“… Ngày nào có cái khổ của ngày ấy.." (Mt 6:34) Như Chúa Giêsu đã nói, Cha của chúng ta ở trên trời biết rõ những nhu cầu cần thiết của chúng ta, Ngài biết chúng ta cần thức ăn, thức uống, quần áo và nơi trú ẩn. Ngài nói rằng chúng ta hãy cầu xin thì sẽ được, chúng ta có thể luôn luôn liên tục đón nhận tất cả những gì mà chúng ta xin qua lòng nhân từ và rộng lượng của Thiên Chúa. Vì thế chúng ta cũng không nên quá lo lắng, suy nghĩ nhiều về những việc thông thường hay những nhu cầu phổ thông hàng ngày, mặc dù cần thiết cho cuộc sống mà quên đi những việc khác quan trọng hơn.
Nhưng nếu, cũng như bao nhiêu triệu người trên thế giới đang sống trong cuộc sống hiện đại này, chúng ta thực sự không có được một thứ gì gọi là cần thiết cho cuộc sống của chúng ta, hay chỉ có một số tối thiểu nhu cầu cần thiết cho cuộc sống? Như thế thì cuộc sống của chúng ta như thế nào? nghĩa là chúng taphải sống lây lất " ngày này qua ngày khác"? Có bao giờ chúng ta có thể tưởng tượng được là mình không có được một tý nhu yếu phẩm nào của cuộc sống mỗi ngày? Chúng ta hãy suy ngẫm hay phản ánh trong thực tế hiện tại, trên đất nước Việtnam của chúng ta thôi, hãy thử đếm xem là có bao nhiêu người đang sống trong tình huống đó ngay bây giờ ở trong xóm, hàng triệu anh chị em của chúng ta hôm ngày đang sống trong những sự thiếu thốn.
Trong cùng lúc, một số ít người trong chúng ta lại có tất cả những gì họ cần và họ còn có nhiều hơn nữa họ dư thừa để không. Đối với chúng ta những người (nói để nói) "ở giữa hai loại người trên", đã có đủ những thứ cần thiết tối thiếu, nhưng lúc nào cũng muốn được có nhiều hơn và nhiều hơn nữa, vì đó là xu hướng của chủ nghĩa tiêu thụ trong cuộc sống theo phong cách của chúng ta, chúng ta có nên cầu nguyện và xét lại lương tâm của chúng ta về tình trạng như này không? Không những chúng ta chỉ đơn thuần làm nhiều hơn để giúp những người đang thiếu thốn, nhưng chúng ta cũng phải chú trọng đến cái giá trị và thái độ của chúng ta đối với những sự bất công, vô nhân đạo và những chia sẻ trong xã hội , trong cuộc sống của chúng ta!
Như câu Chúa Giêsu đã nói: “Ngày nào có cái khổ của ngày ấy." (Mt 6:34), chúng ta chỉ có ngày hôm nay, và ngay bây giờ để phục vụ Chúa; ngày hôm qua đã qua đi, ngày mai là chưa đến: Vậy bây giờ là lúc chúng ta phải cảm ơn và ngợi khen Chúa, phục vụ Ngài, yêu mến Ngài trong những người đang thiếu thốn và cần sự giúp đỡ của chúng ta. Bây giờ là thời gian để chúng ta cầu nguyện và hành động,
Lạy Chúa, xin Chúa giúp chúng con biết phục vụ Chúa ở nơi những người khác.
REFLECTION
“Today’s trouble is enough for today.” As Jesus said, our Father in heaven knows our needs, of food and drink, of clothing and shelter. He doesn’t say we should not ask for these things, ask that we might continue to receive the bounty of God. But we should not become so anxious and fretful about such ordinary, though necessary, needs of life that we forget or neglect more important things. \
But what if, like so many millions of people in our modern world, we really did not have some or all of these necessities? What would such a life be like, literally living “from day to day”? Can we imagine ourselves not having some of life’s necessities? And then reflect that in fact millions of our brothers and sisters today are in that situation.
At the same time, a small minority of us have all they need and much more besides. For us who are (so to say) ‘in the middle’, having enough but wanting more and more because that’s the trend of our consumerist life-style, should we not in prayer examine our consciences about this situation? Not merely about doing more to help those in need, but about our shared values and attitudes that perpetuate this unfair, inhuman division among us?
Like today’s trouble being enough for today, we only have today, this day, to serve the Lord — yesterday’s gone, tomorrow’s not yet come: it’s now that we have to thank and praise the Lord, serve Him, love Him in those in need. Now is the time for prayer and for action
The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” Mark 6:30–31
When a person does something profound and meaningful for the first time, it’s a memorable moment. When a child walks for the first time, parents are elated. When we graduate from high school or college, a natural sense of pride wells up. Weddings, the birth of a baby, an ordination, and many other important events mark the beginning of something new and fulfilling.
Around the midpoint of Jesus’ public ministry, some of Jesus’ closest disciples experienced one of those consequential moments. Jesus commissioned the Twelve to go forth, two by two, to preach repentance in many towns and villages (cf. Mark 6:7–13). He gave them authority over unclean spirits, enabling them to cast out demons and heal the sick. While they had been firsthand witnesses to Jesus’ ministry and His mighty deeds, this mission marked the first time they acted independently in His name, exercising His divine authority. It must have been an awe-inspiring experience, deepening their faith and understanding of their role in His mission.
Today’s Gospel recounts their return from their ministry. We can imagine that each of them wanted to tell stories about all that they did and how the power of God worked in and through them. For that reason, Jesus invited them to “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” That invitation was likely enthusiastically received, given the emotional and spiritual energy they had exuded and their desire to process their experiences together. Though the invitation was sincere, Jesus’ formation of the Twelve was not complete. What happened next helped the Twelve to better understand the deeper meaning of the ministry they had just undertaken.
Though the Twelve were excited to be with Jesus and the others once again, so was the crowd. Despite the Apostles’ exhaustion, the people pressed in upon them, making it difficult for them even to eat. When Jesus took them by boat to another town, the people hurried to the place by foot and waited patiently for Jesus and the Twelve.
When the Twelve saw the crowd, they understandably might have been somewhat agitated. They had hoped for some time of rest, yet the people were starving for the spiritual nourishment that only Jesus and His disciples could give. Instead of agitation, “When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).
Though the Twelve had a transforming experience preaching, healing, and casting out demons, Jesus’ compassion for the crowds became their next crucial lesson. Their mission was not for their own sake or to marvel at the divine authority with which they ministered. It was about God’s people, who were “like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus wanted the Twelve to grasp the urgency of the mission they were entrusted with and the zeal required to fulfill it.
Though we are not among the Twelve, each of us is entrusted with a mission. We must embrace it with the same zeal that Jesus showed in His ministry. While it is natural to feel tired and seek rest, supernatural zeal calls us to press on, to serve sacrificially, and to imitate Jesus’ selfless compassion. Our mission must always reflect the heart of Christ, fostering in us the same compassion and love He modeled for all.
Reflect today on the excitement the Twelve must have felt as they witnessed the crowd’s hunger and thirst for spiritual nourishment. Consider your own mission of loving service—whether to your friends, family, community, or church. Are there moments when the demands on your time feel overwhelming, testing your patience and charity? In those times, strive to cultivate the compassion Jesus modeled for the Twelve, allowing His example to inspire you to respond with love, patience, and selfless care for others.
My zealous Lord, You were tireless in Your preaching and unwavering in Your charity. The hunger and thirst of the crowd moved Your divine Heart with mercy and compelled You to shepherd Your people. Transform my heart to mirror Yours, filling me with supernatural zeal, so that I may never tire of serving those entrusted to my care. Jesus, I trust in You.
1. A Deserted Place: Today’s Gospel picks up a theme from the opening chapter of Mark’s Gospel – the theme of the desert. Not only did John the Baptist bring the people of Jerusalem to the desert (Mark 1:4-5), but Jesus himself began to dwell in deserted places (Mark 1:45). Here, we see Jesus – after having healed and taught and manifested his divine authority – inviting his twelve Apostles to come away to a deserted place and rest a while. Being led into the desert is not a punishment, but a way for the disciples to come to know Jesus more profoundly. In the desert, they will find rest. “To go into the desert means to leave the world behind. This imagery presents to us the first stage of becoming a saint: seeking God alone. The spiritual desert is also a turning away from all that leads us away from God” (Mitchell, Sanctity Simplified, 75). “The desert is silent. Here a person can lift himself above the many voices around him to hear the only voice that matters: God’s. In the desert, we begin to learn a new language. It is God’s language, and the words of this language are spoken in loving silence. Being a ‘desert soul’ means fostering a quietness inside your heart and living a prayerful and pondered life” (Mitchell, Sanctity Simplified, 76).
“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” Mark 6:34
The Twelve had just returned from going about the countryside preaching the Gospel. They were tired. Jesus, in His compassion, invites them to come away with Him to rest for a while. So they get in a boat to cross over to a deserted place. But when the people hear about this, they hurry on foot to the place that their boat was heading. So, when the boat arrives, there is a crowd awaiting them.
Of course, Jesus does not get upset. He does not get discouraged by the burning desire of the people to be with Him and the Twelve. Instead, the Gospel relates that when Jesus saw them, “his heart was moved with pity,” and He began to teach them many things.
In our own lives, after serving others well, it’s understandable to desire rest. Even Jesus desired this for Himself and His Apostles. But the one thing that Jesus permitted to “interrupt” His rest was the clear desire of the people to be with Him and to be fed by His preaching. There is much to learn from this example of our Lord.
For example, there are many times when a parent may only want to be alone for a while, and yet family concerns arise that need their attention. Priests and religious may also have unexpected duties that arise from their ministry that can, at first, appear to interrupt their plans. The same can be said for any vocation or situation in life. We may think we need one thing, but then duty calls and we find we are needed in a different way.
One key to sharing in the apostolic mission of Christ, be it to our families, Church, communities or friends, is to be ready and willing to be generous with our time and energy. It’s true that prudence will dictate the need for rest at times, but at other times the call to charity will supersede what we perceive as a legitimate need for our own rest and relaxation. And when true charity is demanded of us, we will always find that our Lord gives us the needed grace to be generous with our time. It is often in those moments when our Lord chooses to use us in ways that are truly transforming for others.
Reflect, today, upon the true needs of those around you. Are there people who would greatly benefit from your time and attention today? Are there needs that others have that will require you to change your plans and to give of yourself in a way that is difficult? Do not hesitate to give generously of yourself to others. In fact, this form of charity is not only transforming for those whom we serve, it is often one of the most restful and rejuvenating activities we can also do for ourselves.
My generous Lord, You gave of Yourself without reserve. People came to You in their need, and You did not hesitate to serve them out of love. Give me a heart that imitates Your generosity and help me to always say “Yes” to the charitable work to which I am called. May I learn to find great joy in serving others, especially in those unplanned and unexpected circumstances of life. Jesus, I trust in You.
Saturday 4th Week in Ordinary Time 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I thank you for giving me the gift of divine rest. I can easily be overcome by work and toil and need the solace of your divine life. Guide me into the desert to be with you and learn from you.
1. Come Away and Rest: Like the Apostles today, we also need to bring to Jesus in prayer all we have done. The idea of coming away with Jesus and resting for a while reinforces the fact that being an apostle is not just about missionary work in the field, it also includes “being with Jesus.” We cannot give what we do not have. If we do not spend time with Jesus, we can only have our poor selves to offer to others. But if the life of Jesus dwells within us, we will have great spiritual treasure to offer. Jesus invites us today to be with him in the desert, a symbol of withdrawing from the things and distractions of the world.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, as I contemplate the sons of David today, I too ask for an understanding and wise heart so that I may judge things rightly. Too often I judge poorly and choose the wrong path. Pour out your Spirit of Wisdom into my heart today and guide me along the path to your eternal embrace.
1. The Wise Heart of King Solomon: The story of Solomon is a tragic story. It tells us that though he was unsurpassed in wisdom in his youth, his heart became corrupted in his old age. We learn today that the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at Gibeon and promised to give Solomon whatever he requested of him. Solomon begins his petition by recalling first that his father, King David, had an upright heart. He then asks the Lord for an understanding heart to judge God’s people and distinguish right from wrong. Solomon literally requests a “listening heart.” In response, God promises to give him a heart so wise and understanding that it will surpass those who came before him and will not be surpassed by any who reign after him.
2. The Wisdom Literature in the Bible: The gift of Solomon’s wisdom is recorded in the wisdom books of the Old Testament, in books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon, and the Wisdom of Solomon. Unlike the wisdom given to the nation of Israel through the Law of Moses, the wisdom of Solomon, the royal son of David, is meant for the whole world. It teaches the way of wisdom and virtue that leads to life. It illustrates how the way of foolishness and vice leads to death. When we read the Book of Proverbs, for example, we are encouraged to lead a life of prayer, to trust in the Lord, to be diligent in our work, and to have compassion for the poor. We are warned against falling into the sin of pride and encouraged to practice the wisdom of humility.
3. The Merciful Heart of Jesus: As Christians, we know that the wisdom of Jesus, the Son of David, far surpasses that of the great King Solomon (Matthew 12:42). Jesus’ heart is not just wise and understanding, it is also full of mercy for the people he serves. Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus is so dedicated to this service of mercy that he doesn’t even have time to eat. Even though he is the King of Israel, he subordinates his needs to the care and ministry of his people. His heart is moved with pity for the crowds, and he sees that they are like sheep without a shepherd. Because they lack a true shepherd, they are in danger of straying away from God and are threatened by evil in many ways. Jesus, the merciful king and Good Shepherd, responds to the needs of his sheep first by teaching them. He feeds their spiritual hunger and satisfies their souls with true wisdom from on high. The Old Testament often symbolizes the reception of divine wisdom to eating and drinking (Proverbs 9:1-5). Jesus will not just feed the soul with wisdom; he will also satisfy the hunger of the body with bread.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you brought true wisdom into the world. This is the wisdom of the Cross. You teach me that by losing my life I will gain it, that by being merciful I will be shown mercy, that by forgiving I will be forgiven, and that by being pure of heart I will see God. Help me today to be a peacemaker and testify to your wisdom and love.
Qua bài Tin Mừng, chúng ta thấy Chúa Giêsu đã khuyên nhủ các môn đệ nên đi tìm nơi vấng vẻ để cầu nguyện và nghỉ ngơi sau cuộc rao giảng lời Chúa. Chúa cũng đã thương những người đã theo các tông đồ vì họ ví như những đoàn chiên lạc không người chăm sóc. Chúa Giêsu đã cho chúng ta thấy là thế nào để trở thành một người môn đệ đích thực và tốt lành của Chúa, người môn đệ của Chúa phải biết vị tha và yêu thương, biết từ bỏ ý riêng, biết quên đi nhu cầu riêng của chính bản thân mình để phụng vụ, biết dấn thân quên mình và phục vụ người khác, biết đặt nhu cầu của người khác lên trước nhu cầu cá nhân của mình, vì đó là những gì Chúa đã làm cho chúng ta. Chúng ta có thể làm tất cả những điều này nếu chúng ta biết tập trung tình yêu và lý trí của chúng ta nơi Thiên Chúa.
