Suy Niệm thứ Tư tuần 22 Thường Niên
Trong Tin Mừng hôm nay,
dân Do thái cũng đang làm điều tương tự như thế, họ hành động theo bản tính xác thịt của họ. Chúa Giêsu đã chữa lành nhiều người và tất nhiên những người dân địa phương ở đấy không muốn Chúa
Giêsu dời đi nơi khác. Họ muốn tôn vinh Chúa, Người đã chữa lành cho họ và họ muốn giữ Chúa Giêsu lại để Chúa có sẵn ở đấy để cứu chữa cho những người khác
trong làng, trong xóm của
họ.
Nhưng Chúa Giêsu đã cho họ biết là Ngài được sai đến với tất cả mọi ngưòì và Ngài không đến riêng với một nhóm, hay một dân tộc nào và Ngài đã nói với họ là Ngài phài ra đi và đến với những người khác
đang mong chờ Ngài.
Ngài không phải chỉ đơn thuần xuất hiện, tham dự các buổi cầu
nguyện trong một hội đường Do Thái nào, and nhưng Ngài được sai đến là để thăm viếng và rao truyền Tin Mừng cho tất
cả. chứ không riêng
cho dân do thái mà thôi,,
Hôm
nay, qua bài đọc trên, Giáo hội nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng Giáo hội của Chúa Kitô bao trùm tất cả các nền
văn hóa, trong thực tế có
rất nhiều văn hóa rất là thánh thiện, rất tốt và biết tỏ lộ Thiên Chúa cho mọi người. Mặt khác chúng ta cũng
được nhắc nhở rằng đức tin của chúng ta phải chịu trách nhiệm trước sự phán xét và những thử thách trên tất cả
các nền văn hóa nữa; tỉ dụ như nền văn hóa mà chúng ta đang sống là một sản phẩm của con
người, vì thế nó cũng có thể là nơi đem đến những sự cám dỗ và tội lỗi.
Lạy Chúa xin Chúa hướng dẫn chúng con, xin chữa lành và xóa bỏ những chia rẽ nơi chúng con, để hoá giải những đổ vỡ trong chúng con và trong thế giới như Đức Giêsu đã làm hôm nay.
Scripture: Luke
4:38-44,
In
the Gospel today, the people again do the same thing — act on their cultural
cues. Jesus is healing people and of course the people of the town do not want
Jesus to leave. They want to honor the healer and keep him available for others
in THEIR village. But Jesus is called for the many and not
exclusively for this one group and he tells them he must move on. He does not
simply join one synagogue, the custom of the day, but is called to visit them
all; to spread the Gospel to all.
The
Church reminds us that it embraces all cultures — indeed there is much in
culture that is holy and good and expressive of God. On the other hand we are
also reminded that our faith stands in judgment and challenge over all cultures
also — that like ourselves, culture, which is a human product, can also be
sinful.
Lord, lead us to
heal divisions, to heal the brokenness in ourselves and in the world as Jesus
do today.
Wednesday
22nd Ordinary Time
After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the
house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and
they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and
it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them. Luke 4:38–39
If you wanted to share some important message with a group of
people, you would first need to get their attention. This could be done through
a variety of means, such as through a charismatic personality, a powerfully
moving story, a heroic act of virtue, or anything else that leaves people
impressed or even amazed. Once you have their complete attention, you can share
the message you want to share. This is what Jesus did in today’s Gospel.
Jesus began His public ministry in Nazareth, but the people of his
hometown rejected Him from their Synagogue.
Therefore, He immediately traveled some 20 miles on foot to
Capernaum, a town just north of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus would spend
much of His time. In this first visit to Capernaum, at the beginning of His
public ministry, Jesus taught in their Synagogue, cast out a demon, and then
went to the home of Simon (who eventually was given the name Peter) to perform
His first recorded physical healing in Luke’s Gospel. He cured Simon’s
mother-in-law, who suffered from a severe fever. Then, later that evening, many
people brought to Jesus the sick and possessed, and Jesus “Laid his hands on
each of them and cured them.” He certainly got their attention. And the next
morning, as Jesus was preparing to leave Capernaum after this first visit
during His public ministry, the people tried to convince Jesus to stay.
However, Jesus said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good
news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.”
Has Jesus ever gotten your complete attention? Though you most
likely have never witnessed a miraculous healing first hand or seen a demon
being cast out of one who was possessed, Jesus still wants your full attention.
He wants you to be so amazed at Him and so impressed by Him that you find
yourself seeking Him out so as to be more fully fed by His divine teaching.
Some people give their full attention to our Lord after a powerful
experience on a retreat. Others are struck by a powerful sermon. And there will
be countless other ways by which Jesus has gotten your attention so as to fill
you with a desire to listen to Him and be with Him. Such experiences lay a
wonderful foundation by which we are continually invited to turn to our Lord.
If this is not an experience to which you can relate, then ask yourself the
question “Why?” Why haven’t you been amazed by our Lord to the point that you
fervently seek Him out so as to listen to His nourishing Word?
Reflect, today, upon this initial way by which our Lord got the
attention of the people of Capernaum. Though some would eventually turn from
Him, many did become faithful followers on account of these personal
experiences. Reflect upon any way that you have encountered our Lord powerfully
in the past. Have you allowed that experience to become an ongoing motivation
for you to seek Him out? And if you cannot point to any such experience, beg
our Lord to give you an interior drive to desire more of Him and to be fed by
His holy Word and divine presence.
My miraculous Lord, I know that You desire my complete attention
in life. And I know that I am often distracted by many things that compete with
You. Give me the grace I need to become so amazed by You and by Your action in
my life that I fervently seek You out so as to be continually nourished by Your
holy Word and divine presence in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.
Wednesday
22nd Ordinary Time 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are the source of life and
have the power to heal me. When I am physically sick, help me to accept
suffering and offer it up in union with your Son. When I am spiritually sick,
bring me to repentance and reconciliation with you.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Jesus and His Rebukes: The Gospel of Luke talks about two
rebukes. Jesus “rebuked the fever,” and it left Simon’s mother-in-law. Jesus
“rebuked” the demons and silenced them (Luke 4:35). What each one of these
rebukes reveals is that Jesus truly has divine power and authority. He has
power over sickness and even over demons. Because of this, the two miracles –
the exorcism and the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law – should be considered
together. “Illness, whether physical or psychological, is very different from
demonic possession (see CCC, 1673). The oppression caused by evil spirits can,
however, have harmful effects on the body, as indicated later in the story of
the crippled woman (Luke 13:11, 16); see CCC, 395). Moreover, illness, with its
ultimate consequence, death, is an evil from which Jesus the ‘physician’ (Luke
4:23) liberates human beings” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke,
106-107). Just as Jesus exorcized the demon and freed the man, so also Jesus
exorcized the fever and freed Peter’s mother-in-law. Liberation leads to
resurrection.
2. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God: When Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, he not
only announced the inauguration of the Great Jubilee Year, but also the
inauguration of the Kingdom of God. Jesus identified his message as the “Good
News” or “Gospel.” In the Roman Empire, the term “Good News” usually referred
in some way to the Emperor. It could refer to one of the Emperor’s military
victories, to the ascension of a new Emperor, to the imminent arrival of the
Emperor in a city, or to the celebration of the birth of the Emperor. And so, when
Jesus proclaims the Gospel of the Kingdom, it refers to the Lord God, God’s
victory over sin and the devil, and the coming of the Messiah. Jesus has come
to establish God’s reign over all creation, within the human heart, and in the
Church. The Church is only the seed and beginning of the Kingdom. It will grow
throughout the centuries and reach its consummation at the end of time. The
Good News is that our God reigns!
3. The Letter to the Colossians: Colossians was a letter written by Paul
and Timothy from prison, likely during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome from A.D. 60
to 62. In his letter, Paul exhorted the Christians of Colossae to stay strong
and grow in faith and love. They needed to avoid false worship and thinking
that does not accord with the truth in Christ. “He extols Christ as the Lord
over all and calls the Colossians to let their lives and thinking be shaped by
the truth of Christ, in their homes, work, and worship” (Prothro, The
Apostle Paul and His Letters, 201). Epaphras was the one who brought the
Gospel to Colossae. Paul describes him as a “slave of Christ” (Colossians 1:7;
4:12) and a “faithful minister of Christ for your sake” (Colossians 1:7), who
“fights in prayer” for believers in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis
(Colossians 4:12-13) (see Prothro, The Apostle Paul and His Letters,
202). Epaphras was likely a convert to Christianity and a member of Paul’s
mission team. Epaphras brought the Gospel to his hometown of Colossae and the
surrounding cities in the Lycus valley. When he brought his report of the
Churches to Paul, Paul wrote a letter to the Colossians and also one to the
Laodiceans (a letter lost and not included in the Bible). In his letter to the
Colossians, Paul encourages them and us in love and faithfulness to the Gospel.
He hopes to steer them and us away from false teachings or temptations.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I accept my role as your
co-worker. Teach me the simple path of silence, prayer, love, service, and
peace. I want to serve my brothers and sisters and be the servant of all.
Wednesday
22nd Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are the source of life and
have the power to heal me. When I am physically sick, help me to accept
suffering and offer it up in union with your Son. When I am spiritually sick,
bring me to repentance and reconciliation with you.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Ministry of Simon’s Mother-in-law: Simon Peter’s house in Capernaum became Jesus’
home base for his ministry in Galilee. After preaching and teaching in the
synagogue, Jesus went to Simon’s house and cured Simon’s mother-in-law.
Considering that Jesus’ public ministry in Galilee lasted about three years, we
can assume that Simon’s mother-in-law prepared many meals and served Jesus, her
son-in-law, and Jesus’ other disciples. We do not know her name, nor do the
Gospels record any of her words. It appears, though, that she didn’t complain
that she was left alone to do the serving like Martha of Bethany did. Unlike
Martha, Peter’s mother-in-law wasn’t anxious about many things. She simply
served and was happy to do this for her son and his son’s Teacher. She
expressed her gratitude to God through loving service. How am I serving
Jesus and his disciples? How do I express my gratitude to God?
2. The Simple Path: The story of Simon’s mother-in-law brings to
mind the simple path of Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta: the fruit of silence
is prayer; the fruit of prayer is faith; the fruit of faith is love; the fruit
of love is service; the fruit of service is peace. Jesus and his disciples
encountered peace in the home of Simon’s mother-in-law, a peace that was the
fruit of her quiet prayer, simple faith, and loving service. The Gospel tells
us that Jesus’ mission extended beyond Capernaum and that he went to the other towns
of Galilee to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. He came into the world
for this: to preach the Good News of salvation to the people of Galilee and
Judah, to gather the lost tribes of the house of Israel, and to gather all
nations to himself through the Cross and Resurrection. How can I
practice the simple path that leads from silence to peace?
3. Growing and Working: In the First Reading, Paul teaches us that we
belong to Christ. We are to grow, through Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit,
in our knowledge of God. Some of us need milk, others are ready for solid food.
Our spiritual life moves from the milk of purification from sin to the solid
food of union with God. Like Jesus, we are nourished by doing the will of our
heavenly Father. During our journey to God, we are continually being purified
and enlightened by God, but ultimately our goal is union with the Father and
sharing in the Wisdom of the Word and the Love of the Holy Spirit. In God’s
vineyard, some of us are called to plant, others to water the plants and care
for them. We are not the cause of the growth of God’s vineyard or his Kingdom.
We are only collaborators and co-workers of God. We are God’s field, where the
seed of the Word of the Kingdom is planted. Both wheat and weeds will grow
side-by-side in God’s field until the end of time, when the wheat is gathered
into God’s house and the weeds are burned. Paul also says that we are part of
God’s building or spiritual house. Jesus is the cornerstone of this building;
the Apostles are the foundation; we are living stones. Through our Baptism, we
belong to Christ and work in his vineyard; through this same Sacrament, we
become Temples of the Holy Spirit. Am I a spiritual novice who needs
milk or am I ready for the solid food of union with God?
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I accept my role as your
co-worker. Teach me the simple path of silence, prayer, love, service, and
peace. I want to serve my brothers and sisters and be the servant of all.
Wednesday
22nd Ordinary Time 2023
Opening
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I come
before you in prayer. I need your grace to draw closer to you, to hear your
voice, and to do your will. Increase my humility so that my pride does not
interfere with your will for me. I entrust myself to your loving and gentle
guidance.
Encountering
Christ:
A
Man of Action: After being led
in the desert to be tempted by Satan and returning to Nazareth to proclaim his
messianic mission, Jesus’s public ministry in Galilee began in earnest. He cast
out demons, cured Simon’s mother-in-law of her fever, and healed the many
ailing brought to him. After so many years of patient waiting during his hidden
life, there seemed to be a clear urgency in his action. This intensity of
mission was present throughout Our Lord’s public life. There were times when
they had no time to eat or rest (Mark 6:31). At least once; he was so fatigued
that he slept in the boat through the storm (Matthew: 8:24). At the sight of
the crowd, he had pity and began to teach them (Matthew 9:36).
The
Father’s Will: Our Lord’s
energetic activity seems almost incongruous with so much waiting during his
hidden life. Nevertheless, this passage enlightens the common thread of both
his apparent inactivity and activity. It was the will of his Father: “To the
other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God because
for this purpose I have been sent.” Jesus was aware of being sent on a mission
by his Father. For years, that mission entailed a hidden life. Now it entailed
active ministry. He embraced both fully, precisely because they were his
Father’s will. Similarly, shortly before his Passion, Jesus said, “the world
must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded
me” (John 14:31).
A
Man of Prayer: Jesus’s escape
from the crowd to pray at daybreak indicated he was not tempted to activism
devoid of prayer. Our Lord modeled for us the nexus between prayer and action.
After praying, he knew the Father wanted him to go to other towns to proclaim
the good news. Jesus’s prayer, which sprang from his divinity, is a “filial
prayer, which the Father awaits from his children, [and] is finally going to be
lived out by the only Son in his humanity, with and for men” (CCC 2599).
Therefore, guided by the Holy Spirit, Christians unite their prayer with
Christ’s prayer to the Father. Prayer guides and strengthens all we do.
Conversing
with Christ: Lord Jesus Christ,
by your actions, you revealed to us the importance of being both contemplative
and active in our mission. When we are firmly united to you in prayer and
through the sacraments, we fruitfully communicate you to those around us. Imbue
in us your love and passion for the will of your Father and for the salvation
of souls.
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng -Thứ Ba Tuần 22 Thường Niên Luke 4:31-37
Trong Tin Mừng hôm nay
Chúa Giêsu đã có những lời nói đầy uy thẩm quyền và thế lực. Chính thế, chỉ một lời phán của Ngài mà Ngài có thể làm biến đổi tất cả mọi sự, kể cả việc chữa lành các bệnh tật nan y khó chữa cho những ai
đã tin vào Ngài. Nhũng
lời rao
giảng của Ngài đã gây
rất nhiều
bị ảnh hưởng trong dân chúng; và sức mạnh Tinh thần của Ngài đã được truyền đi để gieo vào tâm hồn của dân chúng, phép lạ của Ngài
cho thấy Chúa Giêsu là Người
có quyền điều
khiển và chinh phục cả Satan, là người bác sĩ chữa lành tất cả mọi thứ bệnh tật. Uy quyền của Chúa Giêsu không phải chỉ
bằng lời nói và những giáo huấn, như câu tuyr65n trong Tin Mừng hôm
nay, Ngay trong
hội đường của người Do Thái,
Ngài đã làm cho ma quỷ trong nguời bị quỷ ám
phải sợ hãi và phải vậng lện ngài mà rời bỏ thoát ra khỏ người bị quỷ ám đấy.
Ma
quỷ đã phải sợ
hãi Chúa Giêsu và sức mạnh của Ngài: "Ngài đã đến để diệt chúng tôi? Tôi biết Ngài là ai, là Đấng Thánh của Thiên Chúa.
" Hầu hết trong chúng ta ai cũng có một chút quyền hành trong cuộc sống, trong công việc làm,
trong gia đình,
cho dù là một người mẹ, một giáo viên, một chuyên viên với trách nhiệm và v.v…. \
Chúng ta hãy tin rằng, chúng ta sẽ sử dụng quyền hành của chúng ta trong một cách nào
đó để giúp người khác có cơ
hội phát triền tài năng của họ, chứ không dung quyền hành của mình để hã uy tín
và gây khó dễ cho người khác. Chức quyền, và quyền hành của chúng ta phải được dựa trên tình yêu thương thực sự và cúc quyền này phải nên được dùng cho mục đích xây dựng nhân loại.
Chúng ta hãy cầu xon Chúa cho tất cả những người đã lạm dụng quyền hành của họ biết thay đổi và có thể học nơi Chúa cách dung quyền hành của mình trên cơ sở của lòng yêu thương, nhân hậu thực sự.\
Reflection Tuesday 22nd Ordinary Time-Scripture: Luke
4:31-37
In today’s gospel Jesus spoke with authority
and power. That is, his word had power to transform, heal and set free those
who believe in him. His preaching much affected the people; and a power went
with it to touch people's conscience. His miracles showed Jesus to be a
controller and conqueror of Satan, a healer of diseases. Jesus' authority was
not only in word and teaching. Right there in the synagogue as he spoke to a
man possessed by an “unclean spirit”, that spirit spoke through the possessed
man.
It
spoke in fear of the power of Jesus. “Have you come to destroy us? I know who
you are, the Holy One of God.” Most of us possess authority of some kind,
whether as a parent, a teacher, a professional with responsibility and so on.
Let us make sure that we use that authority in such a way as to enhance the
abilities of others rather than diminish them. Our authority should be based on
real love and it should be used for the purpose of building humanity.
Let
us pray for all those people who misuse authority so that they may learn to use
it on the basis of real love.
Tuesday
22nd Ordinary Time
They were all amazed and said to one another,
“What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the
unclean spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the
surrounding region. Luke 4:36–37
Jesus had just encountered the wrath of many in His hometown of
Nazareth, so He left there and traveled about 30 miles to Capernaum, a town
just north of the Sea of Galilee. This was to become His new home during His
public ministry. The reaction He received in Capernaum was much different than
that which He received in Nazareth. As He taught in the Synagogue in Capernaum,
a man with a demon came to Him, Jesus rebuked the demon and cast it out, and
the people were amazed. Word spread about Jesus quickly. After this, Jesus
performed many other miracles, and the people continued to be in awe of Him.
What was it that impressed the people of Capernaum? In part it was
the “authority and power” with which Jesus spoke and acted. But it was not only
this, since Jesus had done so also in Nazareth where the people failed to
believe in Him. In Capernaum it wasn’t that Jesus was different, it seems that
the people were different. Jesus won over many hearts in Capernaum because the
people were open to the gift of faith. In fact, when Jesus was preparing to
leave from Capernaum, the people begged Him to stay. Though eventually Jesus
would also encounter resistance from the people there, their initial reaction
was one of faith.
Do you want Jesus to act powerfully in your life? Do you want Him
to act upon you with authority and power? Many people, from time to time, can
feel as though their lives are somewhat out of control. They experience
weakness, confusion, a lack of direction and the like. For that reason, true
spiritual “authority and power” is very welcome. What sort of authority and
power do you need Jesus to exert over your life today?
Think of a small child who is frightened. When this happens, the
child turns to a loving parent for comfort and security. The embrace of a
parent immediately helps to dispel the fear and worry of the child. So it is
with us.
We must see Jesus as the source of calm in our lives. He is the
only one Who is capable of ordering our lives, freeing us from the attacks of
the evil one, bringing peace and calm to our disordered emotions and clarity to
our questions and doubts. But this will only be possible if we are open. His
power never changes, but it can only enter our lives when we change and when we
recognize our weakness and our need for Him to take control.
Reflect, today, upon the infinite spiritual authority and power of
our Lord. It is a power beyond anything else we could imagine. He wants to
exercise this authority in your life out of love. What is hindering Him from
taking greater control of your life? What sin or temptation does Jesus want to
rebuke in your life? From what oppression does He want to set you free? Reflect
upon yourself being a member of the town of Capernaum who fully welcomes Jesus,
is amazed at Him and desires Him in your life. His working in your life depends
upon you and your response to Him. Call on Him and let Him in.
My most powerful Lord, You and You alone are able to take
authority over my life and bring order and peace. Please remove any doubt and
stubbornness from my heart so that I can open myself to You and Your grace.
Take authority of my life, dear Lord, and lead me into Your most holy will.
Jesus, I trust in You.
Tuesday
22nd Ordinary Time 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you
are the ultimate authority and are all-powerful. You are the author of life and
existence itself. Conquer the forces of evil in this world and bring all things
to their consummation according to your divine plan.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Holy One of God: When we read the
account of the exorcism in Capernaum, it seems like the “unclean demon” makes
an act of faith by proclaiming that Jesus is the “Holy One of God.” This is not
actually what is going on. What the demon is trying to do is to control Jesus
by invoking his name. Naming something, or knowing its name, means having power
over that thing. God, in Genesis, gave Adam the power to name things and
granted him a shared dominion over the animals and material creation. Even
today, a Catholic exorcist priest, according to the Rite of Exorcism, will ask
the demon what its name is. And then, in the name of Christ, the exorcist
attempts to cast the demon out of the possessed person. The unclean demon, in
today’s Gospel, is not confessing their faith in Jesus as the Son of God. It
was desperately attempting to control Jesus or have power over Jesus.
2. The People were Amazed: When the people
saw the exorcism, they were amazed. They were impressed by the power and
authority of Jesus’ word. Jesus demonstrates that he is more powerful than
unclean spirits. These demons are fallen angels, who, after they were created,
chose to love themselves more than the one who created them. They rejected God
and God’s plan immediately after they were created. And so, the Gospel passage
is a question about authority and power. The fallen angels don’t have absolute
power. We will see that the scribes and Pharisees don’t have true divine
authority. Jesus reveals himself as more powerful in his exorcisms than the
fallen angels. He is true God and true man. Jesus reveals himself as more
authoritative in his teaching than the scribes and Pharisees. He is true God
and true man. Jesus’ teaching and actions invite the people to ask in their
hearts who Jesus is.
3. The Day of the Lord: Today, we conclude our
reading of Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians. Paul speaks about the “Day
of the Lord” and how it will come like a thief in the night. In the Old
Testament, the “Day of the Lord” was a term used by prophets. Joel, for example,
uses it as the unifying theme of his book. (see Joel 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14). The
“Day of the Lord” is a day of judgment when God comes to settle accounts with
Israel and the nations. “It will melt the hearts of all (Isaiah 13:6-16)
because it comes as a day of darkness, doom, and distress (Jeremiah 46:10;
Ezekiel 30:3; Amos 5:18-20; Zephaniah 1:14-16). On this day the Lord will bring
low all that is proud and lifted up against him (Isaiah 2:11-22). He will
battle against nations who assault and exploit his people (Obadiah 1:15), bring
healing and blessing to all who repent (Malachi 4:1-6), and manifest his divine
kingship over the world (Zechariah 14:1-9)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible,
1508). The days of judgment that punctuate Israel’s history and world history
point forward to the ultimate “Day of the Lord” at the end of time. This will
be the “day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14). “On
this day, which will come like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2), all
people and nations will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians
5:10), who God has appointed to judge the world (Acts 17:31) (CCC, 678-82)” (Ignatius
Catholic Study Bible, 1508). Paul doesn’t know when Jesus will appear as
Savior and Judge. In his follow-up letter to First Thessalonians, he will point
out signs that will lead up to the last day.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, set
my heart on fire with your word. Comfort me with your grace when I am troubled.
Calm me with your peace when the anxieties of this world are overwhelming.
Tuesday
22nd Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are the
ultimate authority and are all-powerful. You are the author of life and
existence itself. Conquer the forces of evil in this world and bring all things
to their consummation according to your divine plan.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Jesus’ Teaching in Synagogues in
Galilee: Today’s Gospel, which narrates the exorcism in the synagogue in
Capernaum, manifests to us that, with the coming of Jesus Christ, the devil’s
reign is over. It is the beginning of the end. Jesus overcame the devil’s
temptations in the desert, inaugurated God’s reign by preaching the Gospel,
and, through this exorcism, continued to dismantle the powers of darkness.
Jesus often taught in synagogues in Galilee on the Sabbath. Over his three
years of public ministry, he likely did this over 100 times. The Gospels give
us a small taste of his teaching. Sometimes, as in Nazareth, he proclaimed that
a prophecy, such as the passage from Isaiah about the Great Jubilee year, was
fulfilled in his person. Other times, as in the Bread of Life discourse in
John, Jesus brought an Old Testament figure to fulfillment. The Bread of Life
discourse proclaimed that Jesus surpasses Moses and offers the New Manna of the
Eucharist in place of the old manna of the desert. Jesus himself is the Bread
of Life and whoever eats this bread will live forever. How well do I
know Jesus’ teaching?
2. The Effect of Jesus’ Teaching: The
people marveled at Jesus’ teaching, for he did not teach like the scribes and
Pharisees. His teaching had a newness about it that set their hearts on fire.
They felt like he was unveiling mysteries hidden for centuries in the Law and
in the Prophets. Jesus didn’t drone on like the scribes about legalistic
interpretations of the Law, but spoke about the heart of the Law and gave it
new meaning. Is my heart set on fire when I hear Jesus’ words?
3. Paul’s Teaching: In his Letter to the
Corinthians, Paul continues to contrast the “wisdom of the world” with the
wisdom of God. The Holy Spirit is the one who introduces us into the depths of
the knowledge of God. On our own, we can come to know very little. As Paul
says: “No one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God.” Through our
Baptism and Confirmation, we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, who
enables us to know the good things given to us freely by God. Paul understands
that his doctrine and teaching are not based on the spirit of the world, but
rather that they have been given to him by the Spirit of God. Empowered by the
Spirit, and using spiritual language, he teaches the Corinthians about
spiritual, heavenly things. Those who reject the Spirit of God cannot
understand this doctrine. However, those who live by the Spirit and welcome
God’s Word with an understanding heart, are able to judge all things in this
light. Am I listening to the spirit of the world or the Spirit of God?
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, set my
heart on fire with your word. Comfort me you’re your grace when I am troubled.
Calm me with your peace when the anxieties of this world are overwhelming.
Tuesday
22nd Ordinary Time 2023
Opening
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I look
forward to this time of prayer with you. Help me to rest in you, be close to
you, to be intentionally transparent with you and myself. I want to hear your
word, ponder it, and put it into practice. I entrust myself to your grace, O
Lord.
Encountering
Christ:
“He
Spoke with Authority”: The
people in the synagogue were astonished because Jesus spoke with authority.
Wherein lay his authority? He was not bossy; rather everything he said carried
a weight to it. This went beyond the miracles; it was rooted in his very
demeanor. People naturally tended to believe and obey Jesus since his words and
commands were so true and so good. It was believable when he declared himself
to be the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Some people, like the
Pharisees, could resist believing in him, but it took effort because to do so
contradicted both the intellect and the heart. When there was an openness and
continued contact, there would be eventual faith. In some cases, as with the
first apostles, it happened quickly (The Public Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
pp 37-51).
The
Cry of the Demons: The demons
cried in a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” Demons
are not all-knowing; only God is. However, they are pure spirits, have greater
intelligence than we do, and are more aware of spiritual realities. These
demons recognized what some people did not; Jesus was the “Holy One of God.”
This encounter terrified the demons. They recognized in Jesus a sanctity that
made him not only impervious to their attacks but gave him an irresistible
authority over them. In another passage, the demons in the Gerasene demoniac
asked, ‘“I beg you, do not torment me!” (Luke 8:30). Demons have real power and
must not be toyed with through dabbling in things like the occult. However,
they are powerless before God. The Christian need not fear the devil and his
cohort when united to Christ through grace.
“Come
Out of Him!”: Jesus has come to
save man from Satan’s grasp. Through his death and Resurrection, Our Lord
opened the gates of heaven to man. His salvific work had already begun in his
public ministry by forgiving sins and freeing people from demonic possession.
Jesus was firm and uncompromising with the demons. While he allowed them to
possess swine, he always cast them out from humans (Luke 8:32).
Conversing
with Christ: Lord Jesus, you
continuously remind me that “Even though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your
staff comfort me” (Psalms 23:4). You are there to protect me from all harm but
most importantly from spiritual harm. Please deliver me from temptation and
evil so that I may follow you to the “green pastures” of heaven (Psalms 23:2).
Suy
Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai Tuần 22 Thường Niên
- Luke 4:16-30 -
Khi Chúa Giêsu trở về quê nhà Nazareth,
Ngài công bố
một thông điệp hy vọng dành cho những người nghèo khổ, đói khát, đang bị bỏ rơi và những
người đau khổ. Đức Giêsu đã cho chúg ta
thấy phúc lành của Thiên Chúa không phải chỉ dành
riêng cho người Do Thái, nhưng còn ban cho những người không phải Do Thái nữa. Những người cùng quê cùng làng với Đức Giêsu không thích những lời tuyên bố này và ho
đã trở
thành những người thù nghịch với
Ngài.
Mỗi ngày, chúng ta nghe Tin Mừng, chúng ta phải có thể nói như Đức Trinh Nữ Maria: «xin
Chúa cứ làm cho tôi như lời sứ thần truyền". (Lc 1:38); và Thiên
Chúa sẽ trả lời: «"Hôm
nay đã ứng nghiệm lời Kinh Thánh quý vị vừa nghe" . Tuy thế, để cho Lời Chúa có hiệu quả trong cuộc sống của chúng ta, chúng ta phải loại bỏ tất cả những định kiến, những sự ghen
tương, thù hận trong lòng của chúng ta. Những
người
đương thời của Chúa Giêsu không hiểu được ý nghĩa lời của
Chúa, bởi vì họ đã nhìn Ngài với đôi mắt với lòng ghen tỵ của con người «anh này là ai, chẳng phải anh là con bác thợ mộc Giuse thấp kém ?» (Lc 4:22). Họ có thể thấy bản tính con người của Chúa Giêsu Kitô, nhưng họ
không thể nhận ra và đánh giá được cái thiên tính của Ngái. Mỗi khi nào chúng ta lắng nghe Lời Chúa, ngoài phong cách văn học của nó, vẻ đẹp của biểu thức của
nó hoặc các điểm kỳ dị của tình hình, chúng ta phải nhớ đó là Thiên Chúa, Đấng đang nói với chúng ta.
REFLECTION 2019
Jesus' words have never been meant to be
taken lightly and today's Gospel reading makes this abundantly clear. When at
the synagogue in his hometown Nazareth, he quotes from Isaiah to declare his
mission and work, his own towns-people could not believe him, "Who is this
but Joseph's son?". The people of Nazareth got more indignant when Jesus
showed them they were acting as their ancestors did, "No prophet is
honored in his own country." Jesus reminded them of God's actions for
other people when the Prophet Elijah fed the widow and her son in Sidon, beyond
Israel, and when the Prophet Elisha healed the Syrian Naaman of his leprosy.
The mission of Jesus continues as the
mission of the Church. Each member of the Church is tasked to help out in some
way, "to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and
new sight to the blind; to free the oppressed and announce the Lord's year of
mercy." Am I ready to help out?
Monday 22nd
in Ordinary Time
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and
led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him
down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away. Luke 4:28–30
It’s hard to believe that those people who knew Jesus, those from
the town in which He had been raised, reacted in such a severe way to our Lord.
Jesus had just entered the Synagogue and read from the Prophet Isaiah who
stated that “the Spirit of the Lord” was upon him and that he had come to
“proclaim liberty to captives.” Jesus’ mission was clear. He was the Messiah,
sent from the Father, in fulfillment of the teachings of the prophets, and yet
Jesus was rejected to the point that the people drove Him out of the town and
tried to throw Him off a cliff near the town to kill Him. Again, it’s hard to
comprehend the extreme emotions that people experienced in regard to Jesus.
Some came to love Jesus with the deepest passion, others were outraged at Him
and sought His life.
One thing that these extreme emotions experienced by many should
tell us is that we cannot remain indifferent to Jesus when we truly listen to
His words. Indifference comes when Jesus is ignored. But when He is heard and
understood, it is clear that His message demands a response. If we do not fully
accept Him as we listen to His message, then we will be tempted to reject Him
and all that He speaks.
Jesus wants to do the same with us. He wants a response from us.
First, He wants us to hear Him, to understand the radical nature of His
message, and then to make a choice. He wants us to follow Him with passion and
zeal, to believe in everything He teaches, and to radically change our lives as
a result. And if we will not change, then Jesus’ words will challenge us and
evoke a response.
One example of this that is common today is the strong response
that sometimes comes from a teenager or young adult when a loving parent
confronts them when they begin to go astray. When confronted in love and with
the truth, emotion is often evoked and stirred up. But that is not always bad.
The temptation on the part of the parent is to back off and compromise. But
that’s not what Jesus did with the townspeople. He spoke the truth in love and
accepted their response. So it is with those in our lives. At times we must
speak the hard but loving truth others need to hear even if we know they will
lash out. In the end, challenging them with compassion and truth may ultimately
win them over. We do not know what ultimately happened to those townspeople who
tried to kill Jesus that day out of anger, but it is entirely possible that the
extreme emotion they experienced eventually led them to the truth.
Reflect, today, upon the courage and love Jesus had as He directly
confronted and challenged His own townspeople for their lack of faith. Try to
understand that Jesus’ challenge of them was a mercy He offered them to move
them from indifference. In your life, are there ways in which you need to be
challenged? Are there things you have reacted strongly to and even with a form
of rage? Try to see yourself as one of those townspeople who became enraged by
our Lord. Be open to any way that you have reacted negatively to that which
Jesus has spoken to you. Consider, also, any ways that Jesus may want to use
you to speak His clear message of love to another, even if you know it may not
immediately be received. Pray for courage, compassion, clarity and love so that
you will be able to imitate Jesus as He sought to move those of His own
hometown out of the indifference they were experiencing.
My challenging Lord, You
desire that all Your children turn to You with their whole heart. Your
chastisements are acts of mercy meant to move us out of indifference. Please
speak to me the truths that I need to hear this day and use me to share Your
holy word with others, especially those of my own family. Jesus, I trust in
You.
Monday 22nd
in Ordinary Time 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, send and pour forth your Spirit upon me. Anoint me with
the oil of gladness so that I may proclaim the Gospel of your Kingdom and your
salvation to all those I meet through my words and actions today.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Gospel of Salvation: Today, we begin to read from the Gospel according to Luke at daily mass.
This Gospel will bring us to the season of Advent. Each of the four Gospels
presents a unique, but complementary portrait of the mystery of Jesus Christ,
the Son of God. Matthew’s Gospel presents Jesus as the New Moses and as the one
who fulfills the Old Testament prophecies, especially those about the Kingdom
of God. Mark identifies Jesus as the suffering Messiah and Son of God, who
calls his disciples to follow him on the way to Jerusalem. Luke emphasizes
Jesus as the Universal Savior and his concern for the poor, the humble, the
outcast, and the lowly. Throughout Luke’s Gospel, we hear Jesus’ message of
mercy and salvation. We are privileged today to hear how Jesus preached in the synagogues
of Galilee and the synagogue of his hometown of Nazareth. We can sit with the
crowd and hear Jesus proclaim God’s word from the prophet Isaiah. We have a
similar experience at every Mass. We sometimes hear a passage from the Old
Testament and then from the Gospel, and we can hear, “Today, this Scripture
passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
2. The Inauguration of the Great
Jubilee: The passage from Isaiah that Jesus proclaimed in the
synagogue of Nazareth is highly significant. What Isaiah foretells is the
coming of the great Jubilee Year. This is what Isaiah means when he refers to
the “year acceptable to the Lord.” The Jubilee year was to be celebrated every
49 years in Israel. It was a time of mercy and forgiveness. Based on the
prophecy of Daniel about a time of salvation and mercy that would happen 490
years after the exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, some in Israel began to
formulate the idea that the 10th Jubilee would be a great
Jubilee and that the Messiah would inaugurate it. What Jesus does in the
synagogue in Nazareth and possibly in other synagogues of Galilee is announce
that he is inaugurating the Great Jubilee, and this means, for those who can
understand it, that he is the Messiah. At first, the people were amazed at
Jesus’ words, but then they began to doubt that the hometown kid could be the
Messiah. Moreover, when Jesus hinted that merciful salvation would be extended
to the Gentiles, the people of Nazareth reacted very negatively. They tried to
throw Jesus off the hill of Nazareth, but he confidently walked through them
and left his hometown to continue his mission in the other towns of Nazareth.
3. The Resurrection from the Dead: One of the main points of the First Letter to the Thessalonians was
to address the question about the fate of those who die before the second
coming of Jesus. Paul teaches that those who have “fallen asleep” in Christ
will rise at the return of Jesus. Those who are still living and are alive in
Christ will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord
Jesus. The Christian community in Thessalonica has nothing to fear about their
loved ones who die before the end of the world. We also have no reason to fear
death or the death of our loved ones who die in Christ. We not only have the
gift of faith, but also the gift of hope. By faith, we believe that Christ rose
from the dead and ascended into heaven, and will return to raise the dead to life.
By hope, we are confident that if we die “in Christ,” we will be raised to
eternal life.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, unlike the people of Nazareth, I do not reject you or
your message. You are everything I need and desire. Help me to understand your
word more deeply and live according to your word each day.
Monday 22nd
in Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, send
your Spirit upon me. Anoint me with the oil of gladness so that I may proclaim
your Gospel to all those I meet through my words and actions today.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Jesus Proclaims the Fulfillment of
Isaiah in Nazareth: During the weekdays of the next thirteen weeks that
lead up to the season of Advent, we will read from the Gospel of Luke. We begin
with the story of Jesus’ return to Nazareth, an event that takes place after
his Baptism in the Jordan, his forty days in the wilderness, and his first
weeks of ministry in Galilee. Jesus, Luke tells us, returned to Galilee “in the
power of the Spirit” and taught in the local synagogues. The welcome that Jesus
received throughout the villages of Galilee is in stark contrast to the
rejection he faced in his hometown of Nazareth. At first, the people of Jesus’
hometown spoke well of him and were amazed at his words in the synagogue. When
Jesus spoke about the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in his person, the
people were happy and pleased. Jesus’ message seemed to be a message of hope
and glad tidings. It was a message about the Messiah, God’s Anointed One, and
the inauguration of the Great Jubilee Year. Those held captive and those who
were oppressed would be freed; those who were blind would see. How have
I welcomed Jesus’ message in my life?
2. Why the Nazoreans opposed
Jesus: Things seemed to be going well in Nazareth, but when Jesus turned
his attention to the people’s desire for a miracle to prove that he was God’s
Anointed One, the people of Nazareth began to doubt. They didn’t understand how
it was that the humble son of a local carpenter could now preach and teach with
authority and wisdom. They couldn’t see how the “son of Joseph” could now claim
to be the Lord’s Messiah. Jesus read the thoughts of their hearts and quoted a
popular proverb to them: “Physician, heal yourself.” A physician normally heals
others but is told in the proverb to heal himself. In this context, the proverb
means “Do for yourself – and, more importantly, for us your kinsmen – the
miracles you have done for others.” Throughout his public ministry, Jesus did
mighty deeds and signs and worked many miracles. Many of these mighty deeds
followed upon people professing faith in him as the Messiah and Son of God. The
people of Nazareth, however, did not respond to Jesus’ message with faith, but
with doubt and skepticism. What is more, they rejected him, just as Israel
rejected Elijah and Elisha. The two prophets were not accepted in their native
places and the two miracles they accomplished, referenced by Jesus, were done not
for Israelites but for two non-Israelite Gentiles. Elijah provided food for the
widow of Sidon during the famine and Elisha cured Naaman the Syrian of his
leprosy. How can I respond in faith to Jesus today?
3. Human Wisdom and Divine
Power: Jesus announced that mighty works would not be done for Nazareth,
just as mighty works were not done for Israel in the time of Elijah and Elisha.
This announcement filled the people with fury and they drove Jesus to the edge
of the hill on which Nazareth was built. But Jesus passed through the crowd
without difficulty and left his hometown to continue his ministry in Capernaum,
which became his home base in Galilee. Like the Gospel, the First Reading
proclaims the mystery of God. Jesus is the Son of God whose entire life is a
revelation of the Triune God. Paul is an Apostle, a servant of Jesus Christ,
who proclaims the mystery of God to the Gentiles. Paul proclaims divine wisdom
and not merely human wisdom. He proclaims Christ crucified. The faith that
Jesus asked for from the people of Nazareth and the faith that Paul asked for
from the Church in Corinth do not rest on human wisdom but on the power of God.
Paul demonstrated his message of salvation, not by convincing them with
eloquent words of human wisdom, but with the Spirit and power of God. Am
I convincing in my proclamation of the Gospel?
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I
do not reject you or your message. You are everything I need and desire. Help
me to understand your word more deeply and live according to your word each
day.
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Chúa Nhật Tuần 22 Thường
Niên
Đoạn Tin Mừng hôm nay đi
sâu vào cốt lõi động lực sống của chúng ta. Do bản chất con người sa ngã, chúng
ta dễ dàng làm những gì mình làm vì lý do ích kỷ. Chúng ta muốn được đền đáp
cho công sức bỏ ra và được ghi nhận cho những hành động tử tế. Chúng ta muốn
thăng tiến trong cuộc sống và cố gắng nâng mình lên trên người khác. Nhưng Chúa
Giêsu nói rõ rằng lsf động lực cho mọi việc chúng ta làm chỉ có thể là làm vinh
danh Thiên Chúa và làm vì tình yêu thương dành cho tha nhân.
Người nghèo, người tàn
tật, người què và người mù trong đoạn Tin Mừng chúng ta vừa nghe này ám chỉ cho
những người đang cần tình yêu thương của chúng ta. Điều này chắc chắn bao gồm
cả bạn bè và gia đình. Khi gặp gỡ những người đang cần sự giúp đỡ của mọi người,
chúng ta phải trao tặng tình yêu thương, không phải vì chúng ta nhận được điều
gì đó từ họ, mà vì đó là điều đúng đắn nên làm. Sự đền đáp mà chúng ta nhận
được trong trường hợp này đến trực tiếp và duy nhất từ Chúa. Đó không phải là
sự đền đáp bằng sự công nhận hay lời khen ngợi của xã hội. Đó không phải là sự
đền đáp bằng vật chất. Đó không phải là sự đền đáp giúp chúng ta thăng tiến
trong cuộc sống. Đó là sự đền đáp bằng ân sủng khiến chúng ta nên thánh. Đây là
động lực duy nhất chúng ta nên có trong cuộc sống; động lực hướng đến sự thánh
khiết bằng cách tôn vinh Chúa qua tình yêu thương dành cho Ngài và tha nhân.
Hôm
nay chúng ta hãy suy nghĩ về động lực sống của chúng ta. Tại sao chúng ta làm
những việc mình làm mỗi ngày? Rõ ràng tất cả chúng ta đều có những trách nhiệm
nhất định phải hoàn thành, chẳng hạn như công việc làm kiếm sống, chăm sóc gia
đình, v.v. Nhưng tại sao chúng ta lại làm những việc này? Nguồn gốc động lực
của chúng ta là gì? Động lực của chúng ta có dựa trên tình yêu thương thuần
khiết không?
Khi
tình yêu thương thuần khiết, chúng ta được thúc đẩy hành động theo cách này hay
cách khác bởi vì chúng ta thấy rằng đó là bổn phận thánh khiết của mình đối với
Chúa hoặc một hành động sẽ mang lại lợi ích cho người khác. Ví dụ, một bậc cha
mẹ yêu thương và thánh khiết sẽ làm việc chăm chỉ để kiếm tiền nuôi sống gia đình
không phải vì họ muốn làm giàu để thỏa mãn những thú vui trần tục, mà vì họ yêu
thương, muốn chăm sóc gia đình và muốn chu cấp cho nhu cầu vật chất của gia đình
họ. Hoặc một người bạn nào đo muốn tìm cách ở bên cạnh và lắng nghe một người
bạn khác không phải vì điều đó có lợi cho họ, mà vì họ yêu thương bạn mình và
muốn lắng nghe khi họ cần. Tình yêu đích thực luôn hướng đến điều tốt đẹp của
người khác, tìm kiếm những điểm yếu kém về mặt tâm linh, khuyết tật, què quặt
và mù lòa của họ để có thể giúp đỡ họ theo ý Chúa. Tình yêu đích thực luôn tìm
cách lấp đầy khoảng trống bằng những gì cần thiết vào lúc đó.
Tin mừng cho chúng ta là
khi động lực của chúng ta trong sáng và vị tha, chỉ hướng đến việc tôn vinh
Chúa và chăm sóc người khác, Chúa sẽ ban cho chúng ta những phần thưởng vĩnh
cửu ngay từ bây giờ. Chúng ta sẽ trở nên giàu có về mặt nhân đức và phong phú
về hoa trái của Chúa Thánh Linh. Chúng ta sẽ có được niềm vui, sự bình an, sức
mạnh, lòng can đảm, tình yêu thương, lòng tốt và nhiều hơn thế nữa. Những điều
tốt đẹp này là sự giàu có đích thực trong cuộc sống và chỉ có thể được Chúa ban
cho một tâm hồn có động lực sống trong sáng, vị tha, hy sinh và nhân từ.
Hôm nay, chúng ta hãy
suy ngẫm về điều gì thúc đẩy chúng ta mỗi ngày. Chúng ta nghĩ nhiều hơn về bản thân khi hành động hay
nghĩ nhiều hơn về Chúa và người khác? Hy vọng rằng chúng ta sẽ khám phá ra
trong động lực của mình sẽ có một sự khát khao cháy bỏng để được phục vụ người
khác và tôn vinh Thiên Chúa trong mọi việc chúng ta làm. Nhưng nếu chúng ta
thấy mình ích kỷ, chúng ta hãy phải tự nhận biết rằng động lực này không bao
giờ có thể làm chúng ta thỏa mãn. Chúng ta cần phải biết hạ mình xuống bằng
cách hướng sự chú ý đến tình yêu của Thiên Chúa và nhu cầu của người khác, và
biến việc phục vụ họ thành sứ mệnh riêng của chúng ta. Làm như vậy, Chúa sẽ ban
cho chúng ta nhiều hơn những gì mà chúng ta có thể tưởng tượng.
Reflection
the of Sunday 22 Ordinary Time C
“When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy
neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather,
when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you
will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12–14
This Gospel passage goes to the heart of our
motivations in life. Because of our fallen human nature, we can easily do what
we do for selfish reasons. We want payment for our labors and acknowledgement
for our acts of kindness. We want to get ahead in life and try to elevate
ourselves over others. But Jesus makes it clear that our motivation for
everything we do must only be the glory of God and the love of others.
The poor, crippled, lame and blind in this
passage refer to those who are in need of our love. This certainly will include
friends and family. When we encounter those in need, we must offer our love,
not because we get something out of it, but because it is the right thing to
do. The payment we receive in this case comes directly and exclusively from
God. It’s not a payment of societal recognition or praise. It’s not a payment
of material things. It’s not a payment that helps us get ahead in life. It’s a
payment of grace that makes us holy. This is the only motivation we should have
in life—a motivation for holiness by glorifying God through our love of Him and
others.
Think about your motivations in life. Why do
you do what you do every day? Clearly we all have certain responsibilities that
must be met, such as earning a living, caring for the home and family,
strengthening our relationships, etc. But why do you do these things? What is
the source of your motivation? Is your motivation based on pure love?
When our love is pure, we are motivated to
act in one way or another because we see that it is our holy duty toward God or
an act that will benefit another. For example, a loving and holy parent will
work hard to earn a living not because they want to get rich so as to indulge
in the things of this world, but because they love and care for their family
and want to provide for their material needs. Or a friend will seek to be there
and listen to another friend not because it is advantageous for them, but because
they love their friend and want to provide a listening ear when they need it.
True love always looks at the good of the other, looking for the ways they are
spiritually poor, crippled, lame and blind so that they can help them in accord
with God’s will. True love always seeks to fill a void with what is needed at
that moment.
The good news for us is that when our
motivations are pure and selfless, looking only to glorify God and care for
others, God will lavish upon us eternal rewards that begin now. We will grow
rich in virtue and rich in the fruits of the Holy Spirit. We will obtain joy,
peace, strength, courage, love, goodness and so much more. These good things
are the true riches in life and can only be bestowed by God upon a soul whose
motivations in life are pure, selfless, sacrificial and merciful.
Reflect, today, upon what motivates you each
and every day. Do you think more about yourself when acting or more about God
and others? Hopefully you will discover within your motivation a burning desire
to serve others and glorify God in everything you do. But where you do see
selfishness, know that this motivation can never fulfill you. Humble yourself
by turning your attention to the love of God and the needs of others, and make
serving them your exclusive mission. Doing so will result in God lavishing upon
you more than you could ever imagine.
My merciful Lord, You came to earth to serve,
not to be served, and to give Your life to others in an act of the most pure
and holy love. I open myself to that gift of Your divine love and pray that, as
I receive Your love, I may love You and others in the same selfless way. Jesus,
I trust in You.
Reflection
the of Sunday 22 Ordinary Time C
Opening Prayer: Lord God, your spread a table before
me. You are the ultimate host and invite me, when I am humble, to an exalted
position. But when I am prideful and arrogant, you wisely humble me. Teach me
to understand this lesson of life, so that I may enjoy eternal life with you.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Invite the Poor: The passage from the Gospel of Luke is a
lesson in humility. Jesus is dining at the home of a leading Pharisee as he
journeys to Jerusalem. The lesson Jesus teaches is that we need to practice a
form of almsgiving by inviting the poor to share our food. “Those who show love
to the outcasts and disadvantaged in this life may be assured that God will be
‘in their debt,’ and will repay that debt in the next life. When we show love
by meeting the material needs of the truly poor, we are ‘doing God’s work for
him’ because, as the psalm taught us, kindness to the poor is the king of thing
God does” (Bergsma, The Word of the Lord: Year C, 390). Jesus goes
so far as to tell his followers to risk ritual defilement by inviting the
crippled, the lame, and the blind. What Jesus is teaching is that the Old
Testament laws about charity towards the less fortunate take precedence over
the laws of ritual cleanliness (Bergsma, The Word of the Lord: Year C,
390).
2. Humble Yourself: In the First Reading, taken from the Book of
Sirach, we hear a summary of the wisdom of the Old Testament. Humility, in the
Bible, is counted as a virtue. “The right attitude before God is one of
humility, for wisdom lies in being unpretentious, aware that one can always be
wrong. Humility is the human dimension and expression of the fear of the Lord”
(Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, 1077. Humility was not something prized
in the ancient world before Christ, but here, in the Book of Sirach, we find an
exhortation to humility. And this is good. Moses was considered the humblest
man upon the earth. David humbled himself before God when he sinned. Jesus
declared himself, “meek and humble of heart.” We always need to learn the
lesson of true humility
3. The Blood of the New
Covenant: In the Second
Reading, the Letter to the Hebrews mentions gathering on Mount Zion: “No, you
have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem.” The Letter is contrasting the covenant Moses mediated on Mount
Sinai with the covenant Jesus mediated on Mount Zion. What the Letter envisions
is the celestial liturgy, where angels and saints are gathered to worship God
and celebrate the creative work of the Father and the redemptive work of the
Son. We, who belong to the New Covenant, are called to join in this eternal and
heavenly liturgy. We do this by entering the heavenly sanctuary in the Holy
Spirit through prayer and sacramental worship (see Ignatius Catholic
Study Bible, 2175). The Letter also alludes to the difference between the
blood of Abel and the blood of Christ. While the blood of Abel, spilled by
Cain, called for vengeance, the blood of Jesus, the New Abel, calls for
merciful forgiveness and true peace.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I love you and heed your
invitation to approach Mt. Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, where you dwell with
the Father and send out the Spirit. I truly wish to be spiritual, and to
worship you and the Father in truth.
