Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bay lễ Thánh Gioan Tông Đồ Ngày 27/12

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu lễ Thánh Gioan Tông Đồ Ngày 27/12
          Trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay cho chúng ta biết rằng Thánh Phêrô và Thánh Gioan tin rằng sau khi họ đã nhìn thấy ngôi mộ trống và đống quần áo niệm chôn của Chúa Giêsu đã được xếp lại để trên mồ.  
Sau những giờ phút 
Sau những giờ phút trôi qua khá dài,  dường như đó một một thời gian yên tĩnh, để suy ngẫm, "chờ đợi"  cho niềm tin bám rẽ sâu trong tâm hồn của họ. Nhưng trong khi đó, Chương 20 và 21, của Tin Mừng Thánh Gioan đã cho chúng ta thấy rất rõ ràng và cụ thể về những chi tiết và hiện tượng mà các môn đệ đã chấp nhận rằng Chúa Giêsu đã sống lại một cách rất nhanh chóng, thích ứng và tích cực. Thật là một niềm vui cho họ, nếu phải như họ có được một cơ hội để họ được gặp Ngài một lần nữa ở những nơi quen thuộc, những nơi mà  họ đã được hưởng phúc là đã  cùng vời Ngài trong những cuộc hành trình rao giảng của Ngài và nhờ đó mà họ được củng cố thêm niềm tin của họ Trong ánh sáng văn bản Tin Mừng của Thánh Gioan có thể phản ánh niềm hân hoan trên thực tế là chúng ta được gặp Chúa Giêsu trong Bí tích Thánh Thể và nghe lời nói của Ngài đã truyền đạt cho chúng ta bằng những đoạn  Tin Mừng và Kinh Thánh qua nhiều thế kỷ. Để rồi, với sự tự tin chúng ta có thể đi ra ngoài xã hội để gặp gỡ, sống  và làm việc với những người có thể chưa được nghe nói về Chúa Giêsu Kitô.          
Lạy Chúa Cha Trên Trời, chúng con cảm đội ơn Chúa đã đem đến cho chúng con Con Một của Ngài là Chúa Giêsu Chúa chúng con. Xin Chúa giúp chúng con biết chia sẻ niềm tin và món quà quý giá này với những người khác.
 
Reflection
To-day’s Gospel tells us that Peter and John believed after they had seen the empty tomb and the rolled up burial clothes of Jesus. For some hours, however, it seems to have been a quiet, reflective, “waiting” kind of believing. The remaining verses of Chapters 20 and 21, in contrast, provide us with very definite, concrete and heart warming details of how very quickly the disciples came to accept that Jesus was alive, well and active. What a joy it must have been for them to meet him again in the familiar places where they had enjoyed his company and been strengthened by it.
           The first verses of John’s first letter, like the first eighteen verses of John’s Gospel, are called the Prologue. But, while the focus of both passages is Jesus, the emphasis is very different. The first reading shows the delight of the writer in the historical person of Jesus with whom he had been privileged to spend those glorious last days in Jerusalem and by the lake.
            In the light of John’s writing we can reflect joyfully on the fact that we meet Jesus in the Eucharist and hear his words conveyed to us over the centuries. Then with confidence we can go out to meet and live with and work with those who may not yet have heard of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
            Heavenly Father we thank you for sending us Your Son, Our Lord Jesus. Help us to share this precious gift with others.
 
December 27, Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
Third Day of the Octave of Christmas
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. John 20:3–8
The “other disciple,” the one who “saw and believed,” was John the Apostle whom we honor today. In his Gospel, John often refers to himself as “the one whom Jesus loved.” This title indicates not that Jesus loved John more than the others but that John’s heart was perhaps the most open and receptive to Jesus’ love, allowing our Lord’s charity to fill him more completely.
Celebrating the Feast of Saint John within the octave of Jesus’ birth invites us to reflect not only on John but also on the deep and intimate love that he and Jesus shared—a love that serves as an icon of the love Jesus desires to bestow on each of us.
Today’s Gospel beautifully highlights three of John’s virtues. First, his all-consuming love for Jesus is evident in his immediate response to Mary Magdalene’s news of the empty tomb. John’s love compelled him to run to the tomb with Peter, showing how deeply he cherished his relationship with the Lord.
Second, John’s respectful nature is revealed when he arrives at the tomb first but waits for Peter, the elder and leader among the Apostles, to enter before him. This act of deference speaks volumes about John’s humility and respect for authority.
Finally, after entering the tomb, John “saw and believed.” This moment reflects the depth of his faith, a faith that did not require physical proof but was grounded in a profound trust in Jesus. John’s belief was a response to the infused gift of faith, a virtue that allowed him to recognize the truth of the Resurrection even before seeing the risen Lord.
John’s example challenges us to examine our own spiritual lives. Is our love for the Lord so strong that it draws us toward Him with the same urgency that led John to run to the tomb? Does our love for God translate into a genuine respect for others? Is our faith so deep that we trust in God’s promises without needing visible proof?
As we honor Saint John, reflect today on his identity as “the one whom Jesus loved.” His receptivity to Jesus’ love made him stand out as a model disciple. Seek to imitate John by expanding the capacity of your heart to receive more of God’s love, so that His presence within you becomes evident to others.
My loving Lord, Your Sacred Heart overflowed with love for all people. Saint John was especially receptive to that love, enabling him to love You all the more. Please give me a heart like Saint John’s so that I, too, may become Your beloved disciple. Saint John, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
December 27, Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist\
Opening Prayer: Lord God, the life of the Apostle John is a testament to the power of your grace. He went from being a young “son of thunder,” ready to call down fire upon others, to an old man who repeated to his spiritual children, “love one another.” May I likewise be so transformed by your grace.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Incarnate Word: Each of the four Gospels brings out a different yet complementary facet of the mystery of Jesus Christ. Matthew highlights Jesus as the King and the New Moses. Mark draws attention to Jesus as the Suffering Messiah and Servant of the Lord. Luke presents Jesus as the Universal and Merciful Savior. John opens his Gospel with a contemplation of Jesus as the Word of God. The Word of God, John teaches us, was eternally begotten by God the Father. All things were created through God’s Word. For centuries, the Word of God was present in the world among the chosen people of God. Some rejected him and some accepted him and were given power to become children of God. But, in the fullness of time, the Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us. The Word has brought us life, light, sonship, grace, and truth. Through his Ascension in heaven, the Word has returned to the Father and sent us the Holy Spirit to guide the Church into all truth.
2. The Eucharistic Bread: John’s Gospel is unique insofar as it presents Jesus as the Bread of Life (John 6:35-58). “The whole context of Jesus’ bread of life discourse is centered on the Jewish hopes for the coming of a new Moses and the return of manna from heaven” (Pitre, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist, 98). Moses once fed the Israelites with manna in the desert, and Jesus now feeds the crowds with bread. When Jesus fed the crowds, they recognized him as the Messiah and wanted to take him by force and make him king (John 6:15). The crowds didn’t just want manna for forty years, but asked for this bread always (John 6:34). In response, Jesus launched into the bread of life discourse. Jesus spoke of his heavenly origin and the importance of believing in him, but then shifts to the importance of eating his flesh: John’s Gospel teaches us that we need to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus to have eternal life. “He who eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:58). Whoever eats the new manna of the Eucharist will be raised up “on the last day” (John 6:54).
3. The Divine Bridegroom: John’s Gospel also frequently presents Jesus as the divine bridegroom. According to John’s Gospel, the first sign Jesus performed was turning water into wine at a Jewish wedding. “Before Jesus displayed his wisdom as a teacher, before he exercised his authority as an exorcist, and before he manifested his power as a healer, the first thing he did was perform a miracle in which he, though unmarried, deliberately acted like a Jewish bridegroom by providing wine for a wedding” (Pitre, Jesus the Bridegroom, 35). When Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, it symbolizes the encounter between the Bridegroom Messiah and his sinful and broken bride. The five husbands of the Samaritan woman represent Israel’s idolatry and the mixture of Israel with the five pagan nations introduced by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:24-41). Jesus the Bridegroom offers his unfaithful bride forgiveness and the water that gives eternal life. And, on the Cross, Jesus pours forth from his side sacramental gifts for his bride, the Church. The water represents the Sacrament of Baptism, which cleanses his bride, and the Spirit that sanctifies and guides Jesus’ bride. The blood signifies the Sacrament of the Eucharist, which nourishes his bride and unites her to himself in communion.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, Word of God and Divine Bridegroom, I desire, above all things, the eternal life you offer. Bring the gift of your grace within me to its consummation in glory.
 
Thứ Sáu, ngày 27 tháng 12,  2019 Thánh Gioan tông đồ và  Thánh sử- Gioan 20. 2-8
Những câu cuối của bài Tin Mừng hôm nay làm cho chúng ta cảm động vì những ý nghĩa của chúng. Gioan bước vào ngôi mộ nơi đặt xác Jesus. Quần áo chôn Chúa còn cất ở đó, nhưng được sắp xếp gọn gàng. Ông đã thấy và đã tin. Ông đã nhìn thấy và đã tin mà không hề ồn ào., lớn tiếng và phấn khích cho dù sau ba ngày đầy biến động trong lúc người thầy yêu kính cũng là người bạn của ông đã bị bắt, bị làm nhục, bị tra tấn và bị đóng đinh. Ông thấy những người trong nhóm 12 với mình bị sốc nặng và sợ hại đến nỗi chối bỏ cả Thầy mình hoặc im lặng hoang mang. Bất chấp tất cả, Gioan đã đặt niền tin vào Thầy mình mà không cần tính toán hay phải suy nghĩ.
Trong bài đọc thứ nhất, Chữ “thấy” được lặp lại ba lần trong bốn câu. Theo những cách khác nhau, Ông Gioan nói với chúng ta rằng ông và các môn đệ của Chúa đã nhìn thấy Ngôi Lời hằng sống. Rõ ràng là con mắt con người trần có thể có mức độ nhìn và thấy và tin tưởng. Đấy sẽ là một bài học đáng giá để chuíng ta sống với Phúc âm của Thánh Gioan, và chú ý tới những lần hay “tần suất” nơi ​​chữ “thấy” được xuất hiện và liên quan đến Chúa Giêsu và hành động của Ngài để rồi mỗi người chúng ta theo mỗi cách để tự suy niệm và phản ứng với những gì chúng ta đã thấy. Chúng ta có thể nói rằng Thánh Gioan là người có Đức tin mạnh nhất trong nhóm người môn đệ được hình thành bên cạnh Chúa Giêsu.
Có lẽ đức tin yêu thương và gần như bản năng đặc biệt của thánh Gioan đã đem lại sức mạnh để hỗ trợ các môn đệ của Chúa được vững tin trong những giờ phút quan trọng trong giờ phút cuối của ngày thứ Năm, thứ Sáu và thứ Bảy. Và cũng nhờ đó mà giúp họ có được sự tự tin và có đủ sức để thành lập Giáo Hội của Chúa tại Jerusalem và Judea và còn hơn thế nữa. Lạy Thiên  trên Trời xin Chúa ban cho con có được một đức tin vũng mạnh và cho phép chúng con thể hiện được việc đem Con của Ngài là Chúa Giêsu chúa chúng con đến cho thế giới.
 
Friday, December 27, St. John the Apostle and Evangelist
The last words of today’s Gospel are as moving as they are significant. John entered the tomb where Jesus’ body had been laid. The burial clothes were there, neatly arranged. He “saw and believed.” He saw and believed without fuss and excitement even after a tumultuous three days during which his master and friend had been arrested, humiliated, scourged and crucified. He saw his fellow disciples shocked into fearful denial or bewildered silence. Despite all, he believed without long discussion and reflection.
In the first reading the word “see” is repeated three times in four verses. In different ways John tells us that he and the disciples had seen “the Word of life”. Obviously there can be degrees of seeing and believing. It would be a worthwhile exercise to go through John’s Gospel and note how often the word “see” occurs in relation to Jesus and his actions and then reflect on how people reacted to what they had seen.
Could it be said that John was at the very believing heart of the group which formed around Jesus?
Maybe John’s loving and almost instinctive faith provided a steady, human support to his fellow disciples in those crucial hours of late Thursday, Friday and Saturday and enabled them to emerge as confident and competent founders of the Church in Jerusalem and Judea and beyond.
Heavenly Father, grant me a faith which will enable me to show Your Son to the world.
 
December 27, Third Day of the Octave of Christmas, Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. Jn 20:1-3
            It’s interesting that Saint John refers to himself as the disciple “whom Jesus loved.” Of course, Jesus loved all people. He loved all of the disciples. But in John’s Gospel, this unique title of the beloved disciple is given to John. Saint John the Apostle may be understood as this beloved disciple for many reasons. First, recall the special closeness and affection John shows Jesus at the Last Supper when John reclined next to Him. Recall, also, that it was John alone who stood at the foot of the Cross with Jesus’ mother and that Jesus entrusted His mother to John and John to His mother. And note in the passage above that it was John who first ran to the empty tomb as soon as Mary Magdalene revealed her discovery to him. Furthermore, many scholars believe John to be the youngest disciple. And as a younger disciple, he may have received special fatherly-like attention from our Lord.
However, John may also be understood as the beloved disciple for another reason. Simply put, this is how John saw himself as he wrote his Gospel account. John may have done so because telling the story of Jesus’ life was deeply personal to him. His own love and affection for his Lord was the central and most consuming passion of his soul. And it appears that as John speaks of Jesus, and of his own encounters with Jesus, John was compelled to prayerfully ponder the holy and spiritual love that Jesus had for him. Thus, it appears that John could not speak of his encounters with our Lord without also identifying the divine love that united them. It’s as if every time his Gospel story spoke of an encounter he had with Jesus, John was overwhelmed by the simple fact that Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, knew him and loved him personally. And so he was compelled to state that fact over and over.
In this case, it’s quite beautiful, on a spiritual level, to ponder John’s soul. He was clearly a man who was deeply touched by God in the Person of Jesus. And after Jesus ascended into Heaven, it appears that John’s holy love for Jesus only grew. As he went forth as an Apostle, preaching about the salvation that comes through his Savior and dear friend, he clearly grew closer to our Lord day by day. When John wrote his Gospel toward the end of his life, his heart was clearly aflame with divine love as he was intensely looking forward to being fully united with his Lord in Heaven.
As we honor this unique and holy Apostle, reflect, today, upon the simple truth that you are also invited to share in the holy and intimate love shared by Jesus and Saint John. Ponder the fact that our Lord also loves you with perfect charity, intimacy and totality. If you can gaze upon the love in the heart of this beloved disciple, then you, too, can share in that love and become a beloved disciple yourself.
My beloved Lord, the love You bestowed upon the disciple John was perfect in every way. After Your ascension into Heaven, You continued to deepen Your relationship with him, drawing him ever closer to Your Sacred Heart. Please pour forth upon me that same love and draw me into Your Heart so that I, too, will become Your beloved disciple. Saint John, pray for us.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Dec 26- Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Lễ kính Thánh Têphanô Tử Đạo

Dec 26- Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Lễ kính Thánh Têphanô Tử Đạo
Có lẽ chúng cảm thấy là lạ kỳ khi Giáo Hội mừng kính đặc biệt về cái chết của một vị thánh ngay sau ngày chúng ta mừng Chúa Giáng Sinh. Một số người nói rằng có thề là Giáo Hội để nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng niềm vui và đau khổ, vinh quang và thập giá không bao giờ có thể tách rời trong cuộc sống của một người Kitô hữu. Điều này đúng. Cũng như như chúng ta đang suy niệm về Lời Chúa trong bài đọc hôm nay, Ngài cũng  nhắc nhở cho chúng ta là Chúa đã ban cho chúng ta tất cả những Ân Sủng mà chúng ta cần để chúng ta có thể sống trong cuộc sống này đó chính là Chúa Giêsu.
Lễ kính thánh Stêphanô tử Đạo luôn luôn là một cơ hội để nhắc nhở một lần nữa chúng ta hãy nhìn Chúa Hài Nhi đang trong nằm trong máng cỏ của tâm hồn chúng ta và tự hỏi con : "chúng ta có vẫn muốn ôm ấp Chúa Hài Nhi bé nhỏ này ở trong tâm hồn của chúng ta, thậm chí chúng ta có thể phải chịu đau khổ và mất nmạng sống mình vì danh Chúa Kitô? "Nếu được như thế thì chúng ta cũng như Thánh Gioan Tẩy Giả, Chúng ta phải trở nên nhỏ bé và thấp hền đê danh Chúa được Vinh danh và cả sáng.
 
Friday 26th Dec St Stephen, Proto martyr
Isn’t it strange to see how the Church puts the commemoration of a saint’s death immediately after the celebration of our Lord’s birth? Some say that it is to remind us that joy and sorrow, the glory and the Cross can never be separated in the life of a Christian. This is true. As I meditate on the Word of God in today’s readings, He is telling me the same thing: that a Christian is one who is so willing to give his entire life just to embrace fully the greatest gift that God has given him — Jesus, “God with us.”
            The Feast of Saint Stephen is always a great opportunity to remind us Christians to gaze once more on the Child lying in the manger of our hearts and ask ourselves, “Am I still willing to embrace this Holy Infant dwelling in me, even if it costs my entire life to do so?” For this is what it means to decrease so that Christ may increase in us. Father, let me experience how much You love me by not withholding from me Your most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus, so that I may embrace him fully, even if giving up my entire life is what it takes to have him.
 
26th Dec St Stephen, Proto martyr
Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.” Matthew 10:17–18
These words capture the essence of the martyrdom of Saint Stephen, the Church’s first martyr, whom we honor today. The day after celebrating the birth of Christ, the Church, in her wisdom, reflects on the reality of persecution as a consequence of worshiping the newborn King.
The Jewish community in Jerusalem was diverse, with traditional Hebraic Jews and Hellenistic Jews who were influenced by the Greco-Roman culture. As Jews began to convert to Christianity, a new unified community of believers emerged. Despite this unity, tensions arose, particularly when Hellenistic widows were neglected in the daily distribution of bread. To address this, the Apostles appointed seven deacons, with Stephen being the first, likely a Hellenist himself.
Stephen, described as “a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,” performed great wonders among the people. When confronted by Hellenistic Jews, he defended the faith with wisdom and courage, leading to his being dragged before the Sanhedrin. His eloquent defense angered his opponents, resulting in his stoning. In his final moments, Stephen commended his spirit to Jesus and prayed for his persecutors.
At first, his martyrdom seemed a tragic loss that sparked a wave of persecution and scattered the Christian community throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. This dispersion, however, spread the Gospel beyond Jerusalem, leading to many new converts. What appeared to be a tragedy became a catalyst for the growth of the early Church.
As we honor Saint Stephen, reflect on the truth that God permits evil only to draw greater good from it. If you face suffering or persecution, let today’s feast inspire hope. Trust in God’s plan, reject fear, and embrace His will, knowing that He can use every cross for His glory.
Saint Stephen, you were a man filled with grace and power, deeply committed to Jesus and the proclamation of the Gospel. Please pray for me, that I will have your courage and faith so that God can use me to further His Kingdom by drawing many souls to Him. Saint Stephen, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
26th Dec St Stephen, Proto martyr
Opening Prayer: Lord God, grant me the courage of your Spirit to bear witness to you and your Son. Help me to know what to say and do in the right moments. With your Spirit as my consolation, I will persevere in your love.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Stephen’s Relics: Yesterday, we celebrated Jesus’ birth on earth. Today, we celebrate Stephen’s birth into heaven. This teaches us that Christ’s coming into the world leads to the passion and death of his followers, who share in Christ’s sacrifice. But the real reason why we celebrate Stephen on this day is that his relics were discovered on December 26, 415, by a priest named Lucian. The priest had a vision of Gamaliel, the teacher of St. Paul, who told him the location of Stephen’s tomb, his own tomb, and that of Nicodemus. Lucian doubted the vision, thinking it was only a dream. But three weeks later, Gamaliel appeared again to Lucian and rebuked him for his lack of faith. When the relics of Stephen were recovered on December 26 and placed in a chest in the Church of Our Lady , more than 70 people were healed from various ailments. St. Augustine welcomed the relics of St. Stephen to his cathedral in Hippo and told stories of countless miraculous healings through the intercession of Stephen in his book, City of God.
2. Stephen’s Debate: The Acts of the Apostles records the main points of Stephen’s preaching and debate. Opposition to Stephen’s preaching was fierce. Just as Jesus preached about the coming destruction of the Temple, the fulfillment of the Law of Moses, and the rejection of the Messiah, Stephen does the same. And when Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin and falsely accused (Acts 6:13), we hear a misrepresentation of his preaching. This recalls the trial of Jesus and how the religious authorities misrepresented Jesus’ teaching. In his defense, Stephen moves through the Scriptures and points out all the places and times God appeared away from the Temple. He also points out how Israel rejected the prophets, leaders, and saviors sent by God. What Stephen is driving home is that God can be worshipped anywhere and not just in the Jerusalem Temple, and that Jesus was a true prophet rejected by the religious authorities (see Bergsma, New Testament Basics for Catholics, 145).
3. Stephen’s Mantle: The laying of cloaks at the feet of Saul has deep symbolism. Just as Elisha picked up the mantle of Elijah and was granted a double portion of Elijah’s prophetic spirit, so also Saul will pick up the mantle of Stephen. Saul, who became Paul, preached a message that was inspired by Stephen’s message. Both spent their lives contemplating how the New Covenant brought the Old Covenant to fulfillment. In his preaching, Stephen tried to show how the Old Temple and the Law were brought to fulfillment in the New Temple of the Church and the New Law of charity. In his letters, Paul expounds how the works of the Old Law, like that of circumcision, do not justify us. What justifies us, both Jews and Gentiles, is faith working through love (Galatians 5:1-6). Paul truly displays a double portion of Stephen’s spirit and, like Stephen, will be martyred for his faith in Christ.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you have given us the ultimate example of what it means to be a faithful martyr. You sacrificed yourself every day on our behalf, spoke the truth to all people, and gave your life so that we might live eternally with you.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Le Giáng Sinh.Dec 25

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Le Giáng Sinh.
Bài Thánh Vịnh đáp ca mời gọi chúng ta hát một lên bài ca mới để chúc tụng Thiên Chúa. Chúng ta hát một bài ca mới vì "Thiên Chúa đã tỏ ra cho thiên hạ bết ơn Cứu rỗi của Ngài”, không phải chi qua những lời của các tiên tri bây giờ, cũng không phải là qua nhiều lời hứa của Thiên Chúa qua Cựu Ước, nhưng là việc Người Con trẻ đã được sinh ra cho chúng ta trong hang tối Belem. Trong sự kiện mới tuyệt vời này Thiên Chúa đã nhớ đến Chân lý và tình yêu của Ngài.
        Qua Cựu Ước chung ta có thể được tóm tắt là bời vì Thiên Chúa vẫn còn nhớ lai những lời giao ức, nhưng dân Israe thì dã quên, Thiên Chúa nhớ lại, không phải vì tội lỗi của chúng ta, nhưng vì lời Hứa của Ngài, Chân lý, Sự Thật và Tình Yêu của Ngài. Con Người ở Do Thái rất dễ dàng quên đi Thiên Chúa và lời Giao Ước với Thên Chúa và họ đã lạm dụng những hồng ân tặng tuyệt vời của Thiên Chúa, cho dù là ơn sủng là được tạo thành, và những ân sủng của lòng Thương xót sự tha thứ của Thiên Chúa. Điều gì là sự thật thì tất cả là sự thật: chúng ta thường hay lãng phí những tài năng và ân sủng mà Thiên Chúa đã ban cho chúng ta.
Với hồng ân của Chúa Giêsu, thì đó là hồng ân của sự khôn ngoan. Hồng ân của sự khôn ngoan thì hướng dẫn cho chúng ta phải hành động liên tục hơn trong sự hiệp nhất với Chúa Giêsu để xây dựng Nước Thiên Chúa trên trần gian. Bằng những ân sủng và hồng ân của Chúa Giêsu và nhờ Đức Giêsu, Thiên Chúa vẫn tiếp tục tạo dựng nên chúng ta theo và giống như hình ảnh riêng của Ngài. Ngài vẫn luôn liên tục nuôi dưỡng và yêu thương chúng ta trong chân lý vĩnh cửu của Ngài và tình yêu ấy đã trở thành xác phàm trong Chúa Giêsu.
Lạy Chúa là Thiên Chúa, xin cho chúng con luôn luôn nhớ đến Chân Lý và Tình Yêu của Chúa. Xin Chúa luôn tiếp tục tái tạo lại chúng con theo hình ảnh của Chúa và được giống như o chúng con được trở nên giống như Chúa Giêsu Kitô mỗi ngày ột nhiều hơn.
 
Reflection Dec 25 Christ Mass Day Mass
The Responsorial Psalm invites us to sing a new song to the Lord. We sing a new song because “the Lord has made known his salvation”, not now through the words of the prophets, nor through the many promises of the Old Testament but through the child born for us in Bethlehem. In this great new event God has remembered his truth and his love.
  The Old Testament can be summed up as God remembering and Israel forgetting. God remembers, not our sin but his Covenant, his truth and his love. Mankind, in Israel, so easily forgets and so abuses God's great gifts, whether the gift of creation, the gift of forgiveness and mercy.
What is true of all is true of each: we too often squander our talents.
With the gift of Jesus, there comes the gift of wisdom. This gift of wisdom guides us to act more constantly in union with Jesus to build the Kingdom of God on earth. By the gift of Jesus and through Jesus, God continually forms us in his own image and likeness. He constantly fosters and cherishes us with his eternal truth and love which became flesh in Jesus
Lord God, may we always remember Your truth and Your love. Continually re-create us in Your image and likeness and make us each day more Christlike.
 
The Nativity of the Lord—Christmas: Reflection I
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6–7 (Gospel from Mass During the Night)
A loving mother and father who experience the birth of their first child receive insight into the sacredness and beauty of this scene. Though great mystery surrounds Jesus’ conception within the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, she was truly His mother, and He was truly her Son. Saint Joseph, knowing he was not this Child’s biological father, made a profound act of faith by accepting that fatherly responsibility, as instructed in a dream by an angel of the Lord. Because of his faith and God-given mission, Joseph’s commitment to being the father of the Son of God was one that only a most loving and devoted father would make.
As we celebrate Christmas Day, we are reminded of the humility with which our Lord chose to enter the world. Jesus was born in a place where animals dwelt because Mary and Joseph were away from their home to register for the Roman census. At first glance, one might conclude that the physical environment, most likely a cave, was unfortunate. However, we can be certain that this humble and poor setting was part of God’s divine plan, adding to the glory of that night. Christ, in His humility, chose this setting to reveal to us the true greatness of love.
The poverty and humility of the cave and the manger—a feeding trough for animals—helped point to the sacredness of Jesus’ birth. No glamor, no fancy or comfortable setting, only love. Pure love. The love in the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the devotion of Saint Joseph, and the Incarnate presence of the Son of God were everything needed to make that night glorious.
One lesson we can learn from the Nativity of the Lord is that the beauty, peacefulness, and contentment of our lives are not dependent upon how much money or how many material possessions we have, but rather on the purity of our love. The Holy Family’s hearts were perfectly fulfilled, not because of their surroundings, but because of their intimate union with God in the person of Jesus Christ.
The presence of the Son of God in that place of poverty sheds light on the true riches we crave. The true treasures we seek are found not in wealth, comfort, or possessions, but in the love and grace of God. The Holy Family’s witness reveals to us that when we place our hearts in God’s hands, we will be filled with all we need.
Reflect today on that most sacred, simple, and humble scene. As you do, try to imagine how humanly fulfilling that experience was for the Holy Family. Jesus was wrapped tightly in swaddling clothing, and He was adored with the greatest affection of His mother and foster father. Mary and Joseph’s hearts contained all that was necessary for profound gratitude and fulfillment. If you struggle with being fulfilled, learn a lesson from the Holy Family and seek to imitate Mary and Joseph so that your love for our Incarnate Lord fills you with all you need.
My Incarnate Lord, Your divine nature, united to Your human nature, transformed that humble cave near Bethlehem into a tabernacle filled with the most powerful bonds of pure love. Please draw me into that sacred scene and help me to share in the love in the Immaculate Heart of Your mother, as well as the human devotion of Your foster father, Joseph. May I find contentment and total fulfillment in life by seeing You and loving You in every way that You come to me. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Mass during the Night
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you have made this most sacred night radiant with the splendor of the true light. Grant that we who have come to know the mysteries of the light of your Son on earth, may also delight in the gladness of the heavenly light.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Son of God: Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth begins with a reference to Caesar Augustus, who reigned as Emperor of Rome from 27 B.C. to 14 A.D. During his reign, Augustus took three censuses of the Roman citizens in his empire, one at the beginning in 27 B.C., one in the middle in 8 B.C., and one at the end in A.D. 14. Since a census could take a decade or more to complete, Luke seems to be referring to the general policy established by Augustus to enroll the empire. The enrollment that Luke refers to in the context of Jesus’ birth was likely a loyalty oath in 3/2 B.C. or a phase of one of the censuses for tax purposes. If it were the loyalty oath, then it was connected to the empire-wide enrollment when Augustus was given the title “Father of my Country” in the 13^th year of his consulship (2 B.C.). As the adopted son of Julius Caesar, Augustus also referred to himself as the “son of a god,” and had himself hailed as a “god” and “savior” who established peace and whose birth brought “good news.” Luke knows all of this and narrates the birth of Jesus in such a way as to show that the real “good news” is the birth of Jesus in a small village. Jesus, not Augustus, is the true “Son of God” (Luke 1:35) and “Savior” who ushers in the era of God’s peace (Luke 2:14) (see Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 61). 
2. The Savior of the World: When the angels announced the true “good news” (Gospel) to the shepherds, we learn that the good news is not about one of Caesar’s military victories or the birth of a new Roman ruler. The true good news is that our Savior, the Messianic Lord, has been born. He will be victorious over sin, death, and the devil. Throughout the infancy narrative, Luke is bringing out the contrast between the Caesar and the Christ: “The supposed king of the world, Caesar Augustus, flaunts his power by uprooting families throughout the empire so he can collect the Roman tax, while the true King of the world is born quietly in Bethlehem and placed in a manger, escaping the notice of most of the people he has come to save” (Sri, Dawn of the Messiah, 75). Our savior is a small baby born today in a humble stable and placed in a feeding trough, a manger. He will save us not through military power or economic policies, but through his loving obedience, sorrowful passion, innocent death, and glorious resurrection.
3. The Bringer of True Peace: There is another contrast in the infancy narrative between the Roman Legions, commanded by the Emperor, and the angelic army and heavenly host who give glory to the newborn king. Caesar Augustus proclaimed that he brought peace to the world. He performed the ceremonial closing of the Gates of Janus in 29 B.C. and 25 B.C., indicating that the Roman Empire, after years of civil war and unrest, was at peace. The Roman Senate even commissioned the “Ara Pacis Augustae” or “Altar of Augustan Peace” in 13 B.C. to celebrate this. But much of the “Pax Romana” was skillful propaganda. Peace was attained and maintained through military force, and wars continued to be fought as lands were captured and added to the Empire. Later Roman emperors would strive to imitate Augustus and produced lavish ceremonies to close the Gates of Janus and issued coins with “Peace” (Pax) written on the reverse. For all its limitations, the “Roman Peace” was providential as it permitted the spread of the Gospel to much of the world. But it was not the true peace and reconciliation that humanity so desperately needed. The true bringer of peace, as Luke brings out, was the newborn king, who reconciles humanity with God. The angelic armies do not conquer and influence human history by physical force but through liturgical worship. When the heavenly host manifests itself to the shepherds, the shepherds hear the praise of God: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you have restored the dignity of human nature by assuming our human nature and perfecting it through your suffering. You shared in our humanity so that we can come to share in your divinity
 
Wonder and Awe at the Incarnation
The Nativity of the Lord—Christmas: Reflection II
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. Luke 2:15–16 (Gospel from Mass at Dawn)
We know very little about these first visitors of the Son of God. They were not kings or princes. They were not wealthy or powerful. They were simple shepherds who spent their days with their sheep that grazed the open fields and their nights with each other for the protection of their vulnerable flocks. They often slept in caves, ate simple food, and lived off the land. It was to these simple shepherds that the angels appeared, directing them to be the first to worship and adore Christ their Lord.
The fact that God first invited humble shepherds to see Him and adore Him speaks volumes. Many people struggle with their self-image. They see their faults, compare themselves to others, and often dislike what they see. The only thing that matters, however, is what God sees when He looks at us. God doesn’t judge by societal norms or popular opinions. He sees His sons and daughters and deeply desires to draw us to Himself, just as He did with the shepherds.
Imagine the shepherds of that time. They might have been good and decent people, working to make a living for themselves and their families. They were likely uneducated, poorly groomed, and looked down upon by the larger Jewish community. Their work made it challenging to adhere to the strict legal practices as interpreted by the scribes and Pharisees, but this did not diminish their faith in God’s eyes. Their low social status led many to see them as untrustworthy, so much so that their testimony was not normally accepted in Jewish legal proceedings.
Despite this, their responsibilities were essential to Jewish life. The wool they gathered was necessary for clothing. The sheep they raised were central to Jewish worship and provided an important source of food for the wider community. Simply put, their work was essential, but they were not afforded the dignity that they deserved.
That all changed when God chose a group of them as the first to hear of the birth of the Savior of the World—directly from angels no less! God saw them much differently than the way social norms had labeled them. God saw in them the people He came to redeem and paid no attention to erroneous opinions.
As we celebrate Christmas Day, we are invited to see ourselves in these shepherds. We are invited to see them as God sees them, through the eyes of the angels who were sent to bring them this joyful news. We must see God’s desire for their love and worship as His desire for our love and worship. Seeing ourselves in this way, with this invitation and dignity, will help to shatter any poor self-image we struggle with, enabling us to embrace our true dignity and image as adorers of Christ.
Reflect today on whether you see yourself and others through God’s eyes or through the lens of disordered opinions. A good self-image is not one that elevates us above others, nor is it one that devalues us for erroneous reasons. A good self-image is a true image, God’s image of us, and His gaze is one that draws us to love Him and adore Him with great care and devotion.
My humble Lord, You were born in a place where animals lived and laid in a manger. These humble surroundings enabled You to draw the humble and rejects from society to Yourself, inviting their love and adoration. As they came, You revealed their dignity, and they discovered Your love. Please draw me, as You drew these shepherds, to Your humble presence and reveal Your love to me, that I may see myself and others through Your divine eyes. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
 (December 25): Scripture: John 1:1-5, 9-14 
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us"
As you know our Vietnamese are very much influenced with Confucius and Buddhist. And I remember a story when I was a freshman in college. There is a student asked a Christian professor how Confucius and Buddha would differ from Christ. He responded with a story:
“A woman fell into a deep hole with mud, she is trying as hard as she might to get out of the deep hole, but she could not climb out
- Confucius looked in. He told her, "Poor woman, if you had paid attention to me, you would not have fallen in there in the first place."  Then he walked away.
- Buddha approached. He too spotted the woman. He said to himself, "If she can just manage to get out of that hole, I can give her genuine help." Then He continued his journey.
- Along came Jesus. He spotted the woman. He was moved with pity. He jumped into the hole immediately to assist her out.
 This story illustrates the Incarnation. We gather here to celebrate the concern of God for each of us.
In today’s Gospel, We may wonder, why does John the Evangelist begin his Gospel with a description of the Word of God and the creation of the universe and humankind?
Well, we may think John’s Gospel might be linked with the beginning of the first book of Genesis (John 1:1-3 and Genesis 1:1-3)?
The “word of God” was a common expression among the Jews. God’s word in the Old Testament is an active, creative, and dynamic word. We can find it in the Psalm 33, 147 like. “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made” (Psalm 33:6). Or “He sends forth his commands to the earth; his word runs swiftly” (Psalm 147:15).
In the book of Jeremiah chapter 23 wrote “Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer which breaks the rock in pieces” (Jeremiah 23:29)?
In the Book of Wisdom chapter 9 also addressed God as the one who “made all things by your word” (Wisdom 9:1). God’s word is also equated with his wisdom like in the book of proverbs was written “The Lord by wisdom founded the earth” (Proverbs 3:19).  
The Book of Wisdom describes “wisdom” as God’s eternal, creative, and illuminating power.
Both “word” and “wisdom” are seen as one and the same. In chapter 18 Book of Wisdom wrote:
“For while gentle silence enveloped all things, and night in its swift course was now half gone, your all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from the royal throne, into the midst of the land that was doomed, a stern warrior carrying the sharp sword of your authentic command” (Wisdom 18:14-16).
John describes Jesus as God’s creative, life-giving and light-giving word that has come to earth in human form as he wrote in his Gospel.  
“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus is the wisdom and power of God which created the world and sustains it who assumed a human nature in order to accomplish our salvation in it.
Jesus became truly man while remaining truly God. Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God who, without ceasing to be God and Lord, became a man and our brother.
The Word of God took human form and lived on earth. Many have seen His glory, His glory as of a Father's only Son, full of grace and truth.  Through Jesus, we receive grace after grace. At first came the Law into the world through Moses.
But now, grace and truth came into the world through Jesus Christ. While no one has ever seen God, it is Jesus who is God and who is close to the Father's heart, who has revealed God the Father to mankind.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, a Child was born for us.
As you look at Baby Jesus in the manger, always remember that the fullness of God dwelled in Him.
In Jesus was the fullness of the Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. [Col. 1:9, 2:9] Those who know Jesus, they also know the Father for they are One.
The mystery of Christmas tells us that through Jesus, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit came into the world as One in bodily form.   As we have heard during Advent, the Holy Spirit came upon the Blessed Virgin Mary at her moment of conception.
Jesus Himself told the people repeatedly that He was One with the Father, that the Father was in Him, and that those who have seen Him, have seen the Father.  Through Jesus, the invisible Heavenly Father took physical form. Through Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwelled until Jesus commended His Spirit into the hands of the Father. [Lk. 23:46] Baby Jesus came into the world for each and every one of us, so that we may be saved.
Christians never cease proclaiming anew the wonder of the Incarnation. The Son of God assumed a human nature in order to accomplish our salvation in it.
The Son of God worked with human hands; he thought with a human mind. He acted with a human will, and with a human heart he loved.  Born of the Virgin Mary, He has truly been made one of us, like to us in all things except sin (Gaudium et Spes).
Through Jesus, our living faith that is manifested through the Sacraments of the Catholic Church leads us towards the Light of God and the truth as our assurance of salvation and eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
If we are going to behold the glory of God we will do it through Jesus Christ.   Jesus became the partaker of our humanity so we could be partakers of his divinity (2 Peter 1:4).
When Jesus comes God is made known as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. By our being united in Jesus, God becomes our Father and we become his children.
Let’s give thanks to the Father for sending His only begotten Son to redeem us and to share with us His glory. And let us always be thankful to Jesus for manifesting to us the goodness and love of God.