Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần thứ 4 Mùa Chay
Qua Bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta được thấy cuộc tranh luận giữa những người Do Thái về nguồn gốc của Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Ngài chưa bao giờ được học ở một trường nàođạo nào của người Do Thái, vì thế, đâu là nguồn gốc về những kiến thức của Ngài? Ngài có đáng giá gì đâu? Làm thế nào mà Ngài có thể là một Đấng Thiên Sai (Messiah ) khi Ngài được sinh ra trong máng cỏ, hang lừa, được lớn lên trong một làng nhỏ bé Nazareth? Làm thế nào mà Ngài có thể là Con Thiên Chúa khi cha mẹ củ Ngài chính làông thợ mộc nghèo Giuse và bà Maria?
Có lẽ chúng ta cũng chẳng khác gì hơn những người Do Thái thời bấy giờ, bởi vìchúng ta cũng có nhiều nghi vấn về Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Nếu Ngài thực sự là Con Thiên Chúa, tại sao Ngài không giúp chúng ta? Tại sao những lời cầu nguyện của chúng ta không được Ngài đáp lại và ban cho chúng ta những gì chúng ta muốn? Tại sao trongcuộc sống của chúng ta lại có rất nhiều đau khổ ? Còn kẻ thù của chúng ta thì thanh thản, có chức quyền cao, có tiền, có của??... Chúa Giêsu Kitô của chúng ta là ai? Có phải Ngài đến chỉ để ban cho chúng ta hạnh phúc và những ước mơ vật chất như chúng ta mong muốn?
Chúa Kitô muốn cho chúng ta một kinh nghiệm của hạnh phúc ở giữa những nỗi đau khổ, hòa bình ở giữa những xung đột, tình yêu ở trong những sự thù hằn. Nhưng những ân sủng và hồng ân đó sẽ mãi mãi bền lâu vì chúng thuộc về Đức Kitô, Con Thiên Chúa. Những gì là hạnh phúc, sung túc mà chúng ta muốn có ở trên cõi đời này có phải là niềm hạnh phúc thật và vĩnh cửu?
"Lạy Thiên Chúa hằng hữu, Chúa chính là ánh sáng của những tâm hồn mà biết Chúa, là niềm vui của những tấm lòng hay những trái tim biết yêu Chúavà là sức mạnh của những ý chí muốn phục vụ Chúa, Xin Chúa ban cho chúngcon một tâm hồn mở rộng để nhận biết Chúa, để chúng con có thể thật lòng yêuChúa, và vì yêu mến Chúa mà chúng con có thể hoàn toàn biết sẵn sằng phục vụ Chúa, Vì Chúa đã đem đến cho chúng con sự tự do hoàn hảo, trong Đức Giêsu Kitô, Chúa chúng ta. "(Thánh Augustinô)
REFLECTION
There is a discussion among the Jews about the origin of Christ. He has never been a pupil of the rabbis, so where is the source of his knowledge? Is he worth anything? How can he be the Messiah when he was born in Nazareth, an insignificant town? How can he be the Son of God when his parents are Joseph and Mary? We are not any different from the Jews because we, too, have many doubts about Christ. If he really is the Son of God, why doesn't he help me? Why are my prayers unanswered? Why are there a lot of suffering in my life?
Who is Jesus Christ for us? Is he there only to give us the happiness we want? Christ wants to give us an experience of happiness in the midst of woe, peace in the midst of conflict, love when there is enmity. These gifts last because they belong to Christ, the Son of God. What about the earthly happiness that we want – is this eternal?
Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent 2026
Though Jesus was perfect, His sermons flawless, and His miracles astonishing, many remained hardened in their disbelief. People of the time had various expectations about the Messiah. Some were looking for a mysterious, heavenly figure; others, a political leader; still others envisioned the Messiah would suddenly appear without prior knowledge of His origins. These expectations were all based on an incomplete understanding of the prophets.
The Messiah’s arrival uprooted many of the preconceived ideas about who He would be. He arrived as a poor carpenter, raised in the unimpressive village of Nazareth, and without any ambitions to overthrow the Roman occupation of Israel. Yet, Jesus performed miracles. His sermons penetrated hearts, winning over many humble converts. His mere presence exuded confidence, purpose, and dignity. Could He really be the Messiah?
Just like the people of Jesus’ time, it is easy for us to develop preconceived ideas about Who God is and how our lives should change once we choose to follow Him. If you give your life to Christ, what do you expect from Him? Do you expect that God will bless you with great success in business? Your children will love and obey God? Your family and friends will be perfectly united? Material provisions will enable you to live a comfortable life? Or do you expect rejection, suffering, and death? We must always align our expectations with God’s will, knowing that His ultimate plan is for our salvation.
Some of the Jews rejected Jesus because He did not meet their expectations of Who the Messiah would be. The particular group in today’s Gospel held the belief that the Messiah would arrive on the scene instantaneously, and no one would know where He came from. Their comment, “But we know where He is from,” reflects their disbelief, as they were expecting a more mysterious or sudden appearance. That misunderstanding of the prophets resulted in them rejecting Jesus, the true Messiah.
Similarly, it is easy for us to have certain expectations about God that, when not fulfilled, lead to doubt or confusion. This is our fault for forming false expectations about what should happen once we choose to follow Christ. The remedy is simple—turn to the Gospel and believe what Jesus said.
What did Jesus say? That He would suffer greatly at the hands of the scribes, Pharisees, and elders of the people. That He would be handed over, tortured, and crucified, but that He would also rise on the third day. And that is exactly what happened.
When we choose to follow Christ, does Jesus promise that life will be easy, comfortable, and that we will be loved by all? Certainly not. He tells us that we will suffer the same fate He did, but if we persevere through the crosses of life, we will share in His ultimate victory.
Reflect today on any false notions you might have about being a Christian. Embracing the Gospel—culminating in Christ’s Passion—is difficult. The call to live sacrificially, to lay our lives down for others, to do penance, live selflessly, be generous, repent of every sin, pray continuously, and embrace Christ’s Cross with unwavering determination is difficult at first. Doing so is only possible if we dismiss false expectations about being a Christian, so that the full Gospel and its demands will not shock us but inspire us to follow Christ down the path He has chosen for us.
My Lord and Messiah, Your life and mission did not live up to the expectations that many people had of the Messiah. Similarly, I often have expectations of You that are contrary to Your will. Please open my mind and heart to see and embrace Your will so that I can lay down my life along with You, so as to share in Your Resurrection. Jesus, I trust in You.
Friday
of the Fourth Week of Lent 2026
1. The Feast of Tabernacles: This week and next, we are reading selections from the first half of the Gospel of John. As we read, we see that the Jewish feasts play an important role in John’s Gospel. Jesus is seen by John as bringing all of the feasts to their fulfillment. For example, the three feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First-fruits were all transformed by Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection and memorialized in the New Passover of the Eucharist. The Feast of Pentecost, which commemorated the giving of the Old Law, became the day when the Spirit of God descended upon the Church gathered around Mary. It is the grace of the Spirit that enables us to live the New Law of Charity (John 13:34). The feast in today’s Gospel is that of Tabernacles. It commemorated the time of God dwelling in a tabernacle with Israel in the desert; it was a time of thanksgiving for the fall harvest; and it looked forward to the future coming of the Messiah, when God would once again dwell with his people and gather the nations to worship. The Feast of Tabernacles was a feast of water and light. The priests would draw water from the Pool of Siloam and pour it out on the altar to commemorate the gift of water in the desert and to symbolize the outpouring of God’s Spirit. During the feast, Jesus will declare himself as the source of living water and the one who pours out the Spirit. There was also a light ceremony that illuminated the Temple. It symbolized the pillar of fire that guided the people in the desert. And, during the feast, Jesus will declare himself as the Light of the World.
2. Jesus’ Hour: Jesus went to the Feast of Tabernacles, not with the pilgrim crowds and his disciples, but in secret. Secrecy was necessary this time because, during a previous feast in Jerusalem, the Judeans tried to kill Jesus: “For this reason, the Jews tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God” (John 5:18). Something similar happens at this feast. The religious authorities tried to arrest Jesus and would later try to trap him. Secrecy was also necessary because Jesus’ family and relatives wanted him to use the feast to show himself to the world (John 7:4). But John points out that the hour of Jesus’ passion, death, and glorification had not yet come. It was still several months away.
3. Jesus Tabernacles Among Us in the Eucharist: We experience the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles especially in the Eucharist. As John wrote, “The Word became flesh and dwelt – tabernacled – among us” (John 1:14). This divine tabernacling continues in a profound and sacramental way through the Most Holy Eucharist, where the eternal Word – he who was with God in the beginning and was God (John 1:1-2), through whom all things were made and who came into the world he created yet was not recognized (John 1:10) – makes himself truly present under the appearances of bread and wine. By the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of consecration, transubstantiation occurs: the substance of bread and wine is wholly changed into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ, while the accidents of taste, appearance, and shape remain. This Real Presence allows the same Lord whom John the Baptist proclaimed as the Lamb of God to dwell intimately within us. Just as the Feast of Tabernacles recalled God’s dwelling with Israel in the desert through the tabernacle (tent) of old, the Eucharist fulfills this by extending Christ’s Incarnation through the centuries – he tabernacles among us and within us, nourishing our souls with His divine life, uniting us more deeply to God and to one another in the Church. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324), containing Christ Himself, our Passover and living bread, through whom we receive grace upon grace (John 1:16) and are drawn into eternal communion with the Father.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your hour is one of love and suffering. You drank the bitter
for your Father and all humanity. You did this out of love for me. I love you and welcome the
chalice of suffering you offer to me.
Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent 2023
The Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was one of three great feasts during which the people made a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem to commemorate God’s saving action in their lives. This particular feast was to commemorate the 40 years that the Israelites traveled through the desert and dwelt in tents, or booths, as they wandered and were led by Moses. Therefore, the feast is also referred to as the “Feast of Booths.” During the seven days of this feast, people would set up tents (booths) around the Temple area and live in them to commemorate the journey of their ancestors.
In the Gospel passage quoted above, we read that Jesus went up to the feast secretly. Saint Augustine explains that this means that though Jesus was present, the full revelation of His divine identity was hidden from many. He was physically there, but many did not know Who He was.
That particular year, when the feast was half over, Jesus appeared in the Temple area and began to teach. Many were amazed at His words, and others thought He was possessed. After teaching the people, there was much disagreement among them about our Lord’s identity. Jesus said to them, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” In that statement, Jesus essentially was saying that among those listening to Him, some had come to faith in Him and discovered His true identity as the Messiah, while others lacked the gift of faith and remained blind to Him. To them, His divine essence remained a secret.
In a symbolic way, Jesus’ presence at the Feast of Tabernacles reveals Him as the new Moses. It was Moses who led the people through the desert for 40 years toward the promised land while they dwelt in tents. Our Lord now took on that role of leading the people who were commemorating this 40-year journey by appearing in the Temple and pointing the people to Heaven, the true Promised Land.
Today, our Lord continues to lead His people through the journey of life by coming to each of us to teach us and to reveal His divine presence. Some listen and believe and continue on the journey. To them, the secrets of our Lord are revealed. Others do not believe and, as a result of their lack of faith, fail to discover the hidden presence of our Lord all around them.
Reflect, today, upon the image of Jesus coming to you during your long journey through the desert of this life. He initially comes to you in secret, veiled in His true essence. As He teaches you, He desires to lift that veil and reveal to You His true glory. He desires that you dwell with Him through prayer and remain attentive to His Word. As you gaze upon our Lord, reflect upon the question of how clearly you hear Him speak each day. He is here, with you always. But are you with Him? Do you hear Him, believe in Him, follow Him and serve Him? Do you allow Him to lead you every day toward His promises of new life? Allow our Lord to pitch His tent next to yours so that You will daily be attentive to His teaching and be led by Him to the glories of Heaven.
My hidden Lord, You came to reveal to all people Your burning love and invitation to eternal life. Please come and dwell with me during my journey through life, and open my mind and heart to all that You wish to reveal. May I know You fully and follow You to the Promised Land of Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.
Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent 2023
2. Fearless Proclamation: At the beginning of the Gospel passage, Jesus didn’t go to Judea because he knew the Jews were hunting him there, and that they wanted him dead. However, he ended up going. Why? Fulfilling the Father’s will was infinitely more important to him than potential persecution by men. He foresaw the Cross, but he was secure in the knowledge of his Father’s love for him, and this love led him to love in return by proclaiming the Good News to all in Jerusalem. Let us ask the Lord for a deeper knowledge and assurance of his love so that we, too, may go out and boldly share his love with others.
3. His Hour Had Not yet Come: The primary objective of St. John’s Gospel was to illuminate Our Lord’s divinity. John wrote that when the Jews tried to arrest Jesus, they couldn’t. Why? Because Jesus was in complete control. He knew his hour and would surrender his life according to the divine timetable—not one minute sooner. As children of God, we can draw great consolation from the divine traits of our Redeemer. He guides us with his incomparable wisdom, heals us with his compassion, rescues us by his might, and loves us with his limitless capacity of divine charity.
Conversing with Christ: Lord, please cut through the confusion in my mind and bless me with a renewed understanding of your divine power and might.
Friday 4th week of Lent
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần thứ 4 Mùa Chay
Qua Bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta được thấy một tranh luận giữa những người Do Thái về nguồn gốc của Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Ngài chưa bao giờ là học trò của một vị giáo sĩ Do Thái hay một trường nào, vì vậy, đâu là nguồn gốc học vấn và nguồn kiến thức của Ngài? Ngài đâu có đáng giá gì ? Làm thế nào mà Ngài có thể là một Đấng Thiên Sai (Messiah ) khi Ngài được sinh ra ở Belem (trong máng cỏ, hang lừa), lớn lên và trưởng thành ở làng Nazareth, một làng bé nhỏ không có gì là đáng nói? Làm thế nào mà Ngài có thể là Con Thiên Chúa khi cha mẹ ruột sinh ra Ngài là ông Giuse làm nghề thợ mộc và bà Maria?
Có chúng ta cũng chẳng khác gì hơn những người Do Thái, bởi vì chúng ta cũng có nhiều nghi ngờ về Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Nếu Ngài thực sự là Con Thiên Chúa, tại sao Ngài không giúp chúng ta? Tại sao những lời cầu nguyện của chúng ta không được Ngài đáp trả và ban cho chúng ta những gì chúng ta muốn? Tại sao trong cuộc sống của chúng ta lại có rất nhiều đau khổ ? còn kẻ thù của chúng ta thì thanh thản, có chức vụ cao, có tiền, có của??... Chúa Giêsu Kitô của chúng ta là ai? Có phải Ngài đến là chỉ để ban cho chúng ta hạnh phúc và những ước mơ vật chất mà chúng ta mong muốn?
Chúa Kitô muốn cho chúng ta một kinh nghiệm của hạnh phúc ở giữa những nỗi đau khổ, hòa bình ở giữa những xung đột, tình yêu ở trong những sự thù hằn. Nhưng những ân sủng và hồng ân đó sẽ mãi mãi bền lâu vì chúng thuộc về Đức Kitô, Con Thiên Chúa. Những gì là hạnh phúc, sung túc ở trần thế mà chúng ta muốn có ở trên cõi đời này có phải là niềm hạnh phúc thật và vĩnh cửu?
"Lạy Thiên Chúa hằng hữu, Chúa chính là ánh sáng của những tâm hồn mà biết Chúa, là niềm vui của những tấm lòng hay những trái tim biết yêu Chúa và là sức mạnh của những ý chí muốn phục vụ Chúa, Xin Chúa ban cho chúng con một tâm hồn mở rộng để nhận biết Chúa, để chúng con có thể thật lòng yêu Chúa, và vì yêu mến Chúa mà chúng con có thể hoàn toàn biết sẵn sằng phục vụ Chúa, Vì Chúa đã đem đến cho chúng con sự tự do hoàn hảo, trong Đức Giêsu Kitô, Chúa chúng ta. "(Thánh Augustinô)
REFLECTION
There is a discussion among the Jews about the origin of Christ. He has never been a pupil of the rabbis, so where is the source of his knowledge? Is he worth anything? How can he be the Messiah when he was born in Nazareth, an insignificant town? How can he be the Son of God when his parents are Joseph and Mary? We are not any different from the Jews because we, too, have many doubts about Christ. If he really is the Son of God, why doesn't he help me? Why are my prayers unanswered? Why are there a lot of suffering in my life?
Who is Jesus Christ for us? Is he there only to give us the happiness we want? Christ wants to give us an experience of happiness in the midst of woe, peace in the midst of conflict, love when there is enmity. These gifts last because they belong to Christ, the Son of God. What about the earthly happiness that we want – is this eternal?
Qua Bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta được thấy cuộc tranh luận giữa những người Do Thái về nguồn gốc của Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Ngài chưa bao giờ được học ở một trường nàođạo nào của người Do Thái, vì thế, đâu là nguồn gốc về những kiến thức của Ngài? Ngài có đáng giá gì đâu? Làm thế nào mà Ngài có thể là một Đấng Thiên Sai (Messiah ) khi Ngài được sinh ra trong máng cỏ, hang lừa, được lớn lên trong một làng nhỏ bé Nazareth? Làm thế nào mà Ngài có thể là Con Thiên Chúa khi cha mẹ củ Ngài chính làông thợ mộc nghèo Giuse và bà Maria?
Có lẽ chúng ta cũng chẳng khác gì hơn những người Do Thái thời bấy giờ, bởi vìchúng ta cũng có nhiều nghi vấn về Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Nếu Ngài thực sự là Con Thiên Chúa, tại sao Ngài không giúp chúng ta? Tại sao những lời cầu nguyện của chúng ta không được Ngài đáp lại và ban cho chúng ta những gì chúng ta muốn? Tại sao trongcuộc sống của chúng ta lại có rất nhiều đau khổ ? Còn kẻ thù của chúng ta thì thanh thản, có chức quyền cao, có tiền, có của??... Chúa Giêsu Kitô của chúng ta là ai? Có phải Ngài đến chỉ để ban cho chúng ta hạnh phúc và những ước mơ vật chất như chúng ta mong muốn?
Chúa Kitô muốn cho chúng ta một kinh nghiệm của hạnh phúc ở giữa những nỗi đau khổ, hòa bình ở giữa những xung đột, tình yêu ở trong những sự thù hằn. Nhưng những ân sủng và hồng ân đó sẽ mãi mãi bền lâu vì chúng thuộc về Đức Kitô, Con Thiên Chúa. Những gì là hạnh phúc, sung túc mà chúng ta muốn có ở trên cõi đời này có phải là niềm hạnh phúc thật và vĩnh cửu?
"Lạy Thiên Chúa hằng hữu, Chúa chính là ánh sáng của những tâm hồn mà biết Chúa, là niềm vui của những tấm lòng hay những trái tim biết yêu Chúavà là sức mạnh của những ý chí muốn phục vụ Chúa, Xin Chúa ban cho chúngcon một tâm hồn mở rộng để nhận biết Chúa, để chúng con có thể thật lòng yêuChúa, và vì yêu mến Chúa mà chúng con có thể hoàn toàn biết sẵn sằng phục vụ Chúa, Vì Chúa đã đem đến cho chúng con sự tự do hoàn hảo, trong Đức Giêsu Kitô, Chúa chúng ta. "(Thánh Augustinô)
There is a discussion among the Jews about the origin of Christ. He has never been a pupil of the rabbis, so where is the source of his knowledge? Is he worth anything? How can he be the Messiah when he was born in Nazareth, an insignificant town? How can he be the Son of God when his parents are Joseph and Mary? We are not any different from the Jews because we, too, have many doubts about Christ. If he really is the Son of God, why doesn't he help me? Why are my prayers unanswered? Why are there a lot of suffering in my life?
Who is Jesus Christ for us? Is he there only to give us the happiness we want? Christ wants to give us an experience of happiness in the midst of woe, peace in the midst of conflict, love when there is enmity. These gifts last because they belong to Christ, the Son of God. What about the earthly happiness that we want – is this eternal?
Though Jesus was perfect, His sermons flawless, and His miracles astonishing, many remained hardened in their disbelief. People of the time had various expectations about the Messiah. Some were looking for a mysterious, heavenly figure; others, a political leader; still others envisioned the Messiah would suddenly appear without prior knowledge of His origins. These expectations were all based on an incomplete understanding of the prophets.
The Messiah’s arrival uprooted many of the preconceived ideas about who He would be. He arrived as a poor carpenter, raised in the unimpressive village of Nazareth, and without any ambitions to overthrow the Roman occupation of Israel. Yet, Jesus performed miracles. His sermons penetrated hearts, winning over many humble converts. His mere presence exuded confidence, purpose, and dignity. Could He really be the Messiah?
Just like the people of Jesus’ time, it is easy for us to develop preconceived ideas about Who God is and how our lives should change once we choose to follow Him. If you give your life to Christ, what do you expect from Him? Do you expect that God will bless you with great success in business? Your children will love and obey God? Your family and friends will be perfectly united? Material provisions will enable you to live a comfortable life? Or do you expect rejection, suffering, and death? We must always align our expectations with God’s will, knowing that His ultimate plan is for our salvation.
Some of the Jews rejected Jesus because He did not meet their expectations of Who the Messiah would be. The particular group in today’s Gospel held the belief that the Messiah would arrive on the scene instantaneously, and no one would know where He came from. Their comment, “But we know where He is from,” reflects their disbelief, as they were expecting a more mysterious or sudden appearance. That misunderstanding of the prophets resulted in them rejecting Jesus, the true Messiah.
Similarly, it is easy for us to have certain expectations about God that, when not fulfilled, lead to doubt or confusion. This is our fault for forming false expectations about what should happen once we choose to follow Christ. The remedy is simple—turn to the Gospel and believe what Jesus said.
What did Jesus say? That He would suffer greatly at the hands of the scribes, Pharisees, and elders of the people. That He would be handed over, tortured, and crucified, but that He would also rise on the third day. And that is exactly what happened.
When we choose to follow Christ, does Jesus promise that life will be easy, comfortable, and that we will be loved by all? Certainly not. He tells us that we will suffer the same fate He did, but if we persevere through the crosses of life, we will share in His ultimate victory.
Reflect today on any false notions you might have about being a Christian. Embracing the Gospel—culminating in Christ’s Passion—is difficult. The call to live sacrificially, to lay our lives down for others, to do penance, live selflessly, be generous, repent of every sin, pray continuously, and embrace Christ’s Cross with unwavering determination is difficult at first. Doing so is only possible if we dismiss false expectations about being a Christian, so that the full Gospel and its demands will not shock us but inspire us to follow Christ down the path He has chosen for us.
My Lord and Messiah, Your life and mission did not live up to the expectations that many people had of the Messiah. Similarly, I often have expectations of You that are contrary to Your will. Please open my mind and heart to see and embrace Your will so that I can lay down my life along with You, so as to share in Your Resurrection. Jesus, I trust in You.
1. The Feast of Tabernacles: This week and next, we are reading selections from the first half of the Gospel of John. As we read, we see that the Jewish feasts play an important role in John’s Gospel. Jesus is seen by John as bringing all of the feasts to their fulfillment. For example, the three feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First-fruits were all transformed by Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection and memorialized in the New Passover of the Eucharist. The Feast of Pentecost, which commemorated the giving of the Old Law, became the day when the Spirit of God descended upon the Church gathered around Mary. It is the grace of the Spirit that enables us to live the New Law of Charity (John 13:34). The feast in today’s Gospel is that of Tabernacles. It commemorated the time of God dwelling in a tabernacle with Israel in the desert; it was a time of thanksgiving for the fall harvest; and it looked forward to the future coming of the Messiah, when God would once again dwell with his people and gather the nations to worship. The Feast of Tabernacles was a feast of water and light. The priests would draw water from the Pool of Siloam and pour it out on the altar to commemorate the gift of water in the desert and to symbolize the outpouring of God’s Spirit. During the feast, Jesus will declare himself as the source of living water and the one who pours out the Spirit. There was also a light ceremony that illuminated the Temple. It symbolized the pillar of fire that guided the people in the desert. And, during the feast, Jesus will declare himself as the Light of the World.
2. Jesus’ Hour: Jesus went to the Feast of Tabernacles, not with the pilgrim crowds and his disciples, but in secret. Secrecy was necessary this time because, during a previous feast in Jerusalem, the Judeans tried to kill Jesus: “For this reason, the Jews tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God” (John 5:18). Something similar happens at this feast. The religious authorities tried to arrest Jesus and would later try to trap him. Secrecy was also necessary because Jesus’ family and relatives wanted him to use the feast to show himself to the world (John 7:4). But John points out that the hour of Jesus’ passion, death, and glorification had not yet come. It was still several months away.
3. Jesus Tabernacles Among Us in the Eucharist: We experience the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles especially in the Eucharist. As John wrote, “The Word became flesh and dwelt – tabernacled – among us” (John 1:14). This divine tabernacling continues in a profound and sacramental way through the Most Holy Eucharist, where the eternal Word – he who was with God in the beginning and was God (John 1:1-2), through whom all things were made and who came into the world he created yet was not recognized (John 1:10) – makes himself truly present under the appearances of bread and wine. By the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of consecration, transubstantiation occurs: the substance of bread and wine is wholly changed into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ, while the accidents of taste, appearance, and shape remain. This Real Presence allows the same Lord whom John the Baptist proclaimed as the Lamb of God to dwell intimately within us. Just as the Feast of Tabernacles recalled God’s dwelling with Israel in the desert through the tabernacle (tent) of old, the Eucharist fulfills this by extending Christ’s Incarnation through the centuries – he tabernacles among us and within us, nourishing our souls with His divine life, uniting us more deeply to God and to one another in the Church. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324), containing Christ Himself, our Passover and living bread, through whom we receive grace upon grace (John 1:16) and are drawn into eternal communion with the Father.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your hour is one of love and suffering. You drank the bitter
for your Father and all humanity. You did this out of love for me. I love you and welcome the
chalice of suffering you offer to me.
The Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was one of three great feasts during which the people made a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem to commemorate God’s saving action in their lives. This particular feast was to commemorate the 40 years that the Israelites traveled through the desert and dwelt in tents, or booths, as they wandered and were led by Moses. Therefore, the feast is also referred to as the “Feast of Booths.” During the seven days of this feast, people would set up tents (booths) around the Temple area and live in them to commemorate the journey of their ancestors.
In the Gospel passage quoted above, we read that Jesus went up to the feast secretly. Saint Augustine explains that this means that though Jesus was present, the full revelation of His divine identity was hidden from many. He was physically there, but many did not know Who He was.
That particular year, when the feast was half over, Jesus appeared in the Temple area and began to teach. Many were amazed at His words, and others thought He was possessed. After teaching the people, there was much disagreement among them about our Lord’s identity. Jesus said to them, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” In that statement, Jesus essentially was saying that among those listening to Him, some had come to faith in Him and discovered His true identity as the Messiah, while others lacked the gift of faith and remained blind to Him. To them, His divine essence remained a secret.
In a symbolic way, Jesus’ presence at the Feast of Tabernacles reveals Him as the new Moses. It was Moses who led the people through the desert for 40 years toward the promised land while they dwelt in tents. Our Lord now took on that role of leading the people who were commemorating this 40-year journey by appearing in the Temple and pointing the people to Heaven, the true Promised Land.
Today, our Lord continues to lead His people through the journey of life by coming to each of us to teach us and to reveal His divine presence. Some listen and believe and continue on the journey. To them, the secrets of our Lord are revealed. Others do not believe and, as a result of their lack of faith, fail to discover the hidden presence of our Lord all around them.
Reflect, today, upon the image of Jesus coming to you during your long journey through the desert of this life. He initially comes to you in secret, veiled in His true essence. As He teaches you, He desires to lift that veil and reveal to You His true glory. He desires that you dwell with Him through prayer and remain attentive to His Word. As you gaze upon our Lord, reflect upon the question of how clearly you hear Him speak each day. He is here, with you always. But are you with Him? Do you hear Him, believe in Him, follow Him and serve Him? Do you allow Him to lead you every day toward His promises of new life? Allow our Lord to pitch His tent next to yours so that You will daily be attentive to His teaching and be led by Him to the glories of Heaven.
My hidden Lord, You came to reveal to all people Your burning love and invitation to eternal life. Please come and dwell with me during my journey through life, and open my mind and heart to all that You wish to reveal. May I know You fully and follow You to the Promised Land of Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.
2. Fearless Proclamation: At the beginning of the Gospel passage, Jesus didn’t go to Judea because he knew the Jews were hunting him there, and that they wanted him dead. However, he ended up going. Why? Fulfilling the Father’s will was infinitely more important to him than potential persecution by men. He foresaw the Cross, but he was secure in the knowledge of his Father’s love for him, and this love led him to love in return by proclaiming the Good News to all in Jerusalem. Let us ask the Lord for a deeper knowledge and assurance of his love so that we, too, may go out and boldly share his love with others.
3. His Hour Had Not yet Come: The primary objective of St. John’s Gospel was to illuminate Our Lord’s divinity. John wrote that when the Jews tried to arrest Jesus, they couldn’t. Why? Because Jesus was in complete control. He knew his hour and would surrender his life according to the divine timetable—not one minute sooner. As children of God, we can draw great consolation from the divine traits of our Redeemer. He guides us with his incomparable wisdom, heals us with his compassion, rescues us by his might, and loves us with his limitless capacity of divine charity.
Conversing with Christ: Lord, please cut through the confusion in my mind and bless me with a renewed understanding of your divine power and might.
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần thứ 4 Mùa Chay
Qua Bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta được thấy một tranh luận giữa những người Do Thái về nguồn gốc của Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Ngài chưa bao giờ là học trò của một vị giáo sĩ Do Thái hay một trường nào, vì vậy, đâu là nguồn gốc học vấn và nguồn kiến thức của Ngài? Ngài đâu có đáng giá gì ? Làm thế nào mà Ngài có thể là một Đấng Thiên Sai (Messiah ) khi Ngài được sinh ra ở Belem (trong máng cỏ, hang lừa), lớn lên và trưởng thành ở làng Nazareth, một làng bé nhỏ không có gì là đáng nói? Làm thế nào mà Ngài có thể là Con Thiên Chúa khi cha mẹ ruột sinh ra Ngài là ông Giuse làm nghề thợ mộc và bà Maria?
Có chúng ta cũng chẳng khác gì hơn những người Do Thái, bởi vì chúng ta cũng có nhiều nghi ngờ về Chúa Giêsu Kitô. Nếu Ngài thực sự là Con Thiên Chúa, tại sao Ngài không giúp chúng ta? Tại sao những lời cầu nguyện của chúng ta không được Ngài đáp trả và ban cho chúng ta những gì chúng ta muốn? Tại sao trong cuộc sống của chúng ta lại có rất nhiều đau khổ ? còn kẻ thù của chúng ta thì thanh thản, có chức vụ cao, có tiền, có của??... Chúa Giêsu Kitô của chúng ta là ai? Có phải Ngài đến là chỉ để ban cho chúng ta hạnh phúc và những ước mơ vật chất mà chúng ta mong muốn?
Chúa Kitô muốn cho chúng ta một kinh nghiệm của hạnh phúc ở giữa những nỗi đau khổ, hòa bình ở giữa những xung đột, tình yêu ở trong những sự thù hằn. Nhưng những ân sủng và hồng ân đó sẽ mãi mãi bền lâu vì chúng thuộc về Đức Kitô, Con Thiên Chúa. Những gì là hạnh phúc, sung túc ở trần thế mà chúng ta muốn có ở trên cõi đời này có phải là niềm hạnh phúc thật và vĩnh cửu?
"Lạy Thiên Chúa hằng hữu, Chúa chính là ánh sáng của những tâm hồn mà biết Chúa, là niềm vui của những tấm lòng hay những trái tim biết yêu Chúa và là sức mạnh của những ý chí muốn phục vụ Chúa, Xin Chúa ban cho chúng con một tâm hồn mở rộng để nhận biết Chúa, để chúng con có thể thật lòng yêu Chúa, và vì yêu mến Chúa mà chúng con có thể hoàn toàn biết sẵn sằng phục vụ Chúa, Vì Chúa đã đem đến cho chúng con sự tự do hoàn hảo, trong Đức Giêsu Kitô, Chúa chúng ta. "(Thánh Augustinô)
There is a discussion among the Jews about the origin of Christ. He has never been a pupil of the rabbis, so where is the source of his knowledge? Is he worth anything? How can he be the Messiah when he was born in Nazareth, an insignificant town? How can he be the Son of God when his parents are Joseph and Mary? We are not any different from the Jews because we, too, have many doubts about Christ. If he really is the Son of God, why doesn't he help me? Why are my prayers unanswered? Why are there a lot of suffering in my life?
Who is Jesus Christ for us? Is he there only to give us the happiness we want? Christ wants to give us an experience of happiness in the midst of woe, peace in the midst of conflict, love when there is enmity. These gifts last because they belong to Christ, the Son of God. What about the earthly happiness that we want – is this eternal?
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