Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần thứ 5 Mùa Chay

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Tư Tuần thứ 5 Mùa Chay - John 8, 31-42

Hôm nay, Chúa Kitô mời gọi chúng ta đón nhận Lời Chúa để Lời Chúa làm chủ tâm hồn của chúng ta. Ngài cũng nói rằng tất cả mọi thứ trên đời này sẽ qua đi nhưng Lời Ngài sẽ chẳng bao giờ qua đi, nhưng sẽ tồn tại vĩnh cửu. Vì Lời Chúa chính là Thiên Chúa.
Qua lịch sử của loài người chúng ta thấy. Con người đã phát minh và đưa ra rất nhiều chân lý, và triết lý khác nhau qua những triều đại và những đế quốc có lúc rất là thịnh vượng, nhưng rồi cũng đã bị diệt vong, như đế quốc La Mã hay Mông Cổ với Thành Cát Tư Hãn... Thế giới của chúng ta luôn luôn thay đổi và phát triển liên tục. Để nhận biết chân lý sự thật, chúng ta cần phải nhận thức, Chúng ta cần có một cái mỏ neo tinh thần để có thể chịu đựng được những sự thử thách của thời gian.
Lời của Chúa "hướng dẫn chúng ta, bác bỏ mọi sự dối trá, khuyên nhủ và sửa chữa những lỗi lầm, biết nhẫn nại và chú tâm dạy dỗ người khác". (2 Tm 4:2). Tuy nhiên, không nên chỉ biết nghe không mà thôi, chúng ta cần đưa Lời Chúa vào thực tại bằng việc thực hiện Lời Chúa ngay trong cuộc sống hằng ngày của chúng ta để chúng ta có thể phát triển và thu thập được các loại hoa trái của sự hy vọng, trong đức tin và đức ái.
 
REFLECTION Gospel Reading: John 8:31-42
Today, Jesus Christ invites us to make his Word our home. He also says that everything passes away but the Word of God remains because it is eternal.  And Word is God Himself. Human history raised up many truths and philosophies. Dynasties and empires rose and fell. The world is constantly changing and evolving. To know the truth, we need discernment. We need a spiritual anchor that can withstand the test of time. The word of God "instructs, refutes falsehood, corrects errors, gives encouragement." (2 Tm 4:2) It also goes beyond the limits of time. But it should not only be listened to but put into practice as well so that we can gather fruits of faith, hope and charity.
 
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent  - The Truth Will Set You Free
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31–32
These words have the potential to make a transforming difference in our lives. Note that Jesus spoke these words “to those Jews who believed in him.” That is, those who had accepted His word and were, therefore, His true disciples. We who also believe in Jesus should consider these words carefully. The heart of this teaching is twofold: you must come to “know the truth” so that the truth you come to know “will set you free.” 
This teaching of Jesus is exceptionally helpful on both a psychological and spiritual level. First of all, on a purely psychological level, one of the greatest helps to good mental health is the truth. Most often when one struggles with various forms of depression, it’s because they are seeing aspects of their life with confusion. “Why did this person do this to me?” Or “How will I ever get through this?” Or “My life is a mess and there is no way out.” These and other similar thoughts will inevitably lead to depression for one simple reason: they are based on erroneous thinking.
One of the best forms of psychological counselling is what could be called “truth therapy.” Every despairing question that we have and every depressing conclusion that we have come to in life must be reexamined in the light of the mind of God. What does God think? What is in the mind of God in this regard? Those truths that are waiting to be discovered are the truth that “will set you free.” Depression is more easily overcome when we look at our life in the way that God looks at our life. This produces hope, and hope brings freedom to the chains of depression and confusion.
On a spiritual level, these principles apply all the more. The truth about sin, forgiveness, salvation and Heaven must be known deeply and embraced fully. When we deny the truth of sin or forgiveness, then we live within a lie and we remain bound by that lie. True spiritual freedom that leads to salvation and eternity in Heaven is obtained only when we wholeheartedly embrace the holy and perfect spiritual truth given to us by God. We must clearly know our sin, repent of it, seek the forgiveness of God, amend our lives and live the new life of grace to which we are called.
Reflect, today, upon this powerfully transforming teaching of Jesus: “know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” What psychological and spiritual truths do you need to more deeply know? What confusion or blindness remains? Seek the remedy of the Truth as it is in the mind of God and know that freedom awaits.
God of all Truth, Your Word is liberating, transforming and fills us with hope. May I turn my mind to You and to Your holy Word so that I may know the Truth as You speak it and allow that transforming Truth to set me free. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Wenesday 5th Week of Lent 2023
 
Wenesday 5th Week of Lent 2021
Opening Prayer: Lord, teach me how to love you more as I reflect on your words today. I want to live in your freedom and truth.
Encountering Christ:
1.      Formation Moment: Christ was speaking with those Jews who believed he was the Messiah. He was teaching them that his word is truth and has the power to set them free from sin. “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Christ reaches through time and space to us, his modern disciples, with the same message. He invites us to read the word, meditate on it, memorize it, internalize it. “Then, you will be free.” What an outstanding promise he makes to us! Christ has taken the initiative to share with us the true meaning of life and to reconcile us with God the Father.
2.      Blocked by Pride: As Christ was inviting them into a closer encounter with himself, the Jews were getting annoyed.“We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved,” they said. They had obviously forgotten certain parts of their history—Egypt and Babylon, for example. They were stuck in their pride and wedded to their own perspective. When Christ enters into our life he completely changes the way we view the world and the way we view ourselves. He invites us to see the world from his perspective, and understand what behaviors will truly bring about freedom.
3.      Freedom?: The Jews looked at freedom as freedom from outside forces, like occupation by the Romans. Christ was offering them internal freedom, the freedom from sin. It is freedom from sin that leads us to our full potential. “Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one's own responsibility. By free will one shapes one's own life. Human freedom is a force for growth and maturity in truth and goodness; it attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude” (CCC 1731).
Conversing with Christ: While I so often focus on life’s externals, I know that you desire to touch my interior life. You want to transform my soul and the attitudes of my life. I want to love my Father the way you do. Help me also to love you more, Jesus.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will offer a spiritual communion

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Ba Tuần thứ 5 Mùa Chay

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Ba Tuần thứ 5 Mùa Chay.

Bản chất của tội lỗi đã làm cho chúng ta xa lìa Thiên Chúa và quên đi cái mục đích thật sự của chúng ta trong cuộc sống. Nguồn gốc của tất cả mọi sự thật và những cái đẹp trong cuộc sống của chúng ta là chính nơi Thiên Chúa mà chúng ta có thể được hiệp nhất với  Ngài trong niềm vui vĩnh cửu.
Khi Adong và Evà đã phạm tội bất tuân ngay lúc ban đầu, họ đã cố ẩn mình trốn tránh cái sự hiện diện của Thiên Chúa (Sáng thế 3: 8-10). Đó là những gì mà tội lỗi đã gây ra; nó ngăn cách chúng ta với Thiên Chúa, Đấng mà không những chỉ "thấy tất cả" và "luôn luôn hiện diện giữa nơi chúng ta", nhưng Ngài cũng là Đấng hằng "yêu thương" và "thương xót” tất cả loài người tội lỗi chúng ta, và Ngài sẵn sàng đón nhận chúng ta trở lại mỗi khi chúng ta biết tự nguyện và trở về với tình yêu thương của Ngài.
Khi Thiên Chúa kêu gọi chúng ta quay mặt về với Ngài, Có bao giờ chúng ta đang cố ẩn mình để trốn thoát cái sự hiện diện của Chúa như Adong, Evà bằng những thứ vật chất đang làm bận trí của chúng ta hay có thể vì những lý do nào khác đã khiến chúng ta không thể nhận ra Chúa hay nghe tiếng của Chúa đang nói với chúng ta?
            Thập giá của Đức Kitô đã phá vỡ lời nguyền rủa của tội lỗi và sự chết do Adong và Evà đã đem đến cho nhân loại, và Thập Giá Chúa Kitô đã đưa con người chúng ta đến sự chiến thắng trong sự cứu chữa, tha thứ, và sự sống đời đời nếu chúng ta biết đặt niềm tin vào Chúa Giêsu, Con Thiên Chúa, đấng Cứu Chúa của nhân loại..
 
Reflection Tuesday 5th Week of Lent
The essence of sin is that it diverts us from God and from our true purpose in life - to know the source of all truth and beauty which is God himself and to be united with God in everlasting joy. When Adam and Eve yielded to their first sin of disobedience, they literally tried to hide themselves from God's presence (Genesis 3:8-10). That is what sin does; it separates us from the One who is not only "all-seeing" and "ever present", but who is also "all loving" and "merciful" and eager to receive us. When God calls you to turn your gaze and attention towards him, do you try to hide yourself from his presence with other distractions and excuses that keep you from seeking him and listening to his voice?
The cross of Christ broke the curse of sin and death and won pardon, healing, and everlasting life for all who believe in Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world.
 
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent - The Language of Jesus
Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him. John 8:30
Jesus had been teaching in veiled but deeply profound ways about Who He was. In prior passages, He referred to Himself as the “bread of life,” the “living water,” the “light of the world,” and He even took upon Himself the ancient title of God “I AM.” Furthermore, He continually identified Himself with the Father in Heaven as His Father with Whom He was perfectly united and by Whom He was sent into the world to do His will. For example, just prior to the line above, Jesus states clearly, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me” (John 8:28). And it was because of this that many came to believe in Him. But why?
As John’s Gospel continues, Jesus’ teaching remains mysterious, deep and veiled. After Jesus speaks profound truths about Who He is, some listeners come to believe in Him, while others become hostile to Him. What is the difference between those who come to believe and those who ultimately kill Jesus? The simple answer is faith. Both those who came to believe in Jesus and those who orchestrated and supported His murder heard the same teaching of Jesus. Yet their reactions were so very different.
The same is true for us today. Just like those who heard these teachings for the first time from Jesus’ own lips, we also are presented with the same teaching. We are given the same opportunity to listen to His words and either receive them with faith or reject them or be indifferent. Are you one of the many who came to believe in Jesus because of these words?
Reading these veiled, mysterious and deep teachings of Jesus as they are presented in the Gospel of John requires a special gift from God if these words will have any impact upon our lives whatsoever. Faith is a gift. It’s not just a blind choice to believe. It’s a choice based on seeing. But it’s a seeing made possible only by an interior revelation from God to which we give our assent. Thus, Jesus as the Living Water, the Bread of Life, the great I AM, the Light of the World, and the Son of the Father will only make sense to us and will only have an effect upon us when we are open to and receive the interior light of the gift of faith. Without that openness and reception, we will remain either hostile or indifferent.
Reflect, today, upon the deep, veiled and mysterious language of God. When you read this language, especially in the Gospel of John, what is your reaction? Ponder your reaction carefully; and, if you find you are any less than one who has come to understand and believe, then seek the grace of faith this day so that our Lord’s words will powerfully transform your life.
My mysterious Lord, Your teaching about Who You are is beyond human reason alone. It is deep, mysterious and glorious beyond all understanding. Please give me the gift of faith so that I may come to know Who You are as I ponder the richness of Your holy Word. I believe in You, dear Lord. Help my unbelief. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent 2023
 
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent, 2021
Opening Prayer: Lord, your condemnation of the Pharisees reminds me that my actions have consequences. Prepare my heart to receive the message you have for me today and help me to rid myself of anything that keeps me from loving you.
Encountering Christ:
1.      Harrowing Distinctions: Christ told the Pharisees that they would die in their sin and would not be joining him in heaven. “I have much to say about you in condemnation,” Jesus told them. Any of the believers listening to this exchange would likely have shuddered listening to the fate of the Pharisees. The Pharisees, however, seemed to miss the import of Christ’s words. “Who are you?” they asked. Living for the world, being of the world, belonging to the world truly blinds us to the presence of Christ in our lives. Faith in the great “I AM” raises us above worldly concerns and unveils the mysterious workings of Christ on our behalf. Lord, help me to believe!
2.      Perfect Obedience: Christ looked to please his Father in all things. Whether in good times, such as at the wedding in Cana, or in difficult times, like in the Garden of Gethsemani, Jesus said, “I always do what is pleasing to him.” From Christ’s perspective, obedience was uniting his actions to his Father's desires. Christ’s obedience was an expression of his love for the Father.
3.      Many Believed: Although the Lord condemned the Pharisees, he did so with absolute authority and a compassionate heart. He identified with the Father and claimed “I AM,” which the Jews of the day would interpret as either blasphemy or the truth. He seemed, by the force of his statements, to be pleading with his listeners to believe, and the Gospel tells us that many did indeed believe. How compelling the person of Christ must have been! 
Conversing with Christ: You pleased God the Father in all you did. You knew that everything the Father asked was born of love and had love as its purpose. I want to see your obedience to the commands of your Father as signs and expressions of his love for me. Help me, likewise, to obey you in all things.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will make an elongated visit to the Eucharist.
 
Tuesday 5th Week of Lent   "When you have lifted up the Son of man"
During the exodus, when the people of Israel were afflicted with serpents in the wilderness because of their sin, God instructed Moses: "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live" (Numbers 21:8). The visible sign of the "bronze serpent" being lifted up in the sight of the people, reminded them of two important facts:  Sin leads to death and repentance leads to God's mercy and healing. The lifting up of the bronze serpent on a wooden pole points to Jesus Christ being lifted up on the wooden cross at Calvary, where he took our sins upon himself to make atonement to the Father on our behalf. The cross of Christ broke the curse of sin and death and won pardon, healing, and everlasting life for all who believe in Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world. While many believed in Jesus and his message, but, many others, including the religious leaders, opposed him. Some openly mocked him when he warned them about their sin of unbelief.
            It's impossible to be indifferent to Jesus' word and his judgments. We are either for him or against him. There are no middle ground or neutral parties.  The words of Jesus echoed the prophetic warning given to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:18 and 18:18) when God warned his people to heed his word before the time is too late. God gives us time to turn to him and to receive his grace and pardon, but that time is right now.
            The essence of sin is that it diverts us from God and from our true purpose in life.  When Adam and Eve yielded to their first sin of disobedience, they literally tried to hide themselves from God's presence (Genesis 3:8-10). That is what sin does; it separates us from God, who is "all loving" and "merciful" and eager to receive us. When God calls us to turn our gaze and attention towards him, do we try to hide ourselves from his presence with other distractions and excuses that keep us from seeking him and listening to his voice?
            If we could not recognize his voice when we heard his word, we would have the opportunity to recognize him when he is "lifted up" on the cross. Jesus pointed to the atoning sacrifice of his life on the cross as the true source of healing and victory over sin and reconciliation with God. The sacrifice of Jesus' life on the cross is the ultimate proof of God's love for us.  Jesus invites each one of us to accept him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Our time here in this present world is very limited and short, but how we live it today has consequences not only for the present moment but for our eternal destiny as well.  Which direction is our life headed in right now?  Think about it !

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai sau Chúa nhật Thứ 5 Mùa Chay

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Hai sau Chúa nhật Thứ 5 Mùa Chay

So với bản chất con người của chúng ta, Chúa Giê-su là một vị thầy không bao giờ lên tiếng trách móc hay lên án với những người có tội. Người phụ nữ bị bắt ngoại tình hôm nay rất đáng xấu hổ và cũng thật tội nghiệp . Trong thời của Chúa Giêsu không có nhóm nggười nào dám đứng lên để bênh vục cho những người phụ nữ bị lên án như cô gái hôm nay trong bài Tin Mừng. 
Nếu chúng ta thử suy luận, thì cái tôi ngoại tình là cái tội không phải là chỉ có người phụ nữ, mà cả người đàn ông cũng có tội nữa. Nhưng theo luật của Do Thái là tội ngoại tình chỉ có phạt người phụ nữ, còn những người đàn ông ngoại tình thì không có ai thắc mắc gì cả. Có nghĩa là người đàn ông có thể "lănh nhăng" với những phụ nữ mà không bị buộc vào tội ngoại tình và không bị trừng phạt. Mà họ lại lên án quá khắt khe và tàn nhẵn với người phụ nữ khi mà thôi.!
     Khi Thiên Chúa tạo dựng nên con người theo hình ảnh của Ngài, hình như  chỉ là người đàn ông đã được chú ý và có tầm quan trọng  hơn người nữ vì người phụ nữ đến sau. Chúng ta có thể hiểu như thế khi Kinh Thánh được viết bởi con người nên ý nghĩa có thề không đầy đủ. Nhưng hôm nay qua bài Tin Mừng, chúng ta đã nắm rõ hơn về tình yêu của Thiên Chúa. Nhiệm vụ của Đức Chúa Con là đến để làm cho con người chúng ta biết yêu kính và phụng sự Thiên Chúa, Việc làm và hành động của Chúa Kitô đã làm nổi bật lên được trong việc này. Tôn kính, thương yêu mọi người vì tất cả mọi người dù là nam hay nữ đều mang một hình ảnh của Thiên Chúa và được biểu lộ thật rất rõ ràng trong những hình ảnh con người của chúng ta.
Mùa Chay Thánh này giúp chúng ta có cơ hội để suy gẫm về sự chăm sóc của Thiên Chúa đối với tất cả chúng ta.  Trong thế giới ngày nay, có vẻ như chỉ có sức mạnh. và sự khôn ngoan thông trị được thiên nhiên  vì thế chúng ta hay đổ lỗi cho người khác và tha thứ cho chính mình? Vì vậy, ở đây hôm nay Chúa Giêsu cho chúng ta một bài học. Ai là người trong chúng ta không có tội, và có thể đổ lỗi cho người khác.? Tại sao chúng ta không biết cầu nguyện cho nhau và giúp đỡ lẫn nhau trong cuộc hành trình đầy khó khăn và thử thách trong khi chúng ta tiến về Nước Trời của Thiên Chúa ? hơn là tìm cách phán xét người khác một cách bất công.
 
Reflection:
     Considering human nature, Jesus as a teacher did not pronounce any condemnation against the sinner. Being appreheded is already very shameful for the woman.  At that time there were no feminine groups to help a condemned woman. If we consider adultery here, it is not only the woman who was at fault but both man and woman. Does it mean that man can play with women without being charged with adultery and left unpunished?
     When God created man in his own image and likeness, it appears that it was only man that was given importance for the woman came later. We understand how Holy Scripture written by man is very inadequate. Now we have a better grasp of God's love. The mission of God the Son to make us know, love and serve God is very well manifested in this action of Christ.  Respect for people as image of God is very clear in this episode.  This season of Lent gives us a chance to reflect on God's care for all of us. 
     In our world today, it seems only the strong, the powerful, and the wise lord over nature. Do we blame others and excuse ourselves? So here Jesus gives us the example. He who is blameless can blame others.  But is there any among us who is blameless? Would we not rather pray for one another and help one another in our not-so-easy journey to God's kingdom? 
 
Monday,  Public Sinners
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7
This is a powerful line spoken by Jesus. The judgmental and condemning Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus who had apparently been caught “in the very act of committing adultery.” Was she a sinner? Yes, indeed she was. But this story is not so much about whether or not she was a sinner. It was about the attitude Jesus had toward sinners as compared to that held by the self-righteous, judgmental and condemning Pharisees.
First of all, let’s look at this woman. She was humiliated. She had committed sin, was caught, and was publicly presented to all as a sinner. How did she react? She didn’t resist. She didn’t remain in denial. She didn’t get angry. She didn’t fight back. Instead, she stood there humiliated, awaiting her punishment with a sorrowful heart.
Humiliation over one’s sins is a powerful experience that has the potential to bring forth true repentance. When we encounter someone who has sinned in a manifest way and is humiliated over their sin, we must treat them with compassion. Why? Because the dignity of the person always supersedes their sin. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God, and every person deserves our compassion. If one is obstinate and refuses to see their sin (such as in the case of the Pharisees), then an act of holy rebuke is necessary to help them repent. But when one experiences sorrow and, in this case, the added experience of humiliation, then they are ready for compassion.
By stating “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” Jesus is not justifying her sin. Rather, He’s making it clear that no one holds the right of condemnation. No one. Not even the religious leaders. This is a hard teaching to live for many in our world today. It is commonplace for the headlines in the media to almost compulsively present us with the most sensational sins of others. We are constantly being tempted to be outraged at what this or that person has done. We easily shake our heads, condemn them and treat them as if they were dirt. In fact, it seems that many people today see it as their duty to act as the “watchdogs” against every sin they can dig up on others.
Reflect, today, upon whether you are more like the Pharisees or Jesus. Would you have stood there in the crowd wanting this humiliated woman to be stoned? How about today? When you hear about the manifest sins of others, do you find yourself to be condemning of them? Or do you hope that mercy is shown to them? Seek to imitate the compassionate heart of our divine Lord; and when your time of judgment comes, you also will be shown an abundance of compassion.
My merciful Lord, You see past our sin and look to the heart. Your love is infinite and awe-inspiring. I thank You for the compassion You have shown to me, and I pray that I may always imitate that same compassion to every sinner all around me. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Reflection on Monday 5th week of Lents 2022
Opening Prayer: Blessed Trinity–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–you exemplify love and truth. I want to know you more intimately and imagine your goodness. Grant me the grace in this meditation to see through the darkness and respond to your light, and to refrain from judging others by appearances. Let me hear your words in Scripture, Jesus, and have them enter both my mind and my heart, so that I can better know the Father, with the help of your Holy Spirit. 
Encountering Christ:
Shedding Light: The eighth chapter of John’s Gospel started with the dark tale of a woman caught in adultery and an angry mob threatening to stone her. The situation was defused by impelling the crowd to come out of the darkness and look at themselves in the light of Christ. Jesus now explained in the following verses that he himself is the light. How should we approach this light? We must follow, close enough to “hear the shepherd’s voice” (John 10:27) and to allow our hearts to be moved by his actions in our lives. May we cultivate a stronger habit of daily prayer, along with more frequent reception of the sacraments, confident that this prescription will keep us from slipping back into darkness.
Staying Close to the Light: Scripture is rich with imagery of darkness and light. The second verse of the Bible tells us that God viewed the beginning of creation and saw darkness, compelling him to utter the first words of his that are recorded: “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). God then assessed, for the first time, that something he created was “good”—light. Perhaps the most famous of all of the psalms, which begins, “The Lord is my shepherd,” reminds us (in today’s psalm response) that this good light is available to us in our most troubled times. “Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side” (Psalm 23:4). Jesus comes to our side and walks with us if we just allow him to be our light in the darkness. When we see a lot of darkness in the world, we know that Jesus has conquered the world. We fear no evil when we keep him close.
Glimpses of the Blessed Trinity: Fearing the light of the world that threatened to expose their hypocrisy, the Pharisees sought to discredit this man Jesus. Why should they believe him? Any individual could make bold claims. The Jews had well-established practices about testimony, and they relied on their principle of two voices being authoritative when verified. Today’s first reading from Deuteronomy 13, about the imperiled Susannah seemingly trapped by false testimony, should have been familiar to the Pharisees from their studies. They conveniently forgot that it isn’t so important how many testify on one’s behalf. Instead, the key is whether the source (or sources) of testimony possess integrity, which can be defined as “being whole or undivided.” Jesus taught them that day, and teaches us today, that he is one with the Father. When we consider the blessed Trinity, do we let this perfect model of integrity move us to glorify Our Lord? “Now this is the Catholic faith: We worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity, without either confusing the persons or dividing the substance; for the person of the Father is one, the Son's is another, the Holy Spirit's another; but the Godhead of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, their glory equal, their majesty coeternal” (CCC 266).
Conversing with Christ: Lord, I am sorry for often hiding in the shadows, fearful of coming into your light. I should know from your frequent offering of mercy to me, and the many blessings that I have, that it is your will that I be filled with joy. Let me ponder anew the words you spoke to your disciples on the night before you died: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will slowly and confidently pray Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd….”
 
I am the Light of the world
Today Jesus gives us a definition of Himself that fills with sense the life of those of us that despite our many deficiencies, wish to follow him: «I am the Light of the world» (Jn 8:12). Jesus' person, his teachings, his examples of life, are light that lightens all our existence, whether in the good hours or in moments of suffering or contradiction.
What does that mean? That under any circumstances which we may find ourselves in, such as in our work, in our relations with others, in our relation to God, in our joys and in our pains... we may ponder: —What did Jesus do in a similar situation?; we can always look into the Gospels and reply: —So I will do the very same thing! Precisely, John Paul II has incorporated to the Saint Rosary —a “compendium of the Gospels”, as he himself recalls— the mysteries on the public life of Jesus, and has named them “Mysteries of Light”. Thus, the Holy Father says: «It is He who, after being named favored Son of the Father at the Baptism in the Jordan, announces the arrival of the Kingdom, and bears witness of it with his deeds while proclaiming his demands».
            Jesus is Light and «the one who follows him will not walk in darkness, but will have light and life» (Jn 8:12). As his own disciples, the Lord also invites us to be light for the world; to shine a light of hope amidst the violence, mistrust and fear of our brothers; a light of faith amidst their darkness, doubts and queries; a light of love amidst the many lies, bitterness and passions that surround us. The Holy Father, as a backdrop to all the mysteries of light, reminds us of Mary's words at the Cana wedding: «Do whatever He tells you» (Jn 2:5): this is the right way for Jesus to be the Light of the World and for ourselves to be able to illuminate with this same light.
 
Monday 5th week of Lents 2021
Opening Prayer: Lord, as I pray my way through this Lenten season, please give me the grace to live my resolutions well, and help me, as I reflect on these words, to draw light and inspiration from them for my day.
Encountering Christ:
1.      What Authority? The Pharisees exercised their authority over others by merciless recrimination. Christ reached out to others with compassion and mercy. The Pharisees saw authority as a means to banish a sinner from society. Christ seeks the lost and returns him or her to the sheepfold. In this Gospel, the adulterous woman was about to be stoned for her sin, but Jesus put a stop to the Pharisees’ hypocrisy and, with a warning to sin no more, sent the woman off to begin anew. He perfectly exemplified authority, compassion, and mercy. We are called to imitate him in our dealings with others.
2.      Twice Abused: This woman had been used by a man for his own purposes. And now that she had been caught, the Pharisees were also using her to entrap Jesus and find a reason to condemn him. As she lay in the dust at the feet of Our Lord, were her mind, heart, and soul hopeless? Had she resigned herself to a slow death by stoning? Did she feel that she deserved it? Any interior darkness was likely banished when Jesus addressed her: “Woman.” An encounter with Christ, the light of the world, never fails to uplift and transform even hardened sinners.
3.      Christ Forgives: Christ looked at this woman with infinite love and tenderness. He looked into her heart and forgave her. He returned this woman’s freedom and dignity to her with the invitation to sin no more. He does the same for us with each reception of the sacrament of reconciliation. How blessed we are to have access to the transformative power of the sacraments.
Conversing with Christ: Lord, I see that you are willing to forgive much, and I too want that same forgiveness. Forgive me my trespasses and help me to forgive those who trespass against me with the same compassion and mercy you exemplified in this Gospel.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will make an effort to forgive a person against whom I hold a grudge.
 
Reflection:
Jesus invites us to examine ourselves. There are numerous instances when we tend to judge others, looking at them as unworthy of forgiveness and love. However, we fail to acknowledge our own sinfulness. All of us are sinners. Yet, it is so easy for us to pass judgment on the wrongdoings of others. We find ourselves like the self-righteous Pharisees and teachers of the law who mercilessly and with no compassion wished to exact punishment on presumed sinners like the adulteress in the Gospel.
     When Jesus told them, "Let anyone of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her," one by one the crowd left. They seemed to have felt shame and guilt, perhaps because they themselves have sinned.
     Jesus teaches us to forgive. It is only by forgiving that we allow God back in our lives. The same is true when we become remorseful of a wrongdoing and sin no more; we find ourselves back in the loving embrace of God.     When we are forgiving, we are not inclined to judge others. We have seen this in Christ's example. His forgiving nature led him to become merciful, patient and compassionate to the adulteress. His forgiveness gave her the chance to repent and be a better person.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Chúa Nhật Thứ Năm Mùa Chay

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Chúa Nhật Thứ Năm Mùa Chay. Nam A

“Laxarơ, hãy ra đây!” Người chết đi ra, tay chân bị trói bằng dây vải, và đầu mặt được quấn trong một tấm vải. Vì vậy Chúa Giêsu bảo họ, “Hãy cởi trói cho anh ta và để anh ta đi.” JN 11:43–44

Cái chết của La-xa-rơ có thể được coi là biểu tượng tượng trưng cho linh hồn đã chết vì tội lỗn nghiêm trọng. Điều này cũng tương tự như việc người mắc bệnh phong cùi, hay bệnh tật về thể chất và những thứ tương tự cũng là biểu tượng của tội lỗi. Vì lý do đó, mà phản ứng đầu tiên của Chúa Giêsu là nhắc nhở và chỉ cho chúng ta cách biết phản ứng với tội lỗi nghiêm trọng trong cuộc sống của mình.

Khi Chúa Giêsu chứng kiến với cái chết của La-xa-rơ, “Chúa đã trở nên bối rối và vô cùng xúc động,” “Chúa Giêsu đã khóc,” và Ngài cũng đã “bấn loạn” khi chứng kiến thân nhân than khóc đau buồn và Ngài cũng đã “kêu lên lớn tiếng.”

Mặc dù chúng ta biết Chúa Giêsu chính là Thiên Chúa, nhưng Ngài đã tự chọn mang lấy bản chất con người và cũng đã trải nghiệm những cảm xúc và đau khổ của con người để dạy chúng ta cách phản ứng với bản chất con người của chúng ta. Trong trường hợp này, Ngài đã trở nên bối rối, bối rối trong đau khổ, ngài cũng đã khóc lóc và kêu gào để chỉ cho chúng ta cách mà chúng ta nên phản ứng với tội lỗi. Tội trọng có thể giết chết linh hồn của chúng ta. Kết quả là cuộc sống tâm linh cua chúng ta phải bị ảnh hưởng nặng nề nếu chúng ta phạm một tội trọng.

Một bài học mà chúng ta có thể rút ra từ đoạn tin mừng này là khi chúng ta  hoặc một người thân yêu của chúng ta phạm tội trọng, thì chúng ta không được bỏ qua những tội trọng đó. Không biết ăn năn hối cải cuối cùng là một tội lớn nếu chúng ta không có sự hối hận, không có sự xám hối thật lòng và không biểt hối cải tội mình đã phạm một cách thật lòng. Đây không thể là phản ứng của chúng ta sau khi phạm tội. Chúng ta hãy thành thật xem xét giá trị to lớn của việc nhìn nhận tội lỗi một cách nghiêm túc, chúng ta phải xấu hổ, buồn rầu và đau khổ những tội mà chúng ta đã phạm vì chúng ta đã làm mất lòng Chúa, mất lòng người khác, chúng ta nên kêu cầu xin Chúa tha thứ cho chúng ta để chúng làm hòa với Thiên Chúa và mọi người, để chúng ta được sống an bình trong tình yêu của Chúa.

Khi Chúa Giêsu truyền cho La-xa-rơ ra khỏi mộ, chi tiết được thêm vào là La-xa-rơ đã ra khỏi mộ nhưng vẫn bị trói “tay chân bằng vải liệm, và mặt thì phủ khăn vải”. Thánh Augustinô đã giải thích rằng, một phần, điều này được tượng trưng cho tất cả những tội lỗi của chúng ta trong quá trình xưng tội và được tha tội. Thứ nhất, không ai có thể tự mình xưng tội với chính mình kể là Linh Hồn, giám mục và Giáo Hoàng. Cho dù người ấy có được cảm xúc bởi ân sủng và mệnh lệnh của Chúa để bước ra trình diện với Thiên Chúa trong tình trạng bị ràng buộc của họ. Việc La-xa-rơ vâng phục mệnh lệnh của Chúa Giêsu tượng trưng cho việc làm của người Kitô giáo đối với Thiên Chúa sau khi xưng tôi được kêu gọi làm việc đề tội, ăn năn. Khi Chúa chúng ta nói: “Hãy cởi trói cho anh ta và để anh ta đi,” điều này tượng trưng cho hiệu quả vô song của Bí tích Giải tội và sức mạnh mà Bí tích này có để giải thoát chúng ta không phải là chỉ được khỏi tội của chúng ta mà chúng ta còn khỏi những hậu quả liên tục của những tội lỗi đó.

Giáo hội của chúng tôi dạy rằng tội lỗi có hai một hậu quả. Thứ nhất, tội lỗi ngăn cản chúng ta khỏi sự cứu rỗi đời đời. Hiệu ứng này được khắc phục thông qua việc xưng tội và lãnh ơn tha thứ. Tuy nhiên, có một hiệu ứng thứ hai được gọi là “hình phạt tạm thời” (xem Sách Giáo Lý của Giáo Hội Công Giáo #1471–1473). “Hình phạt” này không đến từ Thiên Chúa, mà đến từ tội lỗi. Điều đó có nghĩa là khi chúng ta phạm tội, ngay cả trong một cách ít nghiêm trọng hơn, chúng ta trở nên gắn bó với tội lỗi đó và sự cám dỗ liên tục để quay trở lại với chúng ta và những tội lỗi này được củng cố và gắn bó hơn với chúng ta. Do đó, việc hoán cải liên tục của chúng ta cũng có nghĩa là chúng ta nghe Chúa phán: “Hãy cởi trói cho anh ta và để anh ta đi.” Điều này đặc biệt được thực hiện bằng cách liên tục hoán cải và tăng trưởng thêm phần nhân đức của chúng ta.

Hôm nay, hãy suy ngẫm về tính biểu tượng phong phú mà chúng ta đã thấy trong câu chuyện về việc Chúa cho ông La-xa-rơ sống lại từ cõi chết. Khi chúng ta làm thế, chúng ta hãy lắng nghe tiếng thì thầm đầy nhiệt huyết của Chúa Giêsu đang kêu gọi chúng ta: “Hãy ra khỏi đây!” Chúa Giêsu cũng đang kêu gọi chúng ta phải giải thoát khỏi tội lỗi. Chũng ta cũng hãy xác định tội lỗi mà chúng ta đã phạm và phải biết ăn năn hối cải cái tội đó trong  cùng một sự thống khổ mà Chúa Giêsu đã gánh chịu. Từ đó, chúng ta hãy xem xét bất cứ những sự cám dỗ nào đang diễn ra mà chúng ta phải vật lộn và bất cứ những sự gắn bó nào mà chúng vẫn còn vương vấn với một số tội lỗi cụ thể. Chúa Giêsu luôn mong muốn chúng ta hoàn toàn không bị ràng buộc vào tội lỗi mà được tự do. Chúng ta hãy cởi mở với những hồng ân của Chúa ban đó và làm tất cả những gì chúng ta có thể để chấp nhận nó.

Lạy Chúa nhân từ và đầy nhiệt huyết của chúng con, Chúa truyền lệnh dạy cho chúng con trong tình yêu, hãy thoát ra khỏi mọi tội lỗi. Và khi chúng con đáp lại,  xin Chúa ra lệnh xóa bỏ những hậu quả tội lỗi trong quá khứ của chúng con vì tội lỗi. Lạy Chúa, xin giải thoát chúng con khỏi mọi tội lỗi đang ràng buộc chúng con để chúng con dược vững bước trên con đường nhân đức vinh quang hầu dẫn chúng con đến niềm vui vĩnh cửu.

 

5^th Sunday of Lent Year A

“Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” John 11:43–44

The death of Lazarus can be seen as a symbolic representation of the soul that has died from mortal sin. This is similar to the fact that leprosy, physical ailments and the like are also symbols of sin. For that reason, Jesus’ initial reactions reveal how we should respond to serious sin in our lives. When Jesus faced the death of Lazarus, “he became perturbed and deeply troubled,” “Jesus wept,” He became “perturbed again” and He “cried out in a loud voice.” Though Jesus was God, He freely chose to assume human nature and to experience human emotions and passions to teach us how we should react. In this case, He chose to become perturbed, deeply troubled, to weep and to cry out to show us how we should react to grave sin. Grave sin kills the spirit. As a result, we must be deeply affected if we commit or witness a grave sin.

One lesson we can take from this passage is that when you or a loved one falls into grave sin, it must not be ignored. Final impenitence is a sin by which a person fails to have appropriate remorse for sin and reacts to it in a dismissive and casual manner. This cannot be our reaction. Begin by considering the great value of taking sin seriously, reacting to it with passion and emotion, and crying out to God for forgiveness.

When Jesus cried out, commanding Lazarus to come out of the tomb, the details were added that Lazarus did come forth but was still bound “hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth.” Saint Augustine teaches that, in part, this symbolizes the entire process of confession and the forgiveness of sins. First, no person is capable of confessing their sins by their own effort. It must be that they are moved by grace and the command of our Lord to come forth to show themselves in their bound state to God. Lazarus’ obedience to Jesus’ command symbolizes the Christian’s response to God when called to repentance. When our Lord says, “Untie him and let him go,” this symbolizes the unmerited effect of the Sacrament of Confession and the power it has to release a person not only from their sins but also from the ongoing effects of those sins.

Our Church teaches that sin has a double consequence. First, it keeps us from eternal salvation. This effect is remedied through Confession and forgiveness. However, there is a second effect called “temporal punishment” (see the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1471–1473). This “punishment” is not from God, but from sin. It means that when we sin, even in a less serious way, we become attached to that sin and that the ongoing temptation to return to it is strengthened. Thus, ongoing conversion also means we hear our Lord say, “Untie him and let him go.” This is especially accomplished by ongoing conversion and growth in virtue.

Reflect, today, upon the rich symbolism found in the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. As you do, listen for the passionate voice of Jesus who calls to you, “Come out!” What sin is Jesus calling you to be free from? Identify that sin and repent of it with the same passion that our Lord exhibits. From there, consider any ongoing temptation you struggle with and any attachment you still have toward a particular sin. Jesus desires that you be completely unbound and set free. Be open to that grace and do all you can to accept it.

My merciful and passionate Lord, You command me, in love, to come forth from all sin. And when I respond, You command that the effects of my past sins be removed. Please free me, dear Lord, from all that binds me so that I will be set firmly on the glorious road of virtue that leads to eternal joy. Jesus, I trust in You.

 

Ngày 25 tháng 3 - Lễ Đức Mẹ Truyền Tin

Ngày 25 tháng 3 - Lễ Đức Mẹ Truyền Tin 

       Năm nay chúng ta cử hành lễ Đức Mẹ Truyên truyền trong mùa Chay. Trong ngày mừng kính lễ này nhìn lại những sự kiện trước khi sự ra đời của Chúa Giêsus Kitô ngay cả khi chúng ta suy gẫm về sự khổ nạn của Đấng Cứu Thế. Trong các bài đọc hôm nay đều mang lại cho chúng ta chiều sâu về sự mầu nhiệm (huyền kí) xung quanh sự nhập thể, sự khổ nạn, cái chết và sự phục sinh của Chúa Giêsu Kitô.
            Chúa Giêsus là người mà dân tộc Do thái hằng trông đợi, Ngài là Đấng Emmanuel mà Thiên Chúa đã chọn để ở giữa chúng ta. Đồng thời, Mùa Chay cũng nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng chính Chúa Giêsu cũng là người bị dân tộc mà Thiên Chúa đã chọn làm dân riêng khinh chê, chối bỏ.
            Trong Thư gửi tín hữu Do Thái, chúng ta thấy tất cả những lễ vật hy sinh khác để dâng lên làm của lễ hiến tế Thiên Chúa đã bị đánh bại bởi sự hy sinh của Chúa Jêsus như thế nào;  một sự hợp thông của linh mục chủ tế, lễ vật hy sinh và bàn thờ. Đây là một dịp tốt để chúng ta suy ngẫm về cuộc sống của chúng ta ... để tìm hiểu những chiều kích hoạt động khác nhau trong cuộc sống của chúng ta là gì: thánh hiến thiêng liêng và thế tục, tâm linh và trần tục, những thành công và thất bại của chúng ta. Đây là khoảnh khắc để chúng ta nhìn vào cuộc sống của chúng ta về mặt triết lý ... Những khoảnh khắc giống nhau mà chúng ta truy niệm có thể bị gieo rắc những nỗi buồn; Những sự cố có vẻ là buồn sầu, nhưng thực sự là mang lại niềm vui.
            Lạy Chúa, Xin Chúa hãy ban cho chúng con sự kiên nhẫn để hiểu được tầm quan trọng của mỗi sự việc trong cuộc sống và giúp chúng con biết phân biệt hành động của Chúa trong từng khoảnh khắc của cuộc đời chúng con.
 
Reflection Annunciation of the Lord 3/15/
It is appropriate that we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation of the Lord within the season of Lent. This feast looks back at the events that preceded the birth of Jesus Christ, even as we meditate on the passion of Christ. Today’s readings together bring to us the depth of mystery surrounding the incarnation, death and resurrection of the Lord. Jesus was the much awaited one, Emmanuel, God who chose to dwell among us. At the same time, Lent reminds us that this same Jesus was the one despised by the chosen race, the priestly nation. In the Letter to the Hebrews we read how all other sacrifices were superceded by this one sacrifice of Jesus — a confluence of the priest, the sacrifice and the altar.
            That being so, it is a good occasion for us also to reflect on our lives... to find out what are the different dimensions operating in our life — the sacred and secular, the spiritual and the mundane, our successes and failures. This is the moment for us to look at our lives poetically... philosophically... The very same moments we celebrate might be sprinkled with sadness; incidents which appear sorrowful might indeed bring joy.
Lord, give me the patience to comprehend the significance of each event and to discern your action in every moment of my life.
 
Solemnity of the Annunciation, March 25
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”  Luke 1:26–28
Imagine if the Angel Gabriel, the glorious Archangel who stands before the Most Holy Trinity, were to come to you and announce to you that you were “full of grace” and that “The Lord is with you.” What an indescribable and awe-inspiring experience that would be! And yet this is exactly what happened to this young teenager, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We celebrate today this amazing event that took place, marking the moment when God took on human flesh within her blessed womb. Note that today is nine months before Christmas. The Church gives us this Solemnity today to invite us to walk with Mary over these coming nine months so as to join her in her rejoicing over the birth of her divine Son.
Much could be said about this glorious Solemnity. We could ponder Mother Mary and her Immaculate Conception. We could ponder the very words spoken by the Archangel. We could ponder the mystery surrounding her pregnancy and the way in which God chose to set this gift into motion. And we could ponder so much more. Though all of these aspects are worth fully pondering and praying over, let’s focus upon the reaction of this young woman to the angelic announcement.
First, we read that Mary was “greatly troubled” and “pondered” these words spoken by the Archangel. Being troubled reveals that Mary did not have full knowledge of what the Archangel was revealing. But the fact that she pondered the words also reveals her openness to a fuller understanding. She then seeks a deeper gift of knowledge by asking, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” This response is first an assent of belief in faith followed by a request for a deeper understanding of this revelation. Faith is the ability to assent to that which we do not fully understand, but true faith always seeks a deeper understanding—and this is what Mary did. After being given some further revelation by the Archangel, Mary fully accepts what was revealed and trusts that what she was told was all she needed to know at that time. And then she offers what has come to be known as her “fiat.” She says, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” This fiat of Mary is her perfect prayer of surrender to the will of God, and it is also the perfect model for how we all must respond to the will of God. We must see ourselves as true servants of His will, and we must fully embrace whatsoever God asks of us, completely uniting our wills to His.
Reflect, today, upon these words of our Blessed Mother: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” How is God asking you to make this your prayer also? How is God calling you to serve His most holy will? Are you willing to fully assent to anything and everything God asks of you? As you prayerfully reflect upon this fiat of our Blessed Mother, seek to unite her response to yours so that you, too, will be a servant of the most high God.
Father in Heaven, You sent Your Son to become incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Your glorious Archangel Gabriel brought forth this Good News. May I always be attentive to the messages You send forth to me as You invite me to join in Your divine mission of bringing Your Son into the world. I say “Yes” this day, dear Lord, to serve Your most holy will. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Saturday 4th week of Lent – March 25 Solemnity of the Annunciation
Opening Prayer: Lord, I believe you are making everything new within me. I hope in you, Lord Jesus, that your promise of mercy that you have made to me will be fulfilled in this life and the next. I love you, Lord, for I know you have thought of me from all eternity with a special mission in mind. Give me the strength to fulfill that mission!
Encountering Christ:
1. God’s Love for Mary: The first thing the Annunciation reveals to us is that God has loved us from all eternity. “Do not be afraid,” the angel says, “for you have found favor with God.” God has a special predilection for each and every one of us, and from all eternity, we have found favor in his heart. Let’s take a moment to thank Our Lord for his eternal love, remembering the words of the prophet Jeremiah: “With age-old love, I have loved you.”
2. Mary’s Mission: God’s love for Mary had a specific and momentous mission attached to it: “...you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” Mary accepted this mission in faith, knowing that God had prepared it for her. God also has a mission prepared for us. Perhaps we have already discerned that mission or are still searching. Regardless, we continually need to ask God for the grace to say, “May it be done to me according to your word.”
3. Love Casts Out Fear (cf. 1 John 4:18): Mary showed that the words of St. John in his first letter hold true for all of us: there is no fear in love. Mary was able to say, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord” only because she was sure of God’s love for her, and because she loved the Lord immensely. Now, we aren’t all the Blessed Virgin Mary, but even our imperfect attempts at love are still enough to cast out the devil’s weak attempts to make us afraid. Lord, keep perfecting our love so that we may accept your will!
Conversing with Christ: Lord, you know how imperfect my love is. Still, I know you have loved me from all eternity and created me for a specific mission. Lord, grant me the grace to say with Pope Clement XI:
“I want whatever you want
The way you want it
For as long as you want it.”
In this way, I will be your missionary, Lord, totally open to your will. Fiat!
Resolution: Lord, today, by your grace, I will offer up a small difficulty or confusing moment as coming from you, my loving Lord.