Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần thứ Nhất Mùa Vọng

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần thứ Nhất Mùa Vọng
Tiên Tri Isaiah đã cho mọi người một niềm hy vọng vì ông ta đã chỉ cho mọi người biết đến thời gian mà Thiên Chúa sẽ đến con người rất gần kề, do vậy, chúng ta không thể không cảm nhận được sự hiện diện của Chúa. “Người điếc sẽ được nghe, và người mù sẽ được thấy, và những sự bất công sẽ không còn nửa và những kẻ không tin sẽ tin vào nơi Thiên Chúa”. Những lời nhắn nhủ này cho biết là những điều tiêu cực không bao giờ đến từ nơi Thiên Chúa. Những sự đau khổ trong cuộc đời này chỉ là tạm bợ, không phải là mãi mãi, và Thiên Chúa không phải là Thiên Chúa của sự đau khổ. Khi chúng ta quay đầu trở lại với Thiên Chúa, Ngài sẽ mở lòng trí chúng ta, chữa lành và sẽ biến đổi lòng và trí chúng ta.
            Như chúng ta thấy trong bài Tin Mừng, Hai người mù tìm thấy được Thiên Chúa và đó là niềm vui của họ. Mặc dù họ đã bị mù loà trên thân xác, nhưng họ có cái nhìn sâu sắc trong tâm hồn và trong tinh thần của họ, nhờ đó mà họ đã nhận ra Chúa Giêsu là "Con Vua David ', đó một danh hiệu của Đấng Thiên sai.
Những người khác có đôi mắt lành nặn, có cái nhìn thể lý rất rõ ràng, thế nhưng, họ lại không thể "nhìn thấy" được điều này. Đức tin của hai người mù đã  cho họ cái tầm nhìn bằng tâm hồn nên sâu sắc hơn, và Chúa Giêsu đã xác quyết rằng là "vì đức tin của họ" mà họ đã được chữa lành.
Nói cách khác, việc được chữa lành của  họ được Thiên Chúa cứu chữa tương xứng theo như cái niềm tin sâu sắc và cái nồng độ mà họ tin tưởng và trung thành với Thiên Chúa. Thường chúng ta không thể biết hay để ý những gì đang diễn tiến và liên tục xảy ra trong cuộc hành trình trong đời của chúng ta và không phải lúc nào chúng ta cũng  có thể nhìn thấy được con đường trải nhựa láng bóng trước mặt. Tuy nhiên, với một đức tin sâu sắc và biết chấp nhận,  tuân hành sẽ kim chỉ nang hướng dẫn chúng ta đến với Thiên Chúa Và nó sẽ cho chúng ta có môt cái hiểu biết rõ hơn về con đường mà chúng ta cần phải đi tới.
            Lạy Chúa, xin cho mở mắt chúng con trong tâm hồn để cho chúng con biết nhìn Chúa và con đường Chúa muốn con đi một cách rõ ràng và thông suốt hơn.
 
Friday 1st week of Advent
            Isaiah gave people hope by pointing to a time in which God would come so close that we could not fail to sense God’s presence. The deaf would hear, and the blind would see, and injustice would vanish along with unbelief. The message is that these negative things do not come from God. Suffering is temporary, not forever, and God is not about suffering. When we turn to God and open our hearts, healing and transformation begin.
`           The two blind men discovered this to their delight. Even though they were physically blind, they had spiritual insight, for they recognized Jesus as ‘son of David’, which is a messianic title. Others who had physical sight were not able to ‘see’ this. The faith of the two blind men gave them this deeper vision, and Jesus confirmed that by healing them ‘according to their faith.’ In other words, their healing would be in proportion to how deeply and fervently they trusted and believed in God.
            Often we do not know what is coming next on our journey and we are not always able to see the road in front of us. But a deep and abiding faith will be our inner GPS — it will give us insight into the path that we must travel.  Lord, grant me spiritual insight.
 
Friday of the First Week of Advent
And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread word of him through all that land. Matthew 9:30–31
Who is Jesus? This question is much more easily answered today than it was at the time Jesus walked the Earth. Today we are blessed with countless saints who have gone before us who have prayerfully and intelligently taught much about the person of Jesus. We know Him to be God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, the Savior of the World, the promised Messiah, the Sacrificial Lamb and so much more.
The Gospel above comes from the conclusion of the miracle in which Jesus healed two blind men. These men were overwhelmed with their cure, and their emotion overtook them. Jesus instructed them to “See that no one knows about this” miraculous healing. But their excitement could not be contained. It’s not that they were intentionally disobedient to Jesus; rather, they did not know how else to express their sincere gratitude other than to tell others about what Jesus had done.
One reason Jesus told them not to tell others about Him is because Jesus knew they did not fully understand Who He was. He knew that their testimony about Him would fail to present Him in the way that was most truthful. He was the Lamb of God. The Savior. The Messiah. The Sacrificial Lamb. He was the One Who came into this world to redeem us by the shedding of His blood. Many of the people, however, wanted a nationalistic “messiah” or a miracle worker alone. They wanted one who would save them from political oppression and make them a great earthly nation. But this was not Jesus’ mission.
Oftentimes we can also fall into the trap of misunderstanding Who Jesus is and Who He wants to be in our lives. We can want a “god” who will save us only from our daily struggles, injustices and temporal difficulties. We can want a “god” who acts in accord with our will and not vice versa. We want a “god” who will heal us and free us of every earthly burden. But Jesus taught clearly throughout His life that He would suffer and die. He taught us that we must take up our own crosses and follow Him. And He taught us that we are to die, embrace suffering, offer mercy, turn the other cheek, and find our glory in that which the world will never understand.
Reflect, today, upon whether Jesus would caution you about speaking too loudly about your vision of Who He is. Do you struggle with presenting a “god” who is not actually God? Or have you come to know the very Person of Christ our Lord to such an extent that you are able to give witness to Him Who died. Do you boast only in the Cross? Do you proclaim Christ crucified and preach only the deepest wisdom of humility, mercy and sacrifice? Recommit yourself to a true proclamation of Christ, setting aside any and all confused images of our saving God.
My true and saving Lord, I commit myself to You and pray that I will come to know and love You as You are. Give me the eyes I need to see You and the mind and heart I need to know and love You. Remove from me any false vision of Who You are and replace within me a true knowledge of You, my Lord. As I come to know You, I offer myself to You so that You may use me to proclaim Your greatness to all. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Friday 1st week of Advent 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, let me see your glory as you pass by. I am always in need of being cured by you of my spiritual blindness. I believe, Lord, help my unbelief! I trust in you, Lord, help me when I despair. I love you, Lord, help me overcome my selfish
1. The Eyes of the Blind Shall See: In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah promised that, “out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see” (Isaiah 29:18). The Gospel today is seen as fulfillment of that ancient prophecy. When the blind regains their sight, it would be a sign that the age of salvation had arrived. Physical blindness was terrible. It often led to a lifetime of poverty and daily begging for food just to survive. Isaiah promised that, in the age of salvation, the blind would see, the deaf would hear, the lame would walk, and prisoners would be set free. How can I see more clearly with the eyes of faith? How can I hear more clearly and be more attentive to the Word of God? How can I walk more perfectly in the footsteps of Christ? How can I break free from the chains of sin in my life?
2. Faith in the Son of David: The blind men call out to Jesus with an important title, “Son of David.” This is an acknowledgment that Jesus is the hidden King of Israel. Jesus, they acknowledge, is the royal descendant of David, who is destined to rule over heaven and earth. What the men ask for, in faith, is mercy. They recognize that the kingship of Jesus is not about earthly wealth or power. It is about healing, forgiveness, and merciful love. Jesus is like David, yet superior to him in so many ways. Jesus and David were both anointed with the Spirit of God. David gave Israel rest from their physical enemies (2 Samuel 7:1), Jesus offers eternal rest – a share in God’s own life – and has conquered our true spiritual enemy once and for all. David acted as a priest-king and provided food for his people (1 Chronicles 16:3), and this sustained them for a brief time. Jesus, by contrast, is our eternal high priest and eternal king, and he provides us with his own body and blood as food and drink, leading to eternal life.
3. They Spread Word of Him: When Jesus cured the two blind men in Capernaum, he warned them sternly not to tell anyone. Why is it that Jesus didn’t want publicity about his healing power? Why is it that the men, mercifully healed by Jesus, disobeyed his command? On the one hand, Jesus was cautious about people misrepresenting his identity and mission. The blind men called out to Jesus with the title, “Son of David.” They could be thinking that Jesus will be a political Messiah, one who will lead armies to overthrow the Romans and establish the earthly Kingdom of David. On the other hand, Jesus wants to encounter people not merely as a miracle-worker, but as a savior and redeemer. In the end, the two men spread the word about Jesus throughout the land. This notoriety, we are told in other Gospels, leads to Jesus retreating and withdrawing. Jesus doesn’t want the people to have false notions about his person. How do I relate to Jesus? As my brother and Lord? As a miracle-worker?
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me, a poor sinner. Turn your gaze toward me. You know what I most need. When I am selfish, I pray that you lift my eyes to see the needs of those around me.
 
Friday 1st week of Advent 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, let me see your glory as you pass by. I am always in need of being cured by you of my spiritual blindness. I believe, Lord, help my unbelief! I trust in you, Lord, help me when I despair. I love you, Lord, help me overcome my selfishness.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Healing Both Types of Blindness: Isaiah prophesies around the 8^th century B.C. that, one day in the future, “the eyes of the blind shall see,” and Jesus, in the first century A.D., fulfills that prophecy. But there is something more at work in the Gospel than the healing of physical blindness. Even the prophet Isaiah looks forward to a time when Israel will be blessed with renewed vision, understanding, and joy. When Jesus heals the eyes of the blind, this is a sign that the age of salvation has come. Before healing the blindness of the two men, Jesus invites them to be cured of their spiritual blindness through faith in him. They pass from the blindness and darkness of sin to the sight and light of faith.
2. The Son of David: The blind men call out to Jesus with an important title, “Son of David.” This is an acknowledgment that Jesus is the hidden king. He is the royal descendent of David, who is destined to rule over heaven and earth. What the men ask for, in faith, is mercy. The kingship of Jesus is not about earthly wealth or power. It is about healing, forgiveness, and merciful love. Jesus is like David and yet superior to him in so many ways. Jesus and David were both anointed with the Spirit of God. David gave Israel rest from their physical enemies (2 Samuel 7:1), Jesus offers eternal rest – a share in God’s own life – and has conquered our true spiritual enemy once and for all. David acted as a priest-king and provided food for his people (1 Chronicles 16:3), and this sustained them for a brief time. Jesus, by contrast, is our eternal high priest and eternal king, and he provides us with his own body and blood as food and drink, leading to eternal life.
3. Saint Nicholas: Today, we celebrate the optional memorial of Saint Nicholas. Nicholas was a bishop of Myra, in modern-day Türkiye, in the fourth century A.D. On the one hand, Nicholas is commemorated for his charity and care for the poor and those in need. On the other, Nicholas is remembered as a defender of the truth of the Incarnation of the Son of God proclaimed at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. Both are lessons we can learn this Advent. When we buy gifts this season for our families and friends, let us not forget the poor, who struggle to pay rent or buy warm clothes for winter. When we pray the creed at mass, let us thank God for guiding the Church to teach the truth about Jesus, the Son of God, who came to save us from sin and death. Jesus is true God and true man. He became man so that we might become God. In the fullness of time, the eternal Son of God assumed our lowly human nature, so that we might share, through grace and glory, in the divine nature and enter into the eternal embrace of God’s family.
 
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, true God and true man, you are my faithful and merciful high priest! Intercede before the Father for me and my family. Ask for what we most need. Gather us under your wings and protect us from all evil.