Trong khi chúng ta suy nghĩ về đoạn Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta có thể nhận ra những gì đang xảy ra ở ngay đây trong thế giới hiện tại của chúng ta hôm nay. Chúng ta thực sự đang ở trong một thời điểm hết sức khó khăn của thế giới này: chiến tranh, đói kém, động đất, bão lụt và những cơn khủng hoảng bệnh dịch mới. Những sự kiện này đã gây cho chúng ta sự lo sợ, nhưng có lẽ Chúa muốn dùng những dữ kiện này với một mục đích đơn thuần là thức tỉnh con người chúng ta hơn là để dọa chúng ta. Trên thực tế, Chúa nói với chúng ta là không nên sợ hãi. Chúng ta cần phải giữ vững niềm tin của chúng ta để chúng ta không thể bị lừa dối bởi thế giới xác thịt này một cách dễ dàng
Chúa Giêsu Kitô đã quá rõ ràng việc này vì thệ Ngài mời gọi chúng ta theo ngài và tránh xa đường lồi sai lầm của ma quỷ, có nghĩa là chống lại tình yêu và lòng bác ái, các tiên tri giả sẽ xuất hiện để đánh lừa chúng ta. để chúng ta chối từ thập giá của Chúa Kitô ở trong những sự cám dỗ của thế giớ hiện tại với những công trình đồ sộ, những món quà phong phú là sự giàu có mà thế giới có thể cho chúng ta. Vì vậy, Chúa Giêsu Kitô đã chỉ cho chúng ta thấy rõ thực tế về sự phá hủy đền thờ Jeruasalem.
Các Thánh Tử Đạo ViệtNam, cha ông chúng ta đã coi những thứ vật chất của thế này là tất cả là hư không, và sự vinh quang trở của thế giới này đã trở nên vô ích cho những người đặt niềm tin vào con người và tất cả vào những sự phát triển và bành trướng của thế gian này. Biểu tượng của người Kitô hữu chúng ta là những nhành lá cây vạn tuế (Dừa lá) vì cành là này có thể sống tươi lâu dài trong bất cứ ở thời tiết nào và cây này lúc nào cũng thấy như màu xanh lá cây. Cành lá vạn tuế này tượng trưng cho đức tin của chúng ta.
As we reflect on today’s Gospel passages, We may recognize what is happening here today in our world. We are indeed in troubled times. Just listen to the new in TV, read the newspapers or read the internet; we would know what's going on in the world: wars, famines, earthquakes, typhoon and new kind of diseases. These events may frighten us, but they serve a purpose of merely trying to awaken us than to frighten us, in fact, the Lord tells us not to be afraid. We need to keep our faith firmly in place in order not to be easily deceived by the world.
Jesus Christ is quite clear in asking us not to follow those who will be "anti-Christ." Anti-Christ means to be anti-love and charity, the false prophets will deceive us to deny the cross of Christ, and dwell in the fine stonework and rich gifts that the world may offer. So Jesus Christ breaks to us the reality that the temple and the world will not last. All is vanity, vain glory for those who put their trust in man and all his worldly extensions. The symbol of the Christian is the palm tree which can last in any weather and remains green. It means faith can withstand the onslaught of secularization, keeping clear the commandments of the Lord and maintaining a sound judgment with prudence and a mature conscience to guide our paths. We need to run the good race with the strength of the Holy Spirit until the very end.
While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Luke 21:5–6
In a literal way, this prophecy of our Lord came true. In 70 A.D., the Temple upon which they were commenting was destroyed. After prophesying this, Jesus then goes on to warn the disciples that there will be many confusions that will come. There will be false prophets, wars and insurrections, powerful earthquakes, famines, plagues, “and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.” Why does Jesus prophesy all of these things?
The answer was simple. He was not trying to scare them. He was not simply trying to satisfy their curiosity. Instead, He was warning them and preparing us all so that we do not become misled or terrified when they come. He says, “See that you not be deceived” and “do not be terrified.” NAs the old saying goes, “Life is not a bowl of cherries.” While we live in this fallen world, chaos, confusion, deception, abuse, scandal, conflict and the like will be all around us. And when we do come face-to-face with any such difficulty, there is a temptation to fear, anger and despair. Be it family conflicts, civil unrest or even divisions within the Church itself, God wants us to remain at peace and to trust Him always.
Take Jesus’ own life as an example. He was arrested, falsely accused, sentenced to death and crucified. And through it all, He remained at peace, knowing that His suffering would become the very source of new life. God can use all things for good for those who love and serve Him.
Reflect, today, upon the undeniable fact that your life will involve difficulty. Sometimes that difficulty is self-imposed as a result of your sin, and sometimes it is unjustly imposed on account of the sin of another. Truth be told, we should only be concerned about our own sin. If other challenges come your way that are out of your control, then use those challenges as opportunities to trust. Entrust all things to God, every suffering, every persecution, every tragedy, every struggle, everything. If God the Father could bring about the greatest good ever known through the brutal murder of His own divine Son, then He can certainly do the same with all that you offer to Him in trust. Trust at all times and in all circumstances, and our all-powerful Lord will bring good from everything.
My most powerful Lord, You warned us of the many hardships that would come our way before Your glorious return. You did so to help prepare us and to strengthen us in those moments of testing. Please give me the grace I need to always trust in You and to surrender over to You every cross I carry. I do believe, dear Lord, that You can bring good from everything, even those things that are most difficult in life. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, do not let me be deceived by the evil one. Teach me to read the signs of the times and be always prepared to meet you. I long for your embrace that will welcome me into your heavenly dwelling.
1. The Signs of Tribulation: In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus foretold the demise of the Temple. Naturally, the people who heard this prophecy asked Jesus when it would happen and what signs would precede the destruction of the Temple. Jesus first speaks about the signs and later, in Luke 21:32, gives them a time frame (within a generation or 40 years). The signs of the time of tribulation will include false messiahs, wars, insurrections, international strife, earthquakes, famines, plagues, and celestial signs in the sky. Jesus urges his disciples not to be deceived by the false prophets and messiahs and not to be terrified during the tribulation. The signs Jesus predicted all came to pass before A.D. 70. There was a famine in A.D. 45-49 during the reign of Claudius, there were messianic pretenders, the Jewish revolt (insurrection) against Rome began in A.D. 66, and there was turmoil in the Empire after the death of Nero in A.D. 68. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught his followers to pray especially for mercy during the time of tribulation: “Lead us not into temptation,” “Do not subject us to the test.”
Opening Prayer: Lord God, be near to me with your Fatherly presence this day. Guide me through these difficult times and show me the way I should walk. I am yours, O Father; please accept my prayers this day.
Natural Endings: In this final week of the liturgical year, one’s thoughts naturally turn to endings. Winter marks the end of nature’s cycle, and the leaves are falling to the ground. We will soon be preparing to welcome the Christ child at Christmas and flipping our calendars to the next year. But for the moment, we linger on the year that is passing. We also think of death. Jesus says today, “All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” We know that our days here on this earth are finite. We are sometimes mesmerized by the glitter of our earthly existence, “costly stones” and the like; but these words of Jesus remind us that something better awaits us. Christ has promised to come again in order to take us to where he lives with the Father.
No comments:
Post a Comment