Suy
Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy tuần 22 Thường Niên
Con người chúng ta
thường như có vẻ thù nghịch với Thiên Chúa và với nhau; thật sự con người hay
xa lạ với nhau, như thư thánh gởi cho giáo đoàn Côlôxê đã mô tả. Sự thù địch và
ghẻ lạnh đã tạo ra thế giới chúng ta đang sống những sự lộn xộn, tàn bạo và
đáng sợ. Sự sợ hãi, bạo lực, hận thù được phát triển mạnh mẽ
hơn mỗi ngày như chúng ta đã thấy qua báo chí, internet, bao nhiêu cuộc tàn sát
dã man trong những tháng vừa qua. Nhưng mục đích cuộc sống của chúng ta không
phải là như thế. Chúa Giêsu xuống thế để hòa giải con người tội lỗi chúng ta với
Thiên Chúa và con người với nhau qua cái chết của Ngài trên thập tự giá. Việc
mà chúng ta chỉ cần phải làm là mở rộng tấm lòng của chúng ta với cuộc sống mới
mà Chúa Giêsu đã ban cho chúng ta. Đó là vấn đề trong xã hội ngày nay, nhiều
người, ngay cả những người đạo đức là không muốn thay đổi. Chúng ta có thể hạnh
phúc và bình an như chúng ta mong muốn, sự lựa chọn luôn luôn là ở nơi chúng ta
vì Thiên Chúa cho chúng ta tự do, Ngài không ép buộc chúng ta.
Qua bài Tin Mừng, Chúa Giêsu đã cho chúng ta thấy rằng, luật Sabbath
(kiêng việc ngày Chúa Nhật) đã được ban ra là để giúp đỡ con người, Chử không
phải là được ban ra để là chướng ngại vật cản trở cuộc sống con người chúng ta.
Với Thiên Chúa thì con người và niềm hạnh phúc của con người mới chính là điều
ưu tiên trước hết. Đây là điều chúng ta cần phải luôn nhớ. Chúa Giêsu là Chúa của
ngày Sa-bát; Chính Ngài đã trở thành quy luật của chúng ta, và Ngài đã cai trị
chúng ta với tình yêu thương và lòng thương xót. Chúng ta hãy nhận và coi đó là
luật và là nguyên tắc của chúng ta nữa!
Lạy
Chúa, xin biến đổi lòng trí và trái tim của chúng con.
Reflection
SG
Human beings often seem so hostile to God
and one another; truly estranged, as the author of Colossians describes it.
This hostility and estrangement has created the messy and frightening world we
live in. The fear, violence, and hatred seem to grow stronger daily. But it
doesn’t have to be that way. Jesus reconciled humanity to God and one another
through his death on the cross. All we have to do is open ourselves to this new
life that Jesus offers us. That is the problem — many people, even religious people,
simply do not want to change. We can be as happy and at peace as we want to be
— the choice is always ours. God does not force us.
Some who were sticklers for the rules were
angry that the disciples of Jesus had eaten some grain in the fields on the
Sabbath. This was forbidden. But Jesus pointed out a time when David and his
men were hungry and in great need. They entered the temple and ate the bread of
the Presence, which was forbidden to all but the priests. His point was that
Sabbath rules were made to help people, not set up obstacles to hinder their
journey. People and their well-being count first. This is something we need to
remember continually. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath — he himself has become our
rule, and his rule is love and mercy. Let that be our rule too!
Saturday 22nd Ordinary
Time
“The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.” Luke 6:5
This short yet powerful statement by Jesus was spoken in response
to the Pharisees who questioned Jesus as to why His disciples were apparently
doing what was unlawful on the sabbath. They were walking through a field of
grain, picking grain as they walked, and eating it for nourishment on their
journey from one town to another.
This challenge from the Pharisees highlights their scrupulous
approach to the moral law. Recall the Third Commandment given through Moses:
“Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy. Six days you may labor and do all your
work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God. You shall not do
any work…” (Exodus 20:8–10).
From this Commandment, the Pharisees had developed a complex commentary which
went into great detail about what kind of work was forbidden on the Sabbath in
their view. One such regulation was to pick and mill grain. Thus, they judged
that this was what the disciples were doing and were, therefore, violating the
Third Commandment.
The laws of God, as they are given by God, must be followed
perfectly. His divine Law refreshes us, enlivens us and enables us to live in
union with Him. The Pharisees, however, deeply struggled with a need to control
the lives of the people through their human interpretation of the divine Law.
By saying that “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath,” Jesus made it clear
that this scrupulous interpretation of the Third Commandment taught by the
Pharisees did not align with the truths of that divine Law.
One lesson to learn from this encounter is that each one of us can
easily fall into a similar trap. It’s easy to replace God’s true Law with our
perception of faith and morality. We are weak human beings, and there are many
things that affect our thinking and our convictions in life. Emotions, habits,
family relationships, friendships, media and so many other things affect us in
powerful ways. Sometimes for good and sometimes for ill. We can easily arrive
at certain judgments of faith and morality that are slightly erroneous, being
based on subtle errors. As a result, we can easily begin to get off track in
our thinking and convictions and, over time, can find that we have deviated far
from the truths of God. When this happens, it can be difficult to humbly admit
it and change our convictions.
Reflect, today, upon the humble truth that Jesus and Jesus alone
is Lord of the divine Law. This means that we must perpetually remain open to
changing our opinions when we hear our Lord speak to us. Ponder any way in
which you have become overly attached to your own opinions. If they bring forth
peace, joy, charity and the like, then they are most likely in union with God.
If they are burdensome, a cause of confusion, contention or frustration, then
you may need to step back and humbly reexamine the convictions you hold, so
that He Who is Lord of all will be able to speak His divine Law to you more
clearly.
Lord of all Truth, You and You alone are the guide of my life. You
and You alone are the Truth. Help me to be humble, dear Lord, so that I can
recognize any error in my convictions and turn to You and Your divine Law as
the one and only guide for my life. Jesus, I trust in You.
Saturday 22nd Ordinary
Time 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you have invited me to
share in your divine life. Only in union with your Son and filled with your
Spirit can I attain this life. Thank you for the gift of the Eucharist, which
sustains me on my journey to you.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Lord of the Sabbath: In Galilee, Jesus
establishes who he is subtly through his words and actions. In Nazareth, he
presented himself as the Messiah who inaugurates the Great Jubilee of God’s
mercy. In these first chapters dealing with his public ministry in Galilee,
Jesus has been called the Holy One of God and the Son of God. Simon Peter, the
fisherman, called him “master” at first, but came to believe in him and called
him “Lord.” Jesus has also referred to himself as the divine bridegroom. In
today’s Gospel, Jesus refers to himself as both “the Son of Man” and the “Lord
of the Sabbath.” These are all invitations to us to enter into the mystery of
Jesus’ identity and Person. Only God is Lord of the Sabbath. Only the true Son
of Man has both divine and human characteristics. The Lord of the Sabbath is
the one who brings the original Sabbath to its fulfillment. The Sabbath was the
sign of God’s covenant with creation and humanity. It was an invitation to rest
from the labors of the week and enjoy God’s presence in worship and family. It
became a remembrance of God’s deliverance. It was transformed by Christ into
the memorial of his passion, death, and resurrection. It is now a day that
looks forward in the Spirit to the glorious consummation of all things and our
eternal rest with God the Father in heaven.
2. The New Priests: In his dispute with the Pharisees,
Jesus challenges them to look beyond the narrow letter of the Law and their
burdensome human traditions and to embrace the new life that he brings. Jesus
compares himself to David and his disciples to David’s companions. He refers to
an episode in the Old Testament, when King Saul was seeking to destroy David,
and when Ahimelech, the priest of Nob, gave the Bread of the Presence to David
and his men to eat. Among the people of Nob, there was also a servant of King
Saul, Doeg the Edomite. He was the chief of Saul’s shepherds. Doeg acted as a
spy and told Saul where David was and who helped him. Saul then killed
Ahimelech, Ahimelech’s family, over 80 priests of the Lord, and the men, women,
children, and animals in the priestly city of Nob. What Jesus hints at is that
the Pharisees were acting like the wicked spy Doeg and were trying to trap
Jesus and his disciples. Jesus is telling them that their religious authority
over Israel is ending and a new priesthood, gathered around the new David, is
beginning. Just as David and his men were not guilty because they ate the Bread
of the Presence that only the priests could eat, so also Jesus and his
disciples are not guilty because they picked heads of grain, rubbed them, and
ate them on the Sabbath. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, and his disciples will
soon replace the Pharisees as the religious authorities over Israel.
3. A Deacon of the Gospel: In his Letter to the Colossians, Paul
refers to himself as a “minister (diakonos: deacon) of the Gospel.” He
moves from the big picture of God’s creation of the world and reconciliation of
all things in Christ to the Christian community in Colossae. To drive home the
transformation that Christ has brought about in their lives, he employs the
strongest possible language: “you who once were alienated and hostile in mind
because of evil deeds” (see Hamm, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon,
180). They have been brought from lives of sin in a sinful Gentile culture to a
life of holiness through reconciliation in Christ’s body. “They have been made
holy by their baptism, and God’s purpose is to bring that holiness to
perfection. The goal of being presented to God fully perfected requires a
Christian response to God’s initiatives of creation and redemption, celebrated
in verses 15-20 applied to the Colossians in verses 21-22” (Hamm, Philippians,
Colossians, Philemon, 181). Paul and Epaphras have been “deacons” of the
Gospel and seek to share in the Church’s mission of preaching the Gospel to the
entire world, to all human beings everywhere.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, lead me to imitate you
and truly share in your life. I am a member of the New People of God and need
to bring the Gospel to others so that they can fully live as members of God’s
People.
Saturday 22nd Ordinary
Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you have invited me to
share in your divine life. Only in union with your Son and filled with your
Spirit can I attain this life. Thank you for the gift of the Eucharist which
sustains me on my journey to you.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Jesus’ Response to the Pharisees: The observance of the
Sabbath rest is one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy
5:12-15). The Sabbath rest enabled the people of Israel to worship God without
the distractions of work and recalled God’s original plan of creation: to have
human beings enter into communion with God and share in his rest. The Sabbath
expressed the covenant between God and Israel and was a way for Israel to
imitate God and share in his holy rest. The Pharisees accused Jesus’ disciples
of violating the Sabbath since they were gathering crops (Exodus 34:21). Jesus
responded to the Pharisees’ accusation in three ways. He first points out that
his disciples were hungry and that, because of their need, their actions of
gathering grain on the Sabbath and eating it did not violate the Sabbath rest.
Second, Jesus also revealed himself as the new David. The exception made for
David and his men should also be made for Jesus and his disciples. Jesus and
his disciples are like the priests in the Temple, who were allowed to break the
Sabbath when they replaced the Bread of the Presence on the Sabbath. Third,
Jesus called himself the “Lord of the Sabbath.” He placed himself above the
Sabbath and, in doing so, proclaimed his divinity. Jesus, with his community of
disciples, formed the origin and center of a New Israel (Benedict XVI, Jesus
of Nazareth, vol. 1, 114). Jesus’ disciples will ultimately find the rest
they seek in him. The new family of God is formed not by adherence to the Old
Law of the Torah, but by adherence to Jesus himself and his New Law.
2. Bringing the God of Israel to All Nations: Jesus is God and was
able to bring the Old Law (the Torah) to fulfillment in the New Law. In this
way, Israel will be able to fulfill its vocation to be a light to all the
nations. What Jesus does in his teaching is bring the God of Israel to the
nations, so that all the nations can now pray to God and recognize Israel’s
Scriptures as the word of the living God. Jesus “has brought the gift of
universality, which was the one great definitive promise to Israel and the
world. This universality, this faith in the one God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob – extended now in Jesus’ new family to all nations over and above the
bonds of descent according to the flesh – is the fruit of Jesus’ work. It is
what proves him to be the Messiah. It signals a new interpretation of the
messianic promise that is based on Moses and the Prophets, but also opens them
up in a completely new way” (Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, vol. 1,
116-117). The Apostles are servants of Christ and trustworthy stewards of the
mysteries of God and will bring these mysteries – the sacraments – to all the
nations.
3. Imitating Jesus and Paul: The Corinthians can
learn humility from Paul and Apollos, who stay within the limits set out by
what is written in Sacred Scripture. “Paul reprimands self-righteous Christians
for their egotism and unfair criticisms. Although he describes them as wise and
prosperous, his rhetorical irony implies the opposite, i.e., they are ignorant
and impoverished. Their refusal to embrace the foolishness of Christ exposes
their pride and reveals how petty their problems look compared to the humiliation
of the apostles” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 289). On
account of Christ, Paul and the other Apostles have become like publicly
disgraced criminals, fools in the eyes of the world, weak; they are held in
disrepute, hungry and thirsty, poorly clad, roughly treated, homeless; and they
have to work and toil to sustain themselves. They are ridiculed and persecuted,
slandered, and treated like rubbish and scum. Paul admonishes the Christians in
Corinth, not to shame them, but to lead them to Christ through the Gospel. Paul
considers himself a father to the Corinthians, having brought them new life
through the Gospel (2 Corinthians 12:14). Jesus is the way, the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through him. Through the calling of the
twelve Apostles, Jesus forms the new Israel as the New People of God. As
Christians, we are called to imitate Jesus’ humility and meekness of heart.
Throughout the centuries many saints, like Paul, offer to Christians models
worthy of imitation.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, lead me to imitate you
and truly share in your life. I am a member of the New People of God and need
to bring the Gospel to others so that they can fully live as members of God’s
People.
Saturday 22nd Ordinary
Time 2023
Opening
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank
you for the honor of praying before you. I need you in my life. You are my
foundation, my strength, and my joy. Please increase my faith, hope, and love
so that I may cling ever more to you in all that I do.
Encountering
Christ:
Simplicity
of Heart: There is a strong
contrast between the Pharisees' hypocrisy and the apostles' simplicity. The
problem was not the Pharisees’ zeal for the law. In another passage, Jesus
defended their authority to teach: “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their
seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever
they tell you” (Matthew 23:2-3a). The problem was their disposition. Our Lord
continued, “but do not follow their example. For they preach but do not
practice. They tie up heavy burdens… and lay them on people’s shoulders, but
they will not lift a finger to move them” (Matthew 23:3b-4). The Pharisees
seemed to exercise their authority in a controlling and oppressive manner
towards others while allowing themselves much leeway (Matthew 15:3-6). Again,
this passage shows their heavy-handed criticism of the apostles. For their
part, the hungry apostles simply reached for some food. While the apostles
struggled with ambition and vanity (Mark 9:34), there remained in them a
childlike simplicity born from sincerity (John 1:47).
Defending
His Own: The Pharisees and
scribes frequently attacked Jesus, accusing him of being possessed or mad,
setting verbal traps for him, and the like (Matthew 12:24; Mark 12:14). In such
instances, he bore it with great patience, although he would correct their errors
and call out their hypocrisy. However, when the Pharisees attacked his
apostles, Jesus never failed to come quickly and firmly to their rescue. Here,
he defended their simply satiating their hunger. In another passage, Jesus
quickly clarified Peter’s confusion about Jesus’s payment of the temple tax by
working a miracle (Matthew 17:24-26). When Judas brought the temple guard to
arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Our Lord said that he was the one for
whom they came so that they should let the apostles go (John 18:8). Jesus will
allow us to suffer in following him, but he will also protect and strengthen us
on our journey. Our Lord looks after his own.
Lord
of the Sabbath: “The Son of Man
is lord of the Sabbath.” Throughout his public life, Jesus frequently affirmed
his authority. More than once, Jesus said or implied this: “Moses said… but I
say to you” (Matthew 5:21-22; Matthew 5:27-28; Matthew 19:7-9). He unambiguously
declared that he is a greater authority than Moses. So,
too, in this passage, Jesus’s ultimate argument in defense of his apostles was
his own authority. The same relationship holds between Jesus and his Church.
The Church has authority and power from its union with the Lord, and Jesus
promised to uphold that union until the end of time (Matthew 28:20). Our
confidence in the Church is rooted in our confidence in Jesus and in his
promises.
Conversing
with Christ: Dear Lord Jesus, I
thank you for your protective and provident love. You never allow me to be
tempted beyond my ability to resist. You have frequently come to my aid. Please
help me to grow in simplicity of heart so that I may avoid the pitfalls of
hypocrisy and insincerity. I realize that I need purification and will entrust
myself to your loving hands.
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ
Sáu Tuần 22 Thường Niên (Luke 5:33-39
-)
Trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu đã
khuyến cáo các môn
đệ của Ngài về việc
"khép kín tâm hồn"
không chấp
nhận về những
điều khám phá mới về
Thiên Chúa và cách sống Đạo của chúng ta. Chúa Giêsu đã dùng một hình ảnh rất quen thuộc với các môn đề và những người theo Chúa thời bấy giờ; đó là: bầu da đựng rượu, Da mới mới và da cũ. Trong thời Chúa
Giêsu, rượu thường
được lưu trữ trong các bầu làm
bằng da, Khi rượu mới đổ vào bầu da thì rượu mới vẫn còn lên men. Các chất khí khi
lên men sẽ gây áp lực cho cho
bầu da đựng rượu. Da mới đựng rượu mới thì mới có thể có đủ độ đàn hồi và
chịu đựng được những áp lực do sự phản ứng hoá học khi rượu lên men trong bầu da. Nhưng nếu chúng ta đựng rượu mới trong bầu da rượu cũ, thì bầu da cũ sẽ dễ dàng căng ra và làm vỡ bầu da bởi vì bầu da cũ đã bị
khô cứng nên rất không còn sự đàn hồi như bầu
da mới nên khó chịu
đựng được những áp suất của rượu mới khi chúng đang lên
men
Chúa Giêsu có nói:” Nước
Trời, thì cũng giống như gia chủ biết rút tự trong kho của ông ra điều mới và
điều cũ" (Mt 13:52). Cuộc
sống tâm linh của chúng ta sẽ bị bần cùng hoá, nếu như, chúng ta sẽ chỉ
có được một Cựu Ước hay chỉ có một Tân Ước mà
thôi, chứ không có
được cả hai. Thiên Chúa đã ban cho chúng ta sự khôn ngoan vì vậy chúng ta
phải biết dùng sự khôn ngoan này để sử dụng cho những việc tốt lành trong
cả hai trường hợp cũ và mới. Chúa Giêsu không muốn chúng ta giữ khư khư cứng ngắc về những
cái quá khứ
và chống đối lại những công việc
mới hay những đổi mới của Thánh Thần trong mỗi Người và trong cuộc sống của
chúng ta. Chúa muốn tâm trí và
trái tim của chúng ta được nên giống như bầu da rượu mới, biết mở ra và sẵn sàng tiếp nhận rượu mới của Chúa Thánh Thần., nếu
chúng ta mong muốn phát triển kiến thức và sự hiểu biết về những kế hoạch của Thiên Chúa đã và đang
ban cho cuộc sống của chúng ta.
"Lạy Chúa Giêsu, xin tuân đổ nơi chúng con ơn Chúa Thánh Thần, để chúng con có thể phát
triển sự
hiểu biết thêm về tình yêu và
chân lý tuyệt vời của
Chúa. Xin
giúp chúng con biết tìm kiếm Chúa để
chúng con có thể từ bỏ tất cả
những những ý nghĩ vẩn vơ, Xin giúp
chúng con có thể luôn luôn tìm thấy niềm vui hạnh
phúc trong sự hiểu biết, yêu thương và phục vụ Chúa."
Meditation:
In today’s Gospel, Jesus goes on to warn his disciples about the
problem of the "closed mind" that refuses to learn new things. Jesus
used an image familiar to his audience; new and old wineskins. In Jesus' times,
wine was stored in wineskins, not bottles. New wine poured into skins was still
fermenting. The gases exerted gave pressure. New wine skins were elastic enough
to take the pressure, but old wine skins easily burst because they became hard
as they aged. What did Jesus mean by this comparison? Are we to reject the old
in place of the new? Just as there is a right place and a right time for
fasting and for feasting, so there is a right place for the old as well as the
new.
Jesus says the
kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is
new and what is old (Matthew 13:52). How impoverished we would be if we
only had the Old Testament or the New Testament, rather than both. The Lord
Jesus gives us wisdom so we can make the best use of both the old and the new.
He doesn't want us to hold rigidly to the past and to be resistant to the new
work of his Holy Spirit in our lives. He wants our minds and hearts to be like
the new wine skins – open and ready to receive the new wine of the Holy
Spirit. Are you eager to grow in the knowledge and understanding of God's
word and plan for your life
Friday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
“Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise,
the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will
be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who
has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’” Luke 5:37–39
This short parable comes at the beginning of
Jesus’ public ministry. He just called Levi, the tax collector, to become one
of His disciples, and then Levi invited Jesus to dine at his home with other
tax collectors and sinners. When the scribes and Pharisees saw this, they
objected and challenged our Lord. In response, Jesus tells this parable as a
way of explaining that He came to call everyone to change and to experience a
new transformation of their life.
The “new wine” spoken of in this parable is the
grace poured forth from the Cross. Remember that blood and water sprung forth
from His side as He hung upon the Cross. This has been symbolically understood
as the grace and mercy given to us from the Cross, which is transmitted today
through the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. Baptism transforms us
into a new creation, and, as a new creation in Christ, we must desire the new
wine of the Most Holy Eucharist so as to be daily transformed by our Lord.
Many of the Church Fathers point out that the “old wine” that many
prefer is a reference to those who wanted to continue living according to the
old law. This is especially true of the scribes and Pharisees to whom Jesus was
speaking this parable. Jesus was bringing them a new teaching and preparing
them for a new grace. But they rejected it, preferring the old life they were
living.
One thing this tells us is that if we are to
receive this new wine of the grace of God, we must be ready and willing to
abandon our old selves and become new. Change can be hard. Even as evangelized
Christians who are already living in the grace of Christ, we will be
continually called to a deeper and deeper change in our lives. Too often we can
easily become complacent and content with the life we are living. When that
happens, it will hinder our Lord from pouring the new wine of His grace into
our souls in ongoing superabundance.
How do you deal with change in life? If you want
to grow in holiness, you can be certain that change is the only constant in
life. We must become new creations each and every day, growing, being more
fully transformed, changing our ways, giving up the old and embracing that
which is ever new. This requires a certain amount of courage as we come
face-to-face with the daily need to be changed by grace. It means daily death
to our old self and daily becoming a new creation in God.
Reflect, today, upon the courage it takes to
change. What is it in your life that you may be afraid to change? What “old
wine” do you prefer over the “new wine” of God’s grace? What old habits or
attachments do you have that our Lord wants you to let go of? Face the changes
God wants for you with courage and trust, and You will indeed become more fully
the new creation in Christ you are meant to be.
My most merciful Lord, I know You call me to
continual change in my life. Please give me the courage I need to face all that
I need to detach from in life and all that hinders me from becoming the
glorious new creation You have called me to become. Pour forth Your abundant
grace into my life, dear Lord, making me into Your new and glorious creation in
grace. Jesus, I trust in You.
Friday 22nd Ordinary
Time 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I want to taste and
enjoy the new wine of salvation that your Son has brought. It is a wine that
surpasses any earthly wine. It brings a joy that surpasses all earthly joy.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Luke on Jesus as the Bridegroom: Each of the Four
Gospels identifies Jesus as the bridegroom. Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the
fulfillment of messianic prophecies and as the King of the Jews. Jesus is the
royal bridegroom. Mark focuses on Jesus’ suffering, servanthood, and the cost
of discipleship. Jesus is the suffering bridegroom, who will be taken away for
a time. Jesus gives his life as a ransom for many, for his bride (Mark 10:45).
In John, Jesus is the divine, eternal bridegroom, and the source of eternal
life. At the wedding of Cana (John 2:1-11), Jesus provides the abundant wine of
salvation for his bride. The bride is called to abide in her bridegroom (John
15:4-7). The eternal bridegroom in John is divine, offering an everlasting
relationship with his people through his life-giving presence. Luke presents
Jesus as the Redeemer bridegroom. Jesus is the savior of the lost, the
marginalized, and sinners. Jesus’ mission is to “seek and save the lost” (Luke
19:10), reflecting a bridegroom who pursues his bride to restore her. The redeemer
bridegroom in Luke is compassionate, seeking to restore and reconcile humanity
to God. All four dimensions complement one another. Jesus is our royal
bridegroom who invites us to the kingdom’s wedding feast. Jesus is our
suffering bridegroom who dies to save his bride. Jesus is the redeemer
bridegroom, who pays our debt and frees us from the slavery of sin. Jesus is
the divine bridegroom, who seeks eternal union with his bride.
2. New Wine in Fresh Wineskins: Jesus told a parable
to complement his identification with the bridegroom promised by the prophets.
He uses two examples. Jesus first speaks about how to repair a tear in an old
cloak. No one ruins a new piece of clothing and cuts out a piece to fix an old
one. Even if someone wanted to sacrifice a new garment for the old, the colors
of the old and new would be off. It just can’t be done successfully. Likewise,
new wine should not be put into old wineskins. The new wine is still fermenting
and will release gases that create pressure. Old wineskins have already been
stretched and are brittle from previous use. The old wineskins don’t have the
elasticity to handle the pressure of the fermenting new wine and would burst.
Jesus is introducing the New Covenant – symbolized by the new wine – and it
cannot be contained in the limitations of the Old Covenant. The Pharisees are
those who insist that the “Old wine is good.” They struggle to welcome the
fulfillment of the Old Covenant in the New Covenant of Jesus and prefer their
old ways and traditions.
3. The Preeminence of Christ, the Head of the Church: Colossians
1:15-20 might be a poem, hymn, or credal formula from the early Church. The
verses begin by extoling Christ over all things. “Christ is the ‘image of the
invisible God.’ He is the direct revelation of God’s own character in a unique
way. Christ is also said to have existed before creation and to have been an
active agent of creation. Indeed, ‘all things’ were created ‘in’ Christ,
‘through’ Christ, and even for Christ. This poetic pileup of prepositions draws
readers into something profound – not only was Christ personally present and
involved in the Father’s creation of all things, but all creation was made for
Christ and is under his authority” (Prothro, The Apostle Paul and His
Letters, 212). Even now, Christ remains involved in creation as he rules
over the universe. Verses 18-20 transition from Christ’s supremacy as creator
and sustainer with the Father to his supremacy in redemption as “head” of the
Church. “He is Lord over all things not simply as the glorious firstborn Son
but indeed as the one who brought salvation by the ‘blood of his cross.’ He is
‘firstborn from among the dead,’ so that his resurrection brings the promise of
eternal life to all in Christ…. His resurrection has brought him a special
preeminence, since in it he was publicly vindicated as the unique and righteous
Son of God and ruler over all things (Prothro, The Apostle Paul and His
Letters, 213). Jesus is supreme over all things and head of his body, the
Church.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, in the gift of the
Eucharist, I partake of the new wine of salvation and joy. Help me to
appreciate this great gift and bring others to share in it.
Friday 22nd Ordinary
Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I want to taste and enjoy the new wine of salvation that
your Son has brought. It is a wine that surpasses any earthly wine. It brings a
joy that surpasses all earthly joy.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Friends of the Bridegroom: When the Pharisees asked Jesus about his disciples not
fasting on certain days of the week, Jesus used the opportunity to reveal to
them that he is the Bridegroom, the one for whom Israel awaits. Jesus pointed
out that during a wedding feast, the wedding guests do not fast. This means
that, in the days leading up to the Cross, Jesus’ disciples – the friends of
the bridegroom – do not and will not fast. They accompany the bridegroom
throughout his three years of public ministry and rejoice with him. The days
will come, however, when the marriage between God and his people is
accomplished on the Cross. The bridegroom will be taken away. He goes to
prepare a place for his bride, the Church. On that day, Jesus’ disciples will
fast and patiently and faithfully wait for the return of the bridegroom.
2. Old and New Wine: The meaning of the parable about the wine and wineskins tells us
that Jesus the Bridegroom is doing something new. He is the New Moses, who
gives a new law. He is the New David, who inaugurates the Kingdom of Heaven. He
is the Messiah who brings the new wine, the wine of everlasting joy. The old
wineskins cannot contain the new wine of Jesus’ blood. The blood and sacrifices
of the Old Covenant (the old wine) were ineffective and were only a sign that
looked forward to the efficacious sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The old wine, just
like the first wine at Cana, is good; but the new wine, just like the second
wine at Cana, is better. Jesus is inviting the Pharisees, who have been
drinking the old wine, to open themselves up to the fulfillment of the Old
Covenant in his person and partake of the new wine in new wineskins that he
brings.
3. Stewards of the Mysteries of God: The Apostles, the servants of Christ,
have been entrusted with the new wine of the Messiah. They are stewards and
ministers of the mysteries of God and the Sacraments of Christ. They are called
to serve and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Paul says today that, as a servant
of Christ, he does not fear the judgment of any human tribunal. He knows that
he is working for Jesus Christ his savior. He knows that he is both a chosen
vessel and a fragile vessel who bears the mysteries of God. Paul knows that he
will be judged by Jesus his Lord at the appointed time. This judgment reveals
and manifests what we have in our heart. We strive each day to fill our hearts
with the holy things of God and to remove whatever keeps us from God’s love. We
ask that God help us to turn from evil, trust in the Lord, and do good. God, we
pray in the Psalm, is our refuge from evil and the true delight of our heart.
The wine that Christ brings, the blood of the new and eternal Covenant, gives
joy to the heart and is our foretaste of the heavenly banquet.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, in the gift of the Eucharist, I partake of the new
wine of salvation and joy. Help me to appreciate this great gift and bring
others to share in it.
Meditation Friday 22nd Ordinary Time 2020:
Introductory Prayer: Lord God, I come from dust, and to dust, I
shall return. You, on the other hand, existed before all time, and every
creature takes its being from you. You formed me in my mother’s womb with
infinite care, and you watch over me tenderly. I hope at my dearth you will
embrace my soul to carry me home to heaven to be with you forever. Thank you
for looking upon me and blessing me with your love. Take mine in return. I
humbly offer you all that I am.
Petition: Rejuvenate my spiritual life, Lord.
1. Judging by the Wrong Standards: Once again, we have Jesus at a meal, this time
with Levi (Matthew) and his friends. The scribes and Pharisees have come along
to scrutinize Jesus and his followers, as they were wary of his teachings which
were not in accord with the legalism and formalism to which they were
accustomed. Their statement here about fasting contains an implicit judgment:
You and your followers are not following our traditions of fasting; therefore,
you cannot be truly holy. They present it not as a question, but as a
statement, an accusation. They are not open to looking at things in a new way.
We, too, can be guilty of rash judgment, even with other people in the Church
who do not do things the way we do. Our reference point has to be not what we
are used to, but what the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, teaches and
approves, be it ancient traditions or new manifestations of the Holy Spirit in
the life of the Church.
2. For Everything There Is a Season: Jesus’ answer is simple: there is a time and
place for both fasting and feasting. Some people have a particular vocation to
a life of unusual abnegation, but for most of us, the liturgical year provides
us with a natural cycle of rejoicing and penance. At times we rejoice with the
“bridegroom” – like Christmas and Easter when we celebrate the coming of Christ
and his resurrection. At other times we practice more penance – as in Lent when
we focus more on making reparation for the separation from the Lord caused by
sin in our lives, or Advent when we purify our hearts to receive the Lord at
Christmas. Ordinary Time has its own feasts and occasions of particular
significance one way or the other. The question we have to ask ourselves is
this: Are we living these liturgical realities, or are we neglecting them? Do
the feasts and fasts of the Church affect my life, or are the liturgical
seasons at best curiosities that I hardly notice?
3. The New You: Then, Jesus offers all those present a
challenge in the form of the parable. Both images – the cloth and the wineskins
– emphasize the idea that to embrace his message, we need to think “outside the
box.” We quickly get settled into a routine, becoming complacent and lukewarm
in our faith. It’s even worse if we have habits of sin. To follow Christ and
his “Good News” honestly, we need to leave behind what St. Paul called the “old
self” to be new creatures in Christ (Colossians 3:9-10). For the Pharisees,
that would have meant leaving behind their strict formalism and judgmental
attitude. For Levi and his friends, it meant abandoning their worldliness and
sinful lifestyle. Making a break with our old self is difficult – the “old
wine” is what we’re used to – but we have to take the step of recognizing in
what our old self-consists and deciding to leave that behind to embrace
Christ’s message, which is always challenging, ever new.
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, help me to focus more on following
you than on judging others. Show me who I am, and whom you want me to be. Grant
me the grace to live the life of the Church – feasts and fasts – with
enthusiasm so that you can transform me into a new creature.
Suy Niệm Tin
Mừng Thứ Năm Tuần 22 Thường Niên- Luke 5:1-11
Qua bài tin mừng hôm nay, chúng ta
thấy Phêrô và các bạn cùng thuyền đánh cá của
ông đã có được những kinh nghiệm
và sự ngạc nhiên tuyệt vời khi nghe lời Chúa
Giêsu và thả lưới để bắt cá một
lần nữa, sau khi vất vả với lưới chài suốt
đêm mệt mỏi, mà họ
đã không đánh bắt được con cá nào. Nhưng vì đức vâng lời và
lòng tin, họ nghe lời Chúa các ông đã chiến
thắng với mẻ lưới đầy cá, nhưng sự chiến thắng này không phải là do nổ
lực của các ông mà do Chính Chúa
Giêsu. Các ông đã được mẻ cá lớn vì các
ông đã biết vâng lời và thực hiện theo sự chỉ dẫn và sự hướng
dẫn của Chúa.
Cũng
giống như Phêrô và các bạn đánh cá của ông,
chúng ta thường hay bất mãn và chán nản mỗi khi chúng ta thất bại
sau những cố gắng, những nỗ lực, và tài
nguyên của chúng ta để đạt được tới một mục tiêu mà chúng
ta đã đưa ra. Có lẽ chúng ta đã tự mình, tự
hào để cố gắng quá hết sức, để làm
điều đó một mình một cách tự cao, tự đại. Cái
tôi, cái tự ái, và sự yếu
đuối của chúng ta đã làm cản trở sự thành công của chúng ta. Thêm một lần nữa,
chúng ta nên cố gắng thực hiện những nỗ
lực này trong sự cố gắng, trong sự vâng phục, và sự hợp
tác với Chúa Giêsu thì có
lẽ chúng ta sẽ bắt nắm được trong tay một nắm
bắt tuyệt vời! Chúa Giêsu không mấy quan
tâm đến những bối rối và
những sự yếu đuối và bất xứng của Phêrô và cũng như
sự bất xứng và yếu đuối của chúng ta. Một
lần nữa, cuộc hành trình của chúng ta không
phải chỉ là những bản chất cá nhân hoàn hảo hay
là những thành tích cá nhân. Nhưng nếu
Chúa Giêsu kêu gọi chúng ta, Ngài ta
sẽ trang bị hành trang cho chúng ta để trở thành
những người mà Chúa muốn. Chúa sẽ làm
cho chúng ta trở thành những kẻ đánh
lưới người. Hãy để Chúa Giêsu làm chủ và hướng dẫn cho
cuộc đời của Chúng ta, Ngài không những chỉ
là một nhà tư vấn thường xuyên bình thưòng, nhưng là một đạo
diễn cho cuộc đời chúng ta để đưa chúng ta đến gần với Thiên Chúa. Lạy
Chúa, xin cho chúng con luôn liên
tục có được sự hướng dẫn và sức
mạnh Của Chúa.
Meditation:
We
pray for so many things, such as health, success, and relationships. The prayer
of Colossians for Christians is the one prayer that should be in our hearts. It
takes care of everything! Paul — or someone writing in his name — prayed that
his community might be filled with spiritual understanding and a full knowledge
of God’s will. When we have that everything else seems to fall into place. As
the old saying goes, it is better to seek the God of consolation rather than
the consolation of God.
Peter
and his friends were probably irritated and a little amused when Jesus told
them to put down their nets again. After all, they had fished all night without
success. The final attempt was a winner because it was done at the Lord's
direction and guidance and with his help. In a similar way, we often become
discouraged when our own efforts to achieve something have been unsuccessful.
Perhaps we have been trying too hard to do it alone — our own ego and weakness
gets in the way. Make another attempt — but this time with Jesus. Maybe we will
haul in a great catch! Jesus was not interested in Peter’s embarrassment at his
own weakness and unworthiness.
Again,
our journey is not about perfectionism or personal accomplishments. If Jesus
calls us, he will fashion us into the person we were meant to be. He will make
us fishers of people. Let Jesus be your director, not just an occasional
consultant. Lord, give me your constant guidance and
strength
Thursday
22nd Ordinary Time
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees
of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Luke
5:8
Consider carefully this very moving action of Simon Peter. Jesus
had just begun His public ministry, healing Simon’s mother-in-law as one of His
first miracles. After that, Simon witnessed Jesus heal many other sick people
and cast out many demons. And then, shortly after these initial miracles, Jesus
got into the boat of Simon, directed him to “Put out into deep water and lower
your nets for a catch.” As soon as Simon obeyed, he caught so many fish that
they needed a second boat to come and help them. The response of Simon to this
additional miracle is recorded above.
Three things take place in this passage. First, “Simon Peter saw
this…” And though he saw this, literally with his eyes, we should see his
“seeing” as something even deeper. Simon Peter saw not just the best day of
fishing he had ever had. He saw God’s grace at work through Jesus and was
deeply moved interiorly by what he saw. Jesus used that which was one of the
most central parts of Simon Peter’s life (fishing) to manifest His divine
power. In a sense, Jesus brought this lesson home to Simon, using fishing as
the source of His lesson.
Secondly, Simon’s response was perfect. By encountering this
divine miracle, Simon immediately was aware of his sin. Though we do not know
what Simon’s sin was, it is clear that this encounter with our Lord led him to
immediately call to mind whatever he was guilty of. Perhaps he had struggled
with some ongoing habitual sin for years, or perhaps he had done something of a
grave nature that still haunted him. But all we know is that Simon’s encounter
with this very powerful and personal miracle moved him to an awareness of his
sin.
Thirdly, Simon falls at the knees of Jesus and tells the Lord to
depart from him. And though Jesus’ mercy is so great that Jesus would never
depart from him, Simon is not only aware of the fact that he is unworthy to be
in Jesus’ presence, but he also manifests this conviction through his humble
action of repentance.
What does Jesus do? He said, “Do not be afraid…” And when these
new disciples arrived at shore, “they left everything and followed him.”
Each one of us must encounter our Lord in this same way. We must
see Jesus. We must be deeply attentive to Him. We must recognize His presence,
hear His voice and see His action in our life. If this is done well and through
faith, then our personal encounter with our Lord will shine light on the sin we
need to repent of. This is not so that we remain in guilt and shame; rather, it
is so that we can also humble ourselves before Jesus and acknowledge we are not
worthy of Him. When this humble admission is done well, we can be assured that
Jesus will also say to us, “Do not be afraid.” His consoling words to us must
then be responded to with the same choice made by Simon and the others. We must
be ready and willing to leave everything behind so as to follow Him.
Reflect, today, upon this image of Simon Peter on his knees before
Jesus. See his humility and honesty. See his sincerity and interior awareness.
And see his understanding of the divine power of Jesus before him. Pray that
you, too, will see our Lord, experience your sin, humble yourself before Him
and hear Him call you to radically and completely follow after Him wherever He
leads.
My consoling Lord, You manifested Your almighty power to Simon
Peter through his ordinary daily activity. You allowed him to see Your divine
power at work. Help me to see You at work in my life also, dear Lord. And as I
see You, help me to humble myself before You, acknowledging my unworthiness. As
I do, I pray that I also hear You say to me “Do not be afraid,” so that I can
get up and follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.
Thursday
22nd Ordinary Time 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I have
heard your Son’s voice and followed him. At the same time, I know that I can do
better. Help me to overcome my fears, resist temptation, and bring others into
your Kingdom.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Jesus and Simon Peter: Earlier in the
Gospel, Simon had hosted Jesus at his house (Luke 4:38). Now, Simon is working
and washing his nets after a night of fishing. Just as Jesus entered Simon’s
house (Luke 4:38), he now enters Simon’s boat. This enables Jesus to sit down
as a teacher and teach the crowds on the shore. The call of Simon, then,
doesn’t happen out of the blue. Jesus is careful to establish a relationship
with Simon before calling him. He cured his mother-in-law in his home, and then
helped him with an abundant catch of fish. Jesus taught in the local synagogue
and then in Simon’s boat. When Simon heard the call to become a fisher of men,
he had had deep, personal experiences with Jesus. Jesus showed compassion for
the health of his family and his fishing business. And when Simon fell to his
knees in humility and confessed his sins, Jesus raised him up and commissioned
him to gather people into the Kingdom.
2. The Meaning of the Nets: There is deep
significance in the image of the nets in today’s Gospel. The Gentiles were
associated with the Mediterranean Sea and the 153 varieties of fish known in
the ancient world. Jesus tells Simon Peter today, “Do not be afraid, from now
on you will be catching men.” Simon Peter ministered first in Jerusalem and
later in Rome. It is likely he fled Rome under the Emperor Claudius and was in
Jerusalem for the council narrated in Acts 15. When the Emperor Claudius died,
Simon Peter was able to return to Rome, and there he ministered until he was
crucified upside down under the Emperor Nero. Peter struggled to minister to
the Gentiles, but was faithful to the mission entrusted to him by Jesus. He
truly fed and cared for the lambs and sheep of God’s flock. He was a fisherman
who became a shepherd. He went from gathering fish into nets to gathering the
scattered people of God into the Kingdom of God’s Son.
3. From the Power of Darkness to the Kingdom of
the Son: In his Letter to the Colossians, Paul speaks about how he and
Timothy are praying for the Colossians to continue and grow in the gift of
knowledge and be strengthened by the power they have received. He wants them to
be filled with knowledge of God’s will. This comes not through human effort
alone, but through spiritual wisdom and understanding, which are gifts of the
Holy Spirit. Paul and Timothy pray that the Colossians not only know God’s
will, but also that they are strengthened with the power and grace to carry out
that will. Just as Israel was delivered from the power of darkness while they
were enslaved in Egypt and were formed into the Kingdom of David, so also Paul
acknowledges that Christians have been delivered from the power of darkness and
transferred to the Kingdom of God’s Son, “in whom we have redemption, the
forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, help
me to hear your call. Like Peter, I know my sins and how unworthy I am of your
forgiveness and love. You are so patient with me and do not give up on me.
Continue to guide me on the right path.
Thursday
22nd Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I have heard your Son’s voice and followed him.
At the same time, I know that I can do better. Help me to overcome my fears,
resist temptation, and bring others into your Kingdom.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Heeding God’s Call: Simon Peter, Andrew,
James, and John have encountered Jesus several times before hearing Jesus’ call
to leave everything and follow him. It was John the Baptist who first pointed
out Jesus as the Lamb of God to Andrew and John. That same day, Andrew brought
his brother, Simon Peter, to Jesus. A second important encounter took place
after Jesus’ teaching in the synagogue, in Simon’s house, when Jesus cured his
mother-in-law. Today, Jesus teaches the crowds on the shore from Simon’s fishing
boat. Jesus’ voice carried easily over the water. We are not told what he said,
but his message thus far has been one of the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus is announcing to the people that he is God’s Anointed One and that comes
to save them.
2. Bringing People into the Kingdom of
God: When Jesus finished teaching the crowds, he turned to Peter and told
him to “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Peter must
have been very tired. He had worked all night and listened to Jesus preach all
morning. It was hot as it was mid-morning or midday. What is more, it was not
the right time to fish. At the same time, Peter’s heart was open to God’s Word:
“At your command I will lower the nets.” Peter doesn’t realize it, but the next
time he lowers the nets, it will not be to bring fish into the boat but to
bring men and women into the Kingdom of God. The miraculous catch of fish moves
Peter to faith but also to conversion. He recognizes Jesus’ divine power and
calls him “Lord.” Like Isaiah, Peter recognized his sinfulness before God’s
presence. Isaiah said: “I am a man of unclean lips.” Peter said: “Depart from
me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” God responded to Isaiah by purifying his lips
and commissioning him to preach to the people of Israel. Jesus responded to
Peter by giving him courage and commissioning him to gather men and women into
the Kingdom of God. In fact, just three years later, on the day of Pentecost,
Peter and the other Apostles will bring some three thousand into the Church of
God.
3. Fools in the Eyes of the World: Peter became a fool in the
eyes of the world. He left the security of his boat and his fishing business.
He left everything, put his hand to the plow, and resisted looking back. He
strove to follow Christ. Yes, he would fall. He even tried to keep Jesus from
going to Jerusalem. And he would deny Jesus three times. Not knowing exactly
what to do in Galilee after the Resurrection, he would take up fishing once
again. When Peter fell, he would repent, set his eyes once more on Jesus, weep
on account of his sins, and set out once again into the deep. Peter was not
wise in the eyes of the world but was so in the eyes of God. He entrusted
himself to Jesus Christ and, with Christ, ascended the mountain of the Lord.
Jesus is the one who can ascend the mountain and stand in the holy place
because his hands are sinless, his heart is clean, and he desires only the
things of heaven. Only when we wash ourselves in the blood of Christ, can we
also ascend. Peter did this not only through his martyrdom in Rome but also in
the daily martyrdom of serving the people of God. For this, he received a
blessing from the Lord and a reward from Jesus his Savior.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, help me to hear your call.
Like Peter, I know my sins and how unworthy I am of your forgiveness and love.
You are so patient with me and do not give up on me. Continue to guide me on
the right path.
Thursday
22nd Ordinary Time 2023
Opening
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I am
grateful for this opportunity to come before you in prayer. Increase my faith
so that I may believe in your word and your provident action more deeply in my
life. Strengthen my love to respond to those actions and fortify my hope to
remain firm when your presence seems less evident.
pray
before youEncountering Christ:
Jesus
Entered Simon’s Boat: Jesus “saw
two boats there alongside the lake… [and he got] into one of the boats, the one
belonging to Simon.” God always takes the initiative in his relationship with
us. God created us without asking us. He worked out our salvation of his own
initiative. Nevertheless, he does await our response and our collaboration. Our
first response to God’s initiative is faith (CCC 166). In this passage, we see
Jesus taking the initiative in his relationship with Peter. Jesus chose Peter’s
boat among many and asked Peter permission to enter both his boat and his life.
Peter accepted. Jesus then took the next step by asking Peter to cast his net.
We can only respond to God; even our positive response is the fruit of God’s
grace in our soul.
Catching
Nothing: Working all night and
catching nothing reminded Peter that he was never fully in charge of his life.
Even with fishing, his area ofexpertise, Peter had to admit that he could not
control all the factors necessary for success. Masterful technique and profound
knowledge of the lake were not sufficient. Peter had failed. Either failure can
make us bitterly resent God and those around us, or it can open us up to the
reality of needing the help of God and others. It is an opportunity for humility.
God resists a proud heart and seeks out the humble (Sirach 10:15). Thankfully,
Peter chose to open up to Jesus.
Catching
Men: When Peter saw the
miraculous catch, he recognized the sanctity of Our Lord, fell to his knees,
and asked Jesus to depart from him. Peter knew that he was not worthy to be in
the company of Jesus. He knew himself to be a sinful man. As followers of Christ,
we, too, must know that we are unworthy sinners. However, focusing too much on
our sinfulness can lead to discouragement. Instead, like Peter, we bring our
weaknesses to Jesus so that he can also tell us to “not be afraid; from now on,
you will be catching men.” Peter, Andrew, James, and John proceeded to leave
everything to follow Jesus. Even today, the Church benefits from their generous
response to Christ’s invitation.
`Conversing
with Christ: Lord Jesus Christ,
you have shown me your gratuitous love in countless ways: in creating me, in
redeeming me, in calling me to your friendship, and in inviting me to partake
in your mission. Who am I that my Lord should come to me (Luke 1:43)? Please
help me to respond to your gifts with faith, hope, and love.
