Trong khi chúng ta tiến gần đến ngày cuối năm Phụng Vụ của Giáo Hội, các bài đọc của tuần thứ 33 và 34 Thường niên đưa chúng ta đến với những cảm xúc tâm linh bàng hoàng, và bức xúc . Những bài đọc này đã phơi bày cho chúng ta thấy rõ nhưng sự ác độc không thể tưởng tượng được đang xảy ra trên thế giới và những sự kinh dị về luân lý, đạo đức cùng với sự đau khổ mà những sự ác đó đã mang lại. Đồng thời, những bài đọc này cũng đã mang lại niềm an ủi và sự trấn an cho chúng ta ngay giữa các cuộc khủng hoảng trên thế giới, hay trên chính cá nhân chúng ta. Qua các bài đọc đó đã khuyến khích chúng ta hướng tới sự tốt lành tuyệt vời ngay giữa những sự đau khổ, và ác độc khó thể ngờ được mà chúng đang thấy trong các “nhà máy” phá thai, trong kỹ nghệ biếc chế thức ăn tràn ngập các thuốc độc hại không tên của Tàu cộng, các vụ cướp bóc, chiến tranh. V.v..)
Sự Chiến Thắng đang chờ đợi ở nơi những người biết thành tâm, trung thành làm việc với Chúa Kitô theo như kế hoạch của Thiên Chúa đã định cho thế giới. Kế hoạch của Thiên Chúa đã được thiết lập và thành công giữa những biến động trong cuộc đời của Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Và cũng đang được thực hiện trong nhiều cách mà chúng ta có thể được nhìn thấy được và nghe nói đến qua những tin tức thường ngày ngay cả trong những phương tiện truyền thông mà chuyên thông tin những tin tức xấu.
`Lạy Chúa là Cha Trời đất, xin ban cho chúng con có đươc những ân sủng để hợp tác làm việc với Chúa trong sự bình tĩnh và ổn định đê mở mang và phát triển Nước Chúa trên trái đất này.
Reflection (SG)
As we approach the end of the Church Year, the readings of the 33rd and 34th weeks take us on a roller coaster emotional-spiritual ride. They expose us to the undoubted evil in the world and the moral horror and suffering it brings and, at the same time, they bring consolation and reassurance in the midst of world, national and personal crises. They encourage us to push on to the great goodness which is already partially present in the midst of the evil and unbelievable suffering so vividly being presented in the media.
The horrifying images and language of Revelation are solely directed to making clear that the great evil in the world is rebellion against God and a refusal to serve. From this evil flow all the other evils that beset our world. The writer is convinced that God’s anger is directed towards a vindication of what is good and a consequent movement towards a reform of what is evil. In one and the same movement God cares for his Church and fosters the shoots of good when they appear.
Triumph awaits the one who faithfully works along with God’s plan for the world. God’s plan has already been successfully set in motion in the life of Jesus. It is being realized in many ways which can be seen and heard about and read about even in the very media which so specialize in bad news.
Heavenly Father, grant me the grace to work along with You in a calm and steady establishment of the Kingdom on earth.
He was saved by faith through the expression of gratitude! What a wonderful story to ponder today as we celebrate the national holiday of Thanksgiving!
Though Thanksgiving Day is not specifically a Church holy day, gratitude is certainly central to our Christian faith, as is illustrated by today’s Gospel in which ten lepers were healed by Jesus. And their communal reaction is something of which to take note. Nine of them were healed and went about their business, not returning to the source of their healing to thank Him. But one did. This one leper, who was suddenly no longer a leper, returned to Jesus, glorified Him, fell at His feet and thanked Him. This one leper was a foreigner, a Samaritan, but he manifested a faith that we must all strive to imitate. The faith of this Samaritan was evident by the fact that he knew he needed to not only be grateful for the grace of healing but that he also needed to express it.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, we are reminded that of all the things for which we must be grateful, nothing is more important than our gratitude to God for the immeasurable graces He has given us. But as the story goes, it is clearly very easy to overlook the importance of our response to God’s blessings. Only ten percent of the lepers responded with such an expression. Therefore, it is helpful today to examine the many reasons we should be thankful and should work to express that gratitude to God.
First, God created us out of love. This is no small gift. It is the first gift He has given us and one we often take for granted. God did not need to create us. He did not need to create you. But He did. And the gift of life, the gift of an immortal soul, is something that we must never overlook and always rejoice in.
Second, God entered our fallen state through the Incarnation within the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Doing so elevated our fallen human nature to a height never known before. Humanity and divinity were united in the Person of the Incarnate Son of God and Son of Man, and we must be grateful for this unmerited and awe-inspiring gift.
Third, we know the rest of the story. God, in the Person of the Incarnate Son, suffered, died and rose again. In so doing, He made it possible for every sin of ours to be wiped away. As we die with Him, we are invited to rise with Him. And as we rise with Him, we are invited to share in His glory in Heaven.
Lastly, in each and every life, there are countless graces given to us every day. But as spoiled children, we often overlook these blessings and take them for granted. Examples here do not suffice. It is essential that if you want to have a grateful heart that you learn to see these blessings in your own life. Too often we focus on our struggles and pain. But the blessings are abundant, and the more we turn to our Lord in total surrender, the more the blessings flow.
Reflect, today, upon the attitude that you have toward the many blessings God has bestowed upon you. Begin by considering the central blessings of God’s creation and His saving acts of love. From there, try to ponder the many small ways that God has been with you, guided you, strengthened you, and blessed you abundantly. If you do not see these clearly, then use this day to consciously listen so that God can reveal them to you. As you see your blessings, respond as this one leper. Turn to Jesus, glorify Him, fall at His feet in prayer and thank Him. Doing so will fill you with the same saving faith granted to this one leper.
My most generous Lord, You have bestowed upon me blessings beyond my imagination. I realize that I will never fully understand how good You have been to me and will never be able to express my gratitude adequately enough. Please do fill me with a grateful heart. Help me to see Your action in my life and to respond to You as this one leper. Jesus, I trust in You.
1. The Fall of Jerusalem: When Jesus gave his discourse on the end times, he predicted the future fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. These events, which happened in A.D. 70, foreshadow the events that will happen before the end of time. Jesus told his followers that when armies approached and surrounded Jerusalem, they were to flee to the mountains. In fact, when the Romans marched on Jerusalem, the Christians in Jerusalem had already heeded Jesus’ warning and fled to Pella, a city in the Decapolis across the Jordan River. The destruction of the Temple points to the cosmic upheaval that will accompany the end times. Whether they live in the time leading up to Jerusalem’s destruction, or in the centuries that follow, or in the time of the great tribulation before the end of the world, Jesus’ disciples are not to cower in fear but rather to “stand erect” and raise their heads for their redemption and release from sin and death is at hand.
On the Road Again: Get up and go! God wants us to persevere in the journey of life. The lepers were cleansed “as they were going.” What if they had never set out? Would they still have been cleansed? Because of their faith in Jesus, they were able to take steps in obedience and for this they were richly rewarded. Even after the one leper returned cleansed to thank Jesus, he was set in motion. Jesus told him, “Stand up and go!” God has a mission for each one of us. He is telling us, “Don’t worry, but do get a move on!” May we follow Jesus who “continued his journey…” and thank him for the road before us and the strength to travel it!
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