pray for God's strength and wisdom?
            Until the Lord comes again we can expect troubles, trials, and temptations. Our adversary the devil does not rest in his attempt to lure us away from God's will for our lives. If he cannot succeed in getting us to renounce our faith in Christ, he will try, little by little, to distract us from pursuing God, especially in prayer and listening to his word. Ask the Lord Jesus to rekindle the fire of his love in you so that you will be ready and eager to meet him when he comes again.
            "Lord Jesus, rouse my spirit to the truth that this world is passing away. Give me a lively faith, a joyful hope, and a fervent love to see you face to face when you return in glory."

Nov. 30 – Lễ Kính Thánh Andrê Tông Đồ -


Nov
. 30 – Lễ Kính Thánh Andrê Tông Đồ -  
Trong Tin Mừng này, chúng ta thấy Chúa Giêsu đã tình cờ hay cố ý đi ngang làng thuyền chài và “thấy” hai anh em này đang thu dọn lưới cá và xếp dọn thuyền đánh cá của họ. Trước tiên, Chúa Giêsu “thấy” họ, rồi Ngài gọi họ. Cái nhìn “thấy” này của Chúa Giêsu thật đáng để chúng ta suy ngẫm.
Chúng ta hãy thử tưởng tượng sự việc này một cách sâu sắc và chúng ta nhận ra rằng Chúa Giêsu đang liên tục nhìn về phía chúng ta với cái nhìn trong tình yêu thương thiêng liêng, và Ngài đang tìm kiếm thời điểm mà chúng ta hướng sự chú ý đến Ngài. Cái nhìn của Chúa sẽ là cái nhìn vĩnh viễn và sâu sắc. Cái nhìn của Ngài với ánh mắt khao khát chúng ta bước theo Ngài, từ bỏ tất cả những thứ chúng ta đang làm, đang dự định dở dang để lắng nghe lời mời nhẹ nhàng của Ngài và Ngài không những muốn chúng ta chỉ đi theo Ngài mà Ngài còn muốn chúng ta ra đi để mời gọi những người khác cùng tìm đến Ngài cùng sánh bước với chúng ta trên hành trình đến với đức tin.
Khi chúng ta bắt đầu Mùa Vọng này, chúng ta hãy để tiếng Chúa gọi Thánh Andrê và Thánh Phêrô trở thành tiếng Chúa gọi chính chúng ta. Chúng ta hãy cho phép mình chú ý đến Chúa đang nhìn chúng ta, Chúa biết mọi điều về chúng ta và chúng ta hãy chú tâm lắng nghe tiếng Chúa mời gọi chúng ta. Có lẽ Ngài đang nói với chúng ta: “Hãy theo ta…” Đây là một lời mời được thấm nhuần mọi khía cạnh trong cuộc sống của chúng ta. Để “theo đuổi” Chúa Giêsu là bỏ lại tất cả những thứ khác, những vật chất, những ước vọng riêng của chúng ta phía sau và theo Chúa và biến việc theo Chúa thành mục đích duy nhất của cuộc đời chúng ta.
Đáng buồn thay, nhiều người chúng ta ít chú ý hay không để ý đến tiếng gọi này trong cuộc sống của chúng ta. Ít người nghe lời mời gọi của Ngài và ít người đáp ứng với lời mời gọi ấy hơn, và càng ít người đáp lại lời mời của Chúa bằng cách từ bỏ tất cả vật chất hay mạng sống của chúng ta. Mùa Vọng là cơ hội để một lần nữa chúng ta đánh giá sự đáp ứng của chúng ta với tiếng mời gọi của Chúa.
Đoạn Tin Mừng ngắn hôm nay chứa đựng tất cả sự phấn khích của sự khởi đầu của một câu chuyện phiêu lưu. Ông Anrê, người đánh cá không nghi ngờ gì đang miệt mài làm việc của người đanh cá chuyên nghiệp, đột nhiên được kêu gọi the Chúa để sống 1 cuộc đời phi thường của một Tông đồ: “Hãy theo ta, và ta sẽ biến các ngươi thành những tay đánh lưới người”. Chúng ta có thể tự hỏi: Liệu ông Andrew có hiểu được lời mời gọi này ngụ ý gì không? Có khả năng. Ông Andrê đã nhìn thấy Chúa Giê-su khi ông Gioan Baotixitat công bố: “Đây là Chiên Con của Đức Chúa Trời,” và ông “nghe lời Ngài nói và đi theo Chúa Giê-su” (Gn 1:36-37).
Chúa Giêsu đã chuẩn bị cho ông từ trước để đón nhận ơn gọi “tay đánh lưới người”. Chúa Giêsu luôn ban cho chúng ta những gì chúng ta cần để thực hiện ơn gọi của mình.
Chúa Giêsu đã chuẩn bị cho ông từ trước để đón nhận ơn gọi “tay đánh lưới người”. Chúa Giêsu luôn ban cho chúng ta những gì chúng ta cần để thực hiện ơn gọi của mình.
Thánh Anrê có một vị trí đặc biệt trong lịch sử cứu độ. Ông là Tông đồ đã đưa Thánh Phêrô đến với Chúa Kitô (Ga 1:41). Ông và ông Phi-líp cũng đưa người Hy Lạp đến với Chúa Cứu Thế (Gn 12:22-32).
Trước phép nhân bánh và cá ra nhiều, ông Andrew đã không ngại nói ra điều hiển nhiên: “Ở đây có một cậu bé có năm chiếc bánh lúa mạch và hai con cá; nhưng những thứ này có ích lợi gì cho nhiều người như vậy?” (Ga 6:8-13). Tuy nhiên, có lẽ bài Tin Mừng hôm nay bộc lộ rõ nhất tính cách của Anrê bởi vì ngay từ đầu chúng ta đã thấy tính chất tự phát đầy yêu thương của ông Andrew và niềm tin tưởng triệt để của ông vào Chúa Giêsu. Người đánh cá này, toàn bộ sinh kế phụ thuộc vào tàu đánh cá và thiết bị đánh cá, đã “bỏ lưới và đi theo Ngài”.
Khi chúng ta bắt đầu Mùa Vọng này, có thể đay là thời điểm tốt để suy ngẫm về ơn gọi ban đầu của chúng ta. Có lẽ chúng ta giống thánh Andrew; vui vẻ lưới cá và làm việc riêng cho đến khi có người làm chứng nhân cho Thiên Chúa, và buộc chúng ta phải rời bỏ cái lưới an toàn và đi theo Chúa Giê-su với tư cách là những tông đồ tận tụy. Hoặc có lẽ chúng ta giống như ông
Trước phép nhân bánh và cá ra nhiều, ông Andrew đã không ngại nói ra điều hiển nhiên: “Ở đây có một cậu bé có năm chiếc bánh lúa mạch và hai con cá; nhưng những thứ này có ích lợi gì cho nhiều người như vậy?” (Ga 6:8-13). Tuy nhiên, có lẽ bài Tin Mừng hôm nay bộc lộ rõ nhất tính cách của Anrê bởi vì ngay từ đầu chúng ta đã thấy tính chất tự phát đầy yêu thương của ông Andrew và niềm tin tưởng triệt để của ông vào Chúa Giêsu. Người đánh cá này, toàn bộ sinh kế phụ thuộc vào tàu đánh cá và thiết bị đánh cá, đã “bỏ lưới và đi theo Ngài”.
Khi chúng ta bắt đầu Mùa Vọng này, có thể đay là thời điểm tốt để suy ngẫm về ơn gọi ban đầu của chúng ta. Có lẽ chúng ta giống thánh Andrew; vui vẻ lưới cá và làm việc riêng cho đến khi có người làm chứng nhân cho Thiên Chúa, và buộc chúng ta phải rời bỏ cái lưới an toàn và đi theo Chúa Giê-su với tư cách là những tông đồ tận tụy. Hoặc có lẽ chúng ta giống như ông Giabêđê; “ở lại” đánh cá và kiếm tiền thu nhập để hỗ trợ gia đình và những người truyền giáo. Hay chúng ta giống như ông Phêrô, người đã nghe nói về Chúa Giêsu nhưng lại do dự, cần một phép lạ và một lời mời gọi trực tiếp để đón nhận lời kêu gọi và đi theo Chúa Giêsu? Dù ơn gọi của chúng ta đã bắt đầu như thế nào, chúng ta vẫn có thể biết ơn vì lời mời gọi khi chúng ta luôn cảnh giác hướng mắt về Chúa Giêsu trong Mùa Vọng này.
Hôm nay, chúng ta hãy suy ngẫm về những lời Chúa Giêsu nói với chúng ta. Trước hết, chúng ta hãy suy ngẫm về câu hỏi liệu chúng ta co dám nói “xin Vâng” với Ngài bằng tất cả sức mạnh của tâm hồn mình chưa. Thứ hai, hãy suy ngẫm về những người mà Chúa muốn chúng ta mời tham dự vào trong cuộc hành trình đức tin với chúng ta. Chúa Giêsu đang muốn chúng ta đi mời ai? Ai, trong cuộc sống của chúng ta, sẵn sàng đón nhận tiếng gọi của Ngài? Chúa Giêsu muốn lôi kéo ai đến với Ngài qua chúng ta? Hãy bắt chước các thánh Tông Đồ này khi họ nói “Vâng” với Chúa cho dù họ không hiểu ngay tất cả những điều gì đang đòi hỏi nơi họ. Chúng ta hãy nói “xin Vâng” ngay hôm nay và sẵn sàng làm tất cả những điều gì tiếp theo trong cuộc hành trình đức tin đầy vinh quang.
 
 Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle
As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  Matthew 4:18–19
Today, we honor one of the Apostles: Saint Andrew. Andrew and his brother Peter were fishermen who would soon take on a new form of fishing.  They would soon become “fishers of men,” as Jesus said. But prior to being sent on this mission by our Lord, they had to become His followers. And this happened as our Lord was first the fisher of these men. Notice that in this Gospel, Jesus was simply walking by and “saw” these two brothers working hard at their occupation. First, Jesus “saw” them, and then He called them. This gaze of our Lord is worth pondering. Imagine the profound truth that our Lord is continually gazing at you with divine love, looking for the moment that you turn your attention to Him. His gaze is perpetual and deep. His gaze is one that yearns for you to follow Him, to abandon all else so as to hear His gentle invitation not only to follow Him, but to then go forth and invite others on the journey of faith.
As we begin this Advent season, we must allow the call of Andrew and Peter to also become our own calling. We must allow ourselves to notice Jesus as He looks at us, sees who we are, is aware of everything about us, and then speaks a word of invitation. He says to you, “Come after me…”  This is an invitation that must permeate every aspect of your life. To “come after” Jesus is to leave all else behind and to make the act of following our Lord the single purpose of your life.
Sadly, many people pay little attention to this calling in their lives. Few people hear Him speak and fewer respond, and even fewer respond with complete abandonment of their lives. The beginning of Advent is an opportunity to evaluate your responsiveness to the call of our Lord once again. 
Reflect, today, upon Jesus speaking these words to you. First, ponder the question of whether you have said “Yes” to Him with all the powers of your soul. Second, reflect upon those whom our Lord wants you to invite on the journey. To whom is Jesus sending you to invite? Who, in your life, is open to His call? Who does Jesus want to draw to Himself through you? Imitate these Apostles as they said “Yes” to our Lord, even though they did not immediately understand all that this would entail. Say “Yes” today and be ready and willing to do whatever comes next on this glorious journey of faith.
My dear Lord, I do say “Yes” to You this day. I hear You calling me, and I choose to respond with the utmost generosity and abandonment to Your holy and perfect will. Give me the courage and wisdom I need to hold nothing back from You and Your divine calling in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I have heard the call of your Son and will follow him. I have abandoned my nets and left my former life behind. I only desire the new life you offer with your Son and in the Spirit.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Andrew, the First-Called: The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee and called two brothers, Peter and Andrew, to become fishers of men. We know from the Gospel of John that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist and encountered Jesus near the Jordan River before this call to become a fisher of men (John 1:40). That is why Andrew gets the title “protoclete,” which means “the first-called.” The fact that Andrew was already spending time away from fishing with his brother in the Sea of Galilee and the fact that he was with John the Baptist in the wilderness indicates that his heart was detached from the things of this passing world and open to the things of the age to come. His heart was open to the seed of the word of God, whether it came through the ancient prophets, through John the Baptist, or through the definitive Word of God, Jesus Christ.
2. Bringing the Good News to Jew and Greek: The First Reading is taken from an important section of the Letter to the Romans. In Romans 9-11, Paul focuses on the place of Israel in the plan of God. Paul argues that there are not two ways of salvation, one for Israel and one for the Gentiles, but that there is only one way of salvation, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life. Andrew, as an apostle, was sent out by Jesus to preach the one way of salvation. Andrew went to the northern part of Asia Minor, to the region south of the Black Sea, and to Scythia, and went as far as Kyiv, preaching the Good News to the peoples he encountered. The people heard the Good News from Andrew’s lips. They believed in the Lord, began to call upon him, and were enriched and justified with God’s grace. Andrew preached salvation in the name of Jesus, and many welcomed God’s salvation in Christ through the apostolic ministry of Andrew. Like his Lord, Jesus, and his brother, Peter, Andrew gave the supreme witness when he was crucified.
3. Praying and Working for Unity: Saint Andrew is connected especially to the Greeks and the city of Constantinople. Tradition holds he founded the see of Byzantium (later Constantinople and Istanbul) in A.D. 38 and appointed Stachys as its first bishop. Andrew’s brother, Peter, on the other hand, is connected especially to the city of Rome. After the tragic division – the Great Schism – of the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church in A.D. 1054, the Feast of St. Andrew has become, in recent years, a call to work toward the reestablishment of full communion between the Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople. When Benedict XVI visited Türkiye on the Feast of St. Andrew in 2006, he said that the Catholic Church was willing to do everything possible to overcome obstacles to full communion and seek more effective means of pastoral cooperation. While we work tirelessly for unity among Christians, we can ask Peter and Andrew to intercede for us. May we work and pray to overcome division, not just between Catholics and the Orthodox, but between every Christian community. 
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you prayed at the Last Supper to the Father that we be one, as you and the Father are one. We should not be divided, and yet we are. I pray today that I may be an apostle of unity and not a cause of division. Enlighten my mind and move my heart as I work for your Kingdom today.
 
Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I am only able to pray because you have given me the gift of faith. You have bid me, called me to prayer. Here I am, Lord, and I want to follow your lead. You are the Lord of my life. You are the only one worth following. Thank you for calling me to be your disciple.
Encountering Christ:
Fisher of Men: This short Gospel passage has all the excitement of the beginning of an adventure story. Andrew, the unsuspecting fisherman plying his trade, was suddenly called to the extraordinary life of an Apostle: “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Would Andrew have understood what this curious invitation implied? Possibly. Andrew had seen Jesus when John the Baptist had proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God,” and he “heard what he said and followed Jesus” (John 1:36-37). Jesus had prepared him ahead of time to receive his vocation as a “fisher of men.” Jesus always gives us what we need to fulfill our vocational calling.
The Great Saint: St. Andrew has a special place in salvation history. He was the Apostle who brought St. Peter to Christ (John 1:41). He and Philip also brought the Greeks to Christ (John 12:22-32). Before the multiplication of loaves and fishes, Andrew was not afraid to state the obvious: “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” ( John 6:8-13). Perhaps, though, today’s Gospel is most revealing of Andrew’s character because we see–at the very beginning–Andrew’s loving spontaneity and his radical trust in Jesus. This fisherman, whose whole livelihood depended on fishing boats and equipment, "left [his] nets and followed him.”
The Great Saint: St. Andrew has a special place in salvation history. He was the Apostle who brought St. Peter to Christ (John 1:41). He and Philip also brought the Greeks to Christ (John 12:22-32). Before the multiplication of loaves and fishes, Andrew was not afraid to state the obvious: “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” ( John 6:8-13). Perhaps, though, today’s Gospel is most revealing of Andrew’s character because we see–at the very beginning–Andrew’s loving spontaneity and his radical trust in Jesus. This fisherman, whose whole livelihood depended on fishing boats and equipment, "left [his] nets and followed him.”
My Vocation: As we begin this Advent season, the Church’s “New Year,” it can be a good time to reflect on our original calling. Perhaps we were like Andrew; happy fishing and doing our own thing until someone gave witness to God, compelling us to leave our safety nets and follow Jesus as dedicated apostles. Or perhaps we were like Zebedee; staying “behind” to fish and earn an income to support the family and the missionaries. Or are we like Peter who had heard about Jesus but hesitated, needing a miracle and a direct invitation to accept the call and follow Jesus? However our vocation began, we can be grateful for the call as we vigilantly keep our eyes fixed on Jesus this Advent.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, grant me the courage to follow you as St. Andrew did. Thank you for our friendship, our story, your calling me to follow you. Please continue to help me persevere in all you ask of me. St. Andrew, pray for us!
 
Nov 2018 St Andrew, Apostle (Rom. 10:9-18;  Mt. 4:18-22)
Today's Gospel tells us that Jesus calls ordinary men to do extraordinary deeds. Fishermen, for instance, are called to be fishers of men.  we are ordinary people. But we, too, can do extraordinary deeds. We, too, can become fishers of men. We, too, can become Christ's disciples. We can do so by following Jesus' footsteps.
However, to be a follower of Christ entails "leaving our nets" liberating ourselves from material attachments, comfort zones, anything that hinders us from following Jesus completely and unconditionally. We are sometimes afraid to let go of these attachments. It is then that we must trust in God's word: that he will not be outdone in generosity. If we let go of anything for his sake, he will reward us a hundredfold.
The first reading asks, "How can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out?" Again, we are asked to spread God's word, to become messengers. The work of proclaiming the gospel is not limited to the priests or nuns. If we are to build God's kingdom on earth, each person can and must do his part.
Let us do our part. Let us become fishers of men.
Let us ask ourselves today: how has knowing Jesus spiritually prepared us? Where are we now spiritually? Are we still preparing the nets? Or are we ready, when asked by the Lord, to do whatever we can to be "fishers of men"? Andrew had been a follower of St John the Baptist. When he and Peter were called by Jesus to be His followers, and fishers of men, they left all things to follow Him. St Paul tells us that all men, Jews and Gentiles alike, are called to follow Jesus but that not all will listen to the Good News. 
We have heard that call and manifest our acceptance by believing from our heart and confessing with our lips. The faith we have received is our greatest treasure and to lose it would be our greatest loss.
Since it is a priceless gift and is offered to all men and women, it shoud be our endeavour to share this faith like Peter and Andrew who were ‘fishers of men’. This sharing of faith can be done in many ways, and the means available to each one of us is to live a better Christian life nourished by the love of the Lord in prayer.  Let’s us ask the Holy Spirit to help us ato learn from the example of St Andrew spur within us the desire to share

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Sáu Tuần thứ 34 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng
thứ Sáu Tuần thứ 34 Thường Niên
Trong tuần cuối cùng của năm phụng vụ của Giáo Hội, các bài đọc thứ Nhất của mỗi ngày cho chúng ta thấy  những cái nhìn về ngày tận thế. Rất tiếc chúng ta không sống trong một thế giới mà chúng ta có thể có được những kinh nghiệm như Thánh Gioan đã được thị kiến và đã viết ra trong Sách Khải Huyền.  Chúng ta không biết rõ về những chi tiết lịch sử của thời đại và những dữ kiện đã xảy ra trong thời Thánh Gioan., có nghĩa là phần lớn những gì ông kinh nghiệm, ông đã truyền lại chúng ta. Tuy nhiên, nếu chúng ta có đủ kiên nhẫn để đọc để tìm hiểu thêm về ý nghĩa của cuốn sách, thì chúng ta có thể khám phá ra khá nhiều những hiểu biết và được an ủi qua những công việc của ông.
            Đoạn cuối của Bài đọc hôm nay, khi nói đến trời mới và đất mới sau đó nói đến một thành thánh Jerusalem mới. Bất chấp sự khinh hải của các đoạn văn trước đó, Thánh Gioan chắc chắn trải qua một số Chân Lý đã an ủi làm cho ông rất hy vọng.
            Trời, tất nhiên, hoàn toàn khác biệt với những kinh nghiệm trần thế của chúng ta, nhưng Thánh Gioan đã liên kết một trời mới cùng với đất mới một lời nhắc nhở rằng có một sự liên tục giữa trời và đất. Cơ thể chúng ta chết, nhưng chúng ta đang sống trong một mối quan hệ mới với Thiên Chúa, Người mà cho chúng ta có được sự sống đời đời hạnh phúc vĩnh cửu. Niềm hy vọng này một cách chắc chắn đức tin của chúng ta mặc khải cho chúng ta cho chúng ta. có nghĩa là chúng ta có thể có đủ sức mạnh Chúa ban như bài Thánh Vịnh chúng ta nghe .Lạy Chúa, Phúc thay kẻ lấy Ngài làm sức mạnh, ấp ủ trong lòng giấc mộng hành hương, mưa đầu mùa đổ phúc lộc chứa chan.
 
Reflection (SG)
            In this last week of the Church’s liturgical year, the first readings each day deals with visions of the end of the world. We do not live in a world where we have any experience of the visions which the writer of the Revelation has described for us. Not knowing the historical details of the writer’s times and background, means that much of what he says passes us by. Yet if we have the patience to read and to look for meaning we can discover quite many consoling insights in his work.
            The last paragraph of today’s passage, speaks of new heavens and a new earth and then of a new Jerusalem. In spite of the terror of the previous paragraphs, the author obviously experienced some great consoling truth which gave him hope.
            Heaven, of course, is totally different from our earthly experiences, but the author’s linking together of a new heaven and a new earth is a reminder that there is some continuity between heaven and earth. Our bodies die, but we live in a new relationship with God which gives us eternal life and everlasting happiness. This hope and certainty which our faith reveals to us means that we can go from strength to strength as the Psalmist says.
Lord, by Your grace may we grow spiritually from strength to strength.
 
Friday 34th Ordinary Time
“Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Luke 21:32–33
As we approach the final days of this liturgical year, we continue to read about the end of the world. Today we read that both Heaven and earth, as they currently are, will pass away. This is worth pondering.
We know that life is full of change. It has been said that the one thing that never changes is change itself. Everything else changes. But when it comes to earth, it is hard to believe that it will one day “pass away.” Some scientists believe that the earth has existed for over four and a half billion years. That’s a long time! Now consider the fact that Jesus prophesied the end of this earth as we know it today. When will it happen? Only God knows.
Heaven, as it exists today, is also prophesied by our Lord to pass away. Heaven, as it is right now, is a pure spiritual reality in which the only corporeal bodies present are those of Jesus and our Blessed Mother. The rest of Heaven consists of the Divine Essence, the souls of those who have been redeemed and the angels of God. But if Heaven even passes away, what awaits?
First of all, the only reason that these two realities, Heaven and earth, will pass away in their current form is because, at the Final Judgment, there will be a “New Heavens and a New Earth,” as spoken of in the Book of Revelation. At that time, Heaven and earth will be united as one, and this new creation will exist for eternity.
But is there anything that is currently eternal? Anything that will never experience change? We humans will be changed at the resurrection of the dead, the angels will encounter a new home, so to speak, and God will establish a new and permanent Kingship. But, according to Jesus’ teaching today, the one thing that will remain are His words: “…my words will not pass away.” Again, this is worth pondering.
In a world filled with change and uncertainty, we need some form of stability. And that stability is the Truth found in the Word of God. The Word of God, as revealed to us through the Scriptures, must become our rock foundation upon which our whole lives are built and exist. Pondering, praying with, meditating on, and believing the Word of God enables us to stand on firm and unchanging spiritual ground as we go through the change of this life and even the changes that will come at the end of time. Though this may seem somewhat mysterious in nature, it is a helpful truth to understand and believe. Everything will pass away except Jesus’ words. Thus, the most secure thing we can do in life is to cling to His words and never let go.
Reflect, today, upon the importance of truly immersing yourself in the Word of God. How much time do you spend each week reading it, praying with it and allowing it to become your daily food? The Word of God is not simply a book of teachings meant to inspire you or guide you. The Word of God is a Living Word. It is God in His unchangeable form. God, in His essence, will never change, and engaging Him through the revelation of His written Word is one essential way by which you will be able to experience true stability in life and prepare for each and every change to come until the final order of life is permanently established.
My Eternal Word, You are unchanging and eternal. You are the rock foundation upon which I must always rely. As I continue to experience the many changes encountered in this life, please enter my soul through Your written Word, so that I will find the stability I need. As I stand firm in You, I look forward with joy to the New Heavens and New Earth that await. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Friday 34th Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, your word is eternal. Your word stands the test of time. Empires come and go. The world around me is passing, ephemeral, and temporal. But what you offer me is the promise of eternal life in your Kingdom. Help me to embrace this promise and center my life on you.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Heaven and Earth will Pass Away: In the Gospel, Jesus invites his disciples to consider the fig tree and all the other trees and how their buds burst open and indicate that summer is near. In like manner, Jesus says that there are things that will happen that will indicate that the time of Jerusalem’s fall is near. When Jesus says that “heaven and earth will pass away,” this is not just a reference to the end of time. It is also a reference to the destruction of the Temple. This is because the Temple in Jerusalem was considered a microcosm of the universe. The sanctuary of the Temple represented heaven. In fact, the veil of the Temple had images of the sun, the moon, and the stars. The courts of the Temple represented the earth. When Jesus promises that heaven and earth will pass away, he is predicting the destruction of the Temple. Jesus not only predicts the destruction, but he also says exactly when it will happen: before “this generation” passes away. Now, a generation, in the bible, means forty years. Jesus was crucified in A.D. 30 on the 15th day of Nisan, which was after the evening Passover and was the day of preparation before the Sabbath. The Romans began to lay siege to Jerusalem in A.D. 70, three days before the Passover. In this way, the forty years were completed, the microcosm of the universe was destroyed, and yet Jesus’ words remain.
2. The Thousand Years: The Book of Revelation can be interpreted historically as a prophecy about salvation history and the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The First Reading refers to the binding of the ancient serpent, Satan, for a thousand years and throwing the serpent into the abyss. Historically, the thousand years mark the time from the establishment of David’s Kingdom in 1000 B.C. to the first advent of Jesus in the fullness of time. “The image of the devil being ‘bound’ for ‘a thousand years,’ therefore, is a depiction of the incredible power of God’s oath to establish the Davidic kingdom, through which the nations would be taught and the devil’s deceptions unmasked” (Barber, Coming Soon, 247). The images in the First Reading of a pit (abyss), the rock, the key, and the chain were all connected to the Temple built by David’s son, Solomon. Symbolically, however, the thousand years refers to the age of salvation and the age of the Church, from the time Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom of God and bound Satan to the consummation of the Kingdom at the end of time.
3. The Promise of a New Heavens and a New Earth: The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70 is the initial fulfillment of the prophecy that the former heaven and former earth would pass away. “With the passing away of the old Jerusalem, the entire Old Economy – the temple, the Levitical priesthood, etc. – is replaced. A ‘new creation’ is inaugurated with the vision of the ‘New Jerusalem.’ In one sense, this explains the spiritual significance of Christ’s fulfilling all things in Himself and His Church, making the earthly Jerusalem obsolete. At the same time, it looks forward to the Last Day, in which the earth itself will pass away and the Church will receive her final heavenly glory” (Barber, Coming Soon, 257). The destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, which was understood as a microcosm of the universe, points forward to the end of the world, when all people, the righteous and unrighteous, will be judged. The unrighteous will be condemned and suffer the “second death,” torment in body and soul in the “lake of fire.” The righteous will be glorified and, in the “second resurrection,” experience the joy of heaven in both body and soul.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you have inaugurated the new creation here on earth. You have made me a new creation through my Baptism. Help me to live and experience that newness to the full. I want to continue to shed the old self and fully embrace new life in and with you, my Savior and Redeemer.
 
Friday 34th Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer: Lord God, sometimes confusion is the dominant characteristic of my prayer. I don’t feel like I’m praying, I don’t know what I should say, and I don’t understand your words. In these moments, please be with me. Pray in me, and then I know I will be praying.
Encountering Christ:
Inscrutable: Luke 21, the content of this week’s Gospel readings, can be difficult to understand. In the passage just before this Jesus said “Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days,” and “Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles,” and “the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” What does Jesus want to tell us in these last days of the liturgical year? He invites us to discernment, to watchfulness. We ask ourselves, “What has the Holy Spirit been saying to me in 2021?” May we deepen our prayer and recognize God at work in these last days of the liturgical year.
Proximate: “The Kingdom of God is near.” The proximity of the Kingdom of God is one of Jesus’ most important messages to us. Our God is not far away, but very near to us, even in our very hearts. This is the logic of the Incarnation, of a God who wants to be near to his creation, and so enters it as a little baby. Luke 17:20-21 is instructive: “Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he said in reply, ‘The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, “Look, here it is,” or, “There it is.” For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.’” Are we able to recognize the Kingdom of God when we see it? Does God seem far away, or have we let him come very, very close?
Eternal: The Word of God is living and eternal. With a word, God fashioned the heavens and the earth. Indeed, the only-begotten Son of God is the living Word, which took flesh and dwelt among us. We know, too, that the sacred Scriptures are the living word of God. There we read of salvation history and God’s long and loving relationship with mankind—all that a loving God dreams of for his children. Scripture is an invaluable aid to discernment. There we find the right context, the appropriate lens for reading the events of our life.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are the King of the world, who came to earth to establish your loving reign. I want to be a part of this empire of harmony, this domain of justice and truth. Please establish yourself over my life; I give you full permission, for you are the most tender of monarchs!
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will take some time to journal about the graces, challenges, and blessings of the past year.