Suy Niệm thứ Hai Tuần 33 thường Niên
Trong
cuôc sống con người của chúng ta, đôi khi chúng ta cảm thấy là rất khó để trung
thành với con đường của Thiên Chúa hướng cho chúng ta đặc biệt là khi chúng ta
đang phải đối diện với nhiều thử thách và cám dỗ trong một xã hội với nền văn
hóa chủ chủ trương cá nhân, sống buông thả, ích kỷ. Con người chúng ta có vẻ
thú vị, và luôn luôn có sự thôi thúc mãnh liệt để làm sao có thể được giống như
mọi người khác.
Như dân Israel đã phải đối mặt với những thách
thức này qua sự đô hô và ảnh hưởng nền văn hoá của người Hy Lạp, và nhiều người
đã xuôi tay. Đế vương Antioches Epiphanes đã làm hết sức mình để tiêu diệt đạo
Do Thái và văn hóa của người Do thái, nhưng hầu hết dân Do thái vẫn luôn biết cương
quyết và trung thành với Thiên Chúa của họ. Cuối cùng họ đã thắng.
Qua bài Tin Mừng chúng ta đã chứng kiến cảnh
một người mù và tàn tật thường xuyên bị xã hội kinh bỉ. Nhưng anh đã có cái nhận
thức và nhìn sâu sắc vào Chúa Giêsu. anh chào đón Chúa bằng một danh hiệu là Đấng
Kitô, Chúa cứu thế, con vua David - và viớ long tin anh ta đã xin Chúa cứu chữa
cho anh ta, Anh ta đã kiên trì và đầy đức tin, vì vậy Chúa Giêsu chữa cho anh
ta được sáng mắt., không phải chỉ sáng mắt nhìn được cảnh vật bên ngoài, mà anh
còn sáng cả đôi mắt tâm hồn nữa.
Chúng ta không thể cho phép người khác hoặc xã
hội của chúng ta bịt miệng, ngăn cản và dập tắt ngọn lửa đức tin của chúng ta để
đến với Chúa như anh mù. Sự trung tín, và kiên trì là đức tính mà chúng ta cần
phải có trong cuộc sống đạo của chúng ta, chúng ta sẽ không bao giờ hối tiếc vì
nhờ các đức tính đó mà chúng ta sẽ được ân sủng và cái nhìn sâu sắc trong đức
tin hơn.
Lạy Chúa, giúp chúng con biết kiên trì và trung
thành với con đường của Chúa.
Reflection (SG)
Sometimes
it is difficult to remain faithful to the path of the Lord when we are faced
with the many temptations present in our culture. They seem exciting, and there
is always the strong urge to be just like everyone else. The people of Israel
faced this challenge from their Greek rulers, and many gave in. Antioches
Epiphanes did his best to wipe out Jewish religion and culture, but most of the
people remained firm and faithful. In the end they were victorious. Today it is
so important not to be seduced by the many possibilities that are offered to
us, nor to be bullied by those who would force us to abandon our spiritual
path. We will never lose by being faithful to God. Today it is so important not
to be seduced by the many possibilities that are offered to us, nor to be
bullied by those who would force us to abandon our spiritual path. We will
never lose by being faithful to God.
The
blind and disabled were often looked down upon in ancient society. The blind
beggar by the side of the road had no status or honour. His requests to see
Jesus were met with stern rebukes and orders to keep quiet. But despite being
blind, he had insight into the identity of Jesus. He greeted him with a Messianic title — son
of David — and asked for help. He was persistent and faith-filled, so Jesus
restored his sight. We cannot allow other people or our society to silence us
and snuff out the flame of faith. Fidelity and persistence are virtues that we
will never regret. We will be given grace and insight.
Lord,
help me to be faithful to Your path.
Monday 33rd Ordinary Time 2023
As
Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and
hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus
of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”
The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept
calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Luke 18:35–39
This beautiful story of the healing of this blind man, named
Bartimaeus in the Gospel of Luke, sets for us a model of how we must come to
Jesus in prayer. Bartimaeus and his encounter with Christ is an icon upon which
we must meditate so as to imitate him in his weakness, openness, confidence and
perseverance.
To begin, this “blind man was
sitting by the roadside begging.” We must see this as an ideal image of how to
begin our prayer. When we start to pray, we must see our littleness, weakness
and extreme poverty in our spiritual life. We come to God with nothing. Unable
to see. A beggar. And one who is incapable of meeting our own spiritual needs.
This is Bartimaeus, and this must be the way we come to our Lord in prayer.
Sometimes we can fall into the illusion that our prayers are so elevated and
pious that God must be very impressed. If that’s your struggle, then you are
more like the Pharisees. This blind man, however, is the ideal to aim for. So
when you begin your prayer, come to our Lord as a spiritually poor and needy
beggar.
In this state of humility, just
as it happened in this Gospel story, you can be certain that “Jesus of Nazareth
is passing by.” So as you sit in your humble and needy state, wait and be
attentive to Jesus passing by. Wait upon His gentle voice, His quiet
inspiration, His calming and unmistakable presence.
If you can humble yourself this
way and then sense our Lord’s divine presence touching you in some way, then
further imitate Bartimaeus by calling out interiorly, “Jesus, Son of David,
have pity on me!” The cry from the depths of your heart in prayer must come as
a result of Jesus “passing by.” It must be a response to Him coming to you on
His own. As Jesus passes by, spiritually speaking, He waits for you to call to
Him. He desires that you call to Him. And He desires that you do it with firm
confidence and perseverance.
Notice that as this blind beggar cried out, there were obstacles
put in his way. The people “rebuked him, telling him to be silent.” But even
this was a gift, because it enabled Bartimaeus to cry out all the more. So also
with us, when obstacles arise in our prayer, such as distractions, temptations,
a lack of consolation, or any other challenge to our prayer, we must see these
obstacles as hurdles that must be overcome. Doing so will deepen our union with
Jesus, turning that apparent obstacle into a source of blessing.
Reflect, today, upon these four aspects of a deep prayer life that
are presented to us through the witness of this blind beggar. First, ponder
your weakness and poverty as you turn to God in prayer. Second, be attentive to
the presence of God as He passes by, waiting for you to call to Him. Third, cry
out to Him and beg Him to come closer. And fourth, work to overcome every
obstacle to prayer and see those obstacles as opportunities to call out to God
all the more.
My
compassionate Lord, I come to You in my weakness and poverty, I come in need of
Your divine touch and healing. As You do pass by, I acknowledge Your presence
and call to You. Jesus, please do come to me, have pity on me. Help me to
overcome every obstacle to Your love and to trust in You always, never wavering
from my commitment to You. Jesus, I trust in You.
Monday 33rd Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, as you pass
by before me, take pity on me. Let me see with the spiritual eyes of faith.
Cure the blindness caused by sin. Fill me with your Spirit so that I may praise
you, thank you, and give you glory.
Encountering the Word of
God
1. Your Faith has Saved
You: The Gospel of Luke records two stories in Jericho, one involving a poor
man (Luke 18:35-43) and another involving a rich man (Luke 19:1-10). There are
many parallels between the two stories, and they mutually illuminate each
other. In both stories, Jesus, like God in the Old Testament, is said to be
“passing by.” The poor man was blind and was begging for alms as Jesus passed
by. The rich man was a chief tax collector and climbed a sycamore tree as Jesus
passed by. Both stories are about salvation. Both stories show that Jesus seeks
out what was lost. In the first story, faith saves the poor man. He begs the
Son of David for mercy, and he receives not only physical sight but also the
spiritual vision of faith. Once he was cured, he followed Jesus on the way to
Jerusalem. In the second story, which we will hear tomorrow, repentance, faith,
and works of charity lead the rich man to salvation.
2. The Prophetic Message
of Revelation: Our First Reading is taken from the Book of Revelation. The Book calls
itself a “prophecy.” It is a prophecy in at least three ways. In its original
context, it is a prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Many
of the images of armies, war, and destruction refer to the Jewish War (66-70
A.D.) and the long siege of Jerusalem by the Romans. Second, the Book of
Revelation is a prophecy that foretells the battle between good and evil that
will unfold throughout human history. Third, it ultimately is a prophecy about
the events that will happen near the end of time. In the passage selected as
today’s First Reading, John is directed by Jesus, the Son of Man, to write
seven letters to seven Churches in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Each letter
evaluates the condition of the Church, announces a punishment for infidelity,
and offers a blessing for victory through perseverance.
3. The Letter to the
Church in Ephesus: The first letter, which we read today, is directed
to the Church in Ephesus. The Ephesians are praised for their endurance and
work and for discerning between true Apostles and false imposters. At the same
time, Jesus points out that the Ephesians have lost the fervor of their
original love. They are invited by Jesus to repent and do the works they did at
first. If they do not repent, Jesus will remove the Church, symbolized by the
golden lampstand, from Ephesus. However, if the members of the Church are victorious
over temptation and persevere through the tribulation, they will be blessed
with eternal life, symbolized by eating from the Tree of Life.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, give
me to eat from the fruit of the Tree of Life, the Eucharist, your own Body and
Blood. Keep me in your grace, fill me with your Spirit, so that I may inherit
eternal life with you.
Monday 33rd Ordinary Time 2023
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come before you to spend
this time in prayer with you. Open my heart to hear and receive the word that
you wish to speak to me today. I believe that your desire to spend this time
with me is infinitely greater than mine. Even still, let my desire for you grow
just a bit more today. I trust in you, and I love you, Lord. Let my faith,
hope, and love grow.
Encountering Christ:
Roadside Beggars: This blind man must have spent a lot of
time sitting beside that road on the way to Jericho. The other townsfolk had
probably gotten used to his presence and his occasional shouts from his mat
begging for alms or a bite to eat, or maybe just asking for the gossip of the
day. He could have just blended into the hustle and bustle of daily routines
and important things that occupied the minds and hearts of many that day, as
Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. But something in his heart prompted him to
reach out, in spite of the others shushing him. There was a thirst, a longing
within him for sight, and years of darkness and solitude had not yet quenched
the hope that this could be possible.
The Hidden Blessing of Blindness: How many years had this man suffered
blindness, whether from birth or some accident? Only God knows. How he lived
and learned to bear the burden of this suffering is a mystery to us, too. But
perhaps over time he came to discover a hidden blessing in his blindness. Even
though his world was filled with darkness, perhaps he alone, among all those
scurrying the streets of Jericho that day, had true sight, the sight of faith.
Perhaps his very blindness kept ever before his eyes the real desire of his
heart: that he might see. And it was this faith which allowed him to recognize
the Savior as he passed by. This faith gave him the confidence to ask for what
he needed.
Faith’s Sight: The blind man could not see, but knew he
was looked upon. This experience of being seen and known–accepted despite one’s
imperfections and even cherished–is what allows the smallest seed of faith to
grow. He could not see, but he knew he was looked upon. In this time of prayer,
we, too, pause and sit beside the blind man, seeking a moment of silence in the
hustle of my day. Is the Lord passing by? What blindness, darkness, or struggle
weighs us down, tempting us to squelch our faith in loneliness and doubt? How
can we get up and run to Jesus, let him look upon us, and receive in faith the
hidden blessings Jesus wishes to give?
Conversing with Christ: Jesus, my blindness is not so different
from this blind man’s. I, too, find doubts and temptations surrounding me,
telling me to be silent, causing me to hesitate. But you are so good and you
never tire of coming out to seek me. You draw close and ask me, “What do you
want me to do for you?” Lord, please let me see.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will try to offer this prayer
of petition in my heart throughout the day: Lord, please let me see.
Monday 33rd Ordinary Time 2022
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come before you to spend this time in prayer
with you. Open my heart to hear and receive the word that you wish to speak to me
today. I believe that your desire to spend this time with me is infinitely
greater than mine. Even still, let my desire for you grow just a bit more
today. I trust in you, and I love you, Lord. Let my faith, hope, and love
grow.
Encountering Christ:
Roadside Beggars: This blind man must have spent a lot of time sitting
beside that road on the way to Jericho. The other townsfolk had probably gotten
used to his presence and his occasional shouts from his mat begging for alms or
a bite to eat, or maybe just asking for the gossip of the day. He could have
just blended into the hustle and bustle of daily routines and important things
that occupied the minds and hearts of many that day, as Jesus of Nazareth was
passing by. But something in his heart prompted him to reach out, in spite of
the others shushing him. There was a thirst, a longing within him for sight,
and years of darkness and solitude had not yet quenched the hope that this
could be possible.
The Hidden Blessing of Blindness: How many years had this man suffered
blindness, whether from birth or some accident? Only God knows. How he lived
and learned to bear the burden of this suffering is a mystery to us, too. But
perhaps over time he came to discover a hidden blessing in his blindness. Even
though his world was filled with darkness, perhaps he alone, among all those
scurrying the streets of Jericho that day, had true sight, the sight of faith.
Perhaps his very blindness kept ever before his eyes the real desire of his
heart: that he might see. And it was this faith which allowed him to recognize
the Savior as he passed by. This faith gave him the confidence to ask for what
he needed.
Faith’s Sight: The blind man could not see, but knew he was looked upon.
This experience of being seen and known–accepted despite one’s imperfections
and even cherished–is what allows the smallest seed of faith to grow. He could
not see, but he knew he was looked upon. In this time of prayer, we, too, pause
and sit beside the blind man, seeking a moment of silence in the hustle of my
day. Is the Lord passing by? What blindness, darkness, or struggle weighs us
down, tempting us to squelch our faith in loneliness and doubt? How can we get
up and run to Jesus, let him look upon us, and receive in faith the hidden
blessings Jesus wishes to give?
Conversing with Christ: Jesus, my blindness is not so different from this blind
man’s. I, too, find doubts and temptations surrounding me, telling me to be
silent, causing me to hesitate. But you are so good and you never tire of
coming out to seek me. You draw close and ask me, “What do you want me to do
for you?” Lord, please let me see.
Resolution: Lord,
today by your grace I will try to offer this prayer of petition in my heart
throughout the day: Lord, please let me see.
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