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.
\

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 và 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 và 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 và làm cho ông rất hy vọng.
            Trời, tất nhiên, là hoàn toàn khác biệt với những kinh nghiệm ở trần thế của chúng ta, nhưng Thánh Gioan đã liên kết một trời mới cùng với đất mới là 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 và hạnh phúc vĩnh cửu. Niềm hy vọng này và một cách chắc chắn là 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 2025
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 first 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 15^th 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, the Temple, was destroyed, and yet Jesus’ words remain.
2. The Four Beasts: On Tuesday, we read Daniel 2, where we were presented with four kingdoms, each of them represented by a part of a massive statue of gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Today we read about a dream of four beasts in Daniel 7: a lion, a bear, a leopard, and a beast with ten horns. Read together, we see Daniel prophesying about a historical succession of four kingdoms, preceding the establishment of the Kingdom of God and the coming of the Son of Man. The golden head of the statue and the winged lion both represent the Babylonian Empire. The silver chest and the lop-sided bear represent the Medo-Persian Empire. The bronze torso and four-headed leopard represent the Greek Empire and how it was divided among four generals after the death of Alexander the Great, who conquered the world at breakneck speed (like that of a leopard). Finally, the iron legs and ten-horned beast represent the Roman Empire. The ten horns are the ten emperors – from Julius Caesar to Vespasian – who ruled until the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. 
3. The Signs of History: The Book of Daniel and the Gospel of Luke remind us that human history unfolds according to God’s plan. God knows what will happen and when it will happen. He permits evil to bring about a greater good. What Jesus invites us to do in the Gospel is to be attentive to the signs of history. This is not an invitation to vain curiosity and useless speculation about the end of the world. What is important is the knowledge that the Kingdom of God is continually drawing near. On the one hand, what Jesus predicted actually happened. For there were some people of that generation who heard Jesus’ words and also saw the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. As well, that generation experienced the inauguration of God’s Kingdom through Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. On the other hand, centuries have passed, and we still await the definitive establishment of God's Kingdom at the end of time. Earthly kingdoms rise and fall and pass away, but Jesus’ words and heavenly Kingdom remain forever.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, Son of Man, take pity on me and heal me with your merciful touch. You are my King and the Lord of history. Guide me in all that I undertake today, so that I may serve faithfully in your Kingdom.
 
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 15^th 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.
 

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Năm Tuần 34 Thường Niên

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Năm Tuần 34 Thường Niên
            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..)
            Những hình ảnh kinh hoàng và ngôn ngữ trong Sách Khải Huyền đã hướng dẫn chỉ đạo cho chúng ta biết và hiểu rõ ràng hơn khi những sự ác này xảy ra thì đó chính là những cuộc nổi loạn chống lại Thiên Chúa, đi ngược lại với Tình Thương và chối bỏ Ngài. Từ những sự ác này đã đưa chúng ta tới tất cả các tệ nạn khác đang  bủa quanh thế giới.  Theo như Sách Khải Huyền, Thánh Gioan cho rằng sự tức giận của Thiên Chúa đã hướng đến một sự xác minh cho những gì  là tốt đẹp và sẽ đem đến một hậu quả là sự cải cách cho những gì là xấu. Trong cùng một cách, Thiên Chúa luôn quan tâm đến Giáo Hội của Ngài và nuôi dưỡng những mầm chồi non tốt (thánh thiện) khi chúng xuất hiện.
            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.
 
Thursday 34th Ordinary Time- Thanksgiving
“Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” Luke 17:17–19
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.
 
Thursday 34th Ordinary Time- Thanksgiving 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I thank you and praise you. You have delivered me from the slavery of sin and the threat of everlasting death. In return, I humbly offer you today the thanksgiving sacrifice of my self-offering.
Encountering the Word of God
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 occur 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. 
2. Daniel and the Lion’s Den: In the First Reading, we see Daniel undergoing persecution during the reign of Darius the Mede. The other counselors of Darius became envious of Daniel's position and sought to find fault in him. The plotted against Daniel and accused him of not obeying Darius’ decree. Darius, we learn, was reluctant to send Daniel to the lion’s den and even prayed that Daniel’s God might save him. During this same period, the people of Israel were encouraged by Cyrus, the king of Persia, to leave Babylon and return to Jerusalem to rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel (Ezra 1:1-4). This is the beginning of the end of the Babylonian exile.
3. The End of the Exile: If we read these two events together, Daniel is freed from the lion's den (in the presence of Darius) and the people of Israel are freed from captivity (by decree of Cyrus). Darius proclaims that the God of Daniel is the “living God, enduring forever; his Kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be without end. He is a deliverer and savior, working signs and wonders in heaven and on earth.” Cyrus, on the other hand, understands that the God who is in Jerusalem wants him to rebuild God's house. In summary, Daniel was saved from the lion's den by God; the people of Israel were set free from Babylon by God; we, the New People of God, are redeemed and saved from sin and death by God and through Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, our redemption is at hand. We believe and proclaim that he will come again with power and glory. Jesus is truly the “Son of Man” (Daniel 7) who is worthy to receive the dominion, glory, and kingship. He has conquered evil and now sits enthroned in heaven, exercising his universal kingship over the world through the Church (see Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, 1866).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I will stand tall and raise my head today to look for your glorious coming on the horizon. You are the Son of Man and are coming in glory to judge the living and the dead. Knowing that I will be judged by you one day, I ask for mercy for the sins I have committed, and I thank you for any good works I have done.
 
Thursday 34th Ordinary Time- Thanksgiving 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I thank you and praise you. You have delivered me from the slavery of sin and the threat of everlasting death. In return, I humbly offer you today the thanksgiving sacrifice of my self-offering.
Encountering the Word of God
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. 
2. The Fall of Babylon: The Book of Revelation uses symbols and images to communicate its prophecy. In the First Reading, Babylon is the symbolic name given to Jerusalem: “Babylon destroyed the earthly temple; Jerusalem destroyed the true temple – Christ (cf. John 2). Jerusalem will now fall as Babylon did” (Barber, Coming Soon, 219). In his vision of Revelation 18-19, John shows how Christ fulfills God’s Old Testament promises through the Church. “In the Church, the spotless bride, God’s plan from the dawn of time is accomplished and Christ’s victory is realized. His victory over the devil is finally complete. And all of this converges in the even called the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Barber, Coming Soon, 225). In response to the fall of “Babylon” – i.e., the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and the fall of evil political powers at the end of the world – the saints in heaven rejoice and explode into the praise of the “Hallel” psalms (Psalms 111-118). These psalms were a response to the triumph of the Messiah in Psalm 110. Jerusalem’s persecution of the Church has prepared her as a bride for Christ, the Lam of God. The Church is wedded to Christ at the marriage supper of the Lamb, which is the Eucharist, where she enters into communion with the flesh of her husband and Lord.
3. Thanksgiving: In the United States today, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. George Washington issued his original Thanksgiving Proclamation on October 3, 1789, designating Thursday, November 26, as a national day of public thanksgiving and prayer. The American Revolutionary War had just ended, and the president wanted the new nation to render sincere and humble thanks to God for his mercies and the conclusion of the war. Abraham Lincoln gave his first Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1863, inviting Americans, amid the Civil War, to give thanks and praise to God and to ask God for an end to the war and for the nation to be restored to peace, harmony, and union. Presidents have continued the tradition of Thanksgiving proclamations, inviting the nation to pause and, with humble and contrite hearts, give thanks to God for all his blessings. When we gather with family and friends for a meal, we can pause for a moment to reflect on what is good in it – communion, joy, love – as an image of the heavenly feast, the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, that we long for.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I will stand tall and raise my head today to look for your glorious coming on the horizon. You are the Son of Man and are coming in glory to judge the living and the dead. Knowing that I will be judged by you one day, I ask for mercy for the sins I have committed, and I thank you for any good works I have done.