Hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu đã đưa ra cho chúng ta
ba lời khuyên: Lời khuyên đầu tiên, "Không đem vật thánh cho cho chó, hoặc
ném ngọc trai trước mõn lợn.
Chúa
Giêsu đã cho chúng ta thấy sự tương phản giữa vật hiếm quý như ngọc trai và của
thánh, và những con vật dơ bẩn như chó và lợn. Ngọc trai là vật có giá trị rất
lớn và thậm chí được coi là vô giá được đem ra so với sự thánh thiện bởi vì
Thiên Chúa là đấng thánh, là tất cả,
Ngài mời gọi chúng ta đến để chia sẻ sự thánh thiện vô cùng quý báu và
vô giá, ở đây Chúa Giêsu muốn nói đến sự quan tâm của Ngài là Đức tin trong sự
tinh khiết. Một đức tin mà đã được Thiên Chúa thánh hóa.
Theo
các giáo huấn của Giáo hội đã dạy: Không
ai được nhận lãnh Mình và Máu Thánh Chúa ngoại trừ những người đã được rửa tội
và đã xưng tội, dọn mình sạch sẽ, vì thế mà Chúa đã nói: "Không cho chó
những gì là vật thánh" Chúa Giêsu mời gọi chúng ta đến tham dự vào bàn
tiệc Thánh với Người, nhưng chúng ta phải đến một cách xứng đáng.
Chúa
Giêsu đã tóm lược giáo lý trong Cựu Ước "bất cứ điều gì bạn muốn người ta
làm cho bạn, bạn hãy làm như vậy với họ" (Mt 7:12). Luật yêu thương không
phải chỉ là đòi hỏi bạn tránh gây thương tích hoặc gây tổn hại cho người khác,
Nhưng tình yêu tuyệt vời là một tình yêu đòi hỏi vô điều kiện và Tình yêu này
phải được tỏ ra cho tất cả mọi người.
Nếu
chúng ta có thể làm cả những gì điều trên, chúng ta đã đi đúng đường mà Chúa
muốn. Con đường dẫn chúng ta đến cuộc sống đời đời. Chúa đã cho chúng ta sự tự
do lựa chọn con đường mà chúng ta sẽ đi, Con đường rộng thênh thang hay con
đường nhỏ hẹp gồ gề khó đi. Xin Chúa cho
chúng ta được khôn ngoan để chọn con đường sẽ dẫn đến cuộc sống đời đời hơn là
con đường dẫn đến cái chết và sự tiêu diệt..
Nếu
chúng ta để tình yêu và sự khôn ngoan của Thiên Chúa cai trị tâm hồn chúng ta,
chúng ta có thể tin tưởng vào sự hướng dẫn và ân sủng của Người để đi theo con
đường của tình yêu và sự thánh thiện
Reflection Tuesday 12th Odinary
Gospel Mt 7:6, 12-14
Today, the Lord makes three recommendations.
The first one, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before
swine”. Second one: “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you”. And
the third one is: “Enter through the narrow gate.” Jesus makes a contrast in
which “assets” are associated with “pearls” and to what “is holy”; and “dogs
and pigs” to what is impure. Pearls were of very great value and even
considered priceless. The same with holiness because God is all-holy and he
invites us to share in his holiness which is very precious and priceless as
well. Jesus’ concern here is purity, the purity of the faith which has been
entrusted to us by God the most holy.
The early church referenced this expression with the Eucharist.
According to the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, a first century church manual
stated: Let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist except those baptized into
the name of the Lord; for, as regards this, the Lord has said, 'Do not give
what is holy to dogs.' The Lord Jesus invites us to his table, but we must
approach worthily.
Jesus summed up the
teaching of the Old Testament law “So whatever you wish that men would do to
you, do so to them” (Matthew 7:12). The law of love requires more than simply
avoiding injury or harm to one's neighbor. Perfect love, a love which is
unconditional and which reaches out to all, always seeks the good of others for
their sake and gives the best we can offer for their welfare. When we love our
neighbors and treat them in the same way we wish to be treated. Loving God with
all that we have and are and loving our neighbor as ourselves. How can we love
our neighbor selflessly and show them kindness and concern for their
welfare? If we empty our hearts of all
unkind and unloving thoughts and sentiments, then there will only be room for
kindness, goodness, charity, and mercy. Saint Paul reminds us in the letter to
the Romans that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the
Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5).
It is the love of
God that fuels our unconditional love for others, let the Holy Spirit transform
our life with the purifying fire of God's love.
If we can do both what recommends above, we are on the right track the
way that leads to fulfillment and life versus the way that leads to destruction
and death. The Lord gives us freedom to choose which way we will go. Ask him
for the wisdom to know which way will lead to life rather than to death and
destruction. In the book of Deuteronomy teach us: “See, I have set before you
this day life and good, death and evil. ...Therefore choose life that you and
your descendants may live (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). If we allow God's love and
wisdom to rule our hearts, then we can trust in his guidance and grace to
follow the path of love and holiness.
Tuesday
of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time.
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road
broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How
narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find
it are few.” Matthew 7:13–14.
Is fear helpful? That depends. It depends upon which form of fear
we are speaking of. First, there is a form of fear that is contrary to faith.
It’s a fear that leads us to doubt and even despair. It’s a fear that results
from the attack of the evil one and others who may sin against us. This form of
fear is unhealthy and must be overcome through a faith that turns to our Lord
with the utmost confidence and hope.
But there is also a holy fear that is most useful and one of the
seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Recall the Proverb that says, “The fear of the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” (Proverbs 9:10). At a minimal level, this
holy fear makes you aware of your sins and the consequences of those sins,
especially serious sin. And this holy fear leads you to fear the punishment
that results from sin, leading you to avoid serious sin. But the ideal form of
“fear of the Lord” we must strive for is “filial fear,” which is the holy fear
of a son or daughter of God. This fear is one that is grounded in a profound
love of God and leaves you so filled with a wonder and awe of the glory,
goodness and majesty of God that you are filled with a desire to please Him and
give Him great glory with your life. Thus, this “fear” leads you to a desire to
avoid even the smallest of sin, because, in your love of God, you not only want
to avoid offending Him, you also want to honor Him to the greatest extent
possible.
The
Scripture passage above should lead us to, at a minimum, a fear of not entering
the gate to the “road that leads to life.” It is useful to consider Jesus’
teaching in a very straightforward way. Jesus essentially says that it is quite
easy to walk through the gate that is “wide” and down the road that is “broad”
in this life. In other words, it’s exceptionally easy to embrace a life of sin
and head toward “destruction.” Jesus further says that those who walk through
this wide gate and down this broad road are “many.” This fact should be the
cause of our honest daily examination. If this broad road is so easy, then we
should honestly admit that we can easily find ourselves walking it.
The
“narrow gate” and the “constricted” road are found and walked by only a “few,”
according to Jesus’ words. Again, we should take notice of this and take it
seriously. Jesus would not say this if it were not true. Therefore, if the gift
of the fear of the Lord is alive in your life, and if you truly are a son or
daughter of God, then you will daily strive to be one of those “few” who find
this narrow way to holiness. And, ideally, you will do so out of your love for
God and your desire to give Him the greatest glory you can.
Reflect,
today, upon this challenging teaching of our Lord. Take Him at His word and
evaluate your life in light of this teaching. What are you doing in life to be
certain that you are one of those few who have begun to walk through this
narrow gate? Does your love for God leave you with such a wonder and awe of the
greatness of God that your deepest desire is to not only please Him but to
glorify Him fully with your actions? Strive to enter the narrow gate and the
constricted road and do not turn back. Though this requires much determination,
sacrifice and love, the goal and end of the road are worth it.
My
most magnificent Lord, You and You alone are worthy of all glory, honor and
praise. May everything I do in life lead to Your glory and may I avoid
everything that harms my relationship with You. I love You, dear Lord. Help me
to love You and glorify You with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
Reflection Tuesday 12th Odinary 2023.
Opening Prayer:
Dear Lord, I believe in you, in your goodness, and your interest in me. I am
coming into your presence right now full of a desire to know you better, to
praise you, and to receive whatever grace you want to give me today.
Encountering
Christ:
1.
Christian Creativity: When
Jesus commands us to “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you,” he
is enhancing a commandment in use among other rabbis during his lifetime. The
other version said, “Do not do to others what you would not like them to do to
you.” The common version uses the negative–“do not do”–and Jesus uses the
positive: “do.” The underlying sentiment in both versions is the same: other
people, every other person, is worthy of my respect and consideration. I cannot
treat other people as if they were less important or less worthy than myself. I
must see others as brothers and sisters, as fellow human beings and companions
who share my same dignity. And the way I treat them must flow from that
realization. This is the underlying sentiment in both versions of the Golden
Rule. But Jesus’s positive version adds a dimension absent in the negative
version. When we “do to others whatever you would have them do to you,” we keep
our eyes open for opportunities to serve, encourage, and support. We actually
seek opportunities to make a positive impact on the lives of others. The
negative version is more limited, encouraging us to avoid causing others damage
or putting obstacles in their path. The positive version actually includes the
negative version, but not vice versa. Jesus is inviting us not only to avoid
causing problems, but to be creative contributors to the world around us, to
the people we encounter, live with, and work with. This is an essential element
in our Christian identity. Wherever a true Christian can be found, the world
and the lives of others will be better because of that Christian’s presence.
Love is always looking for ways to build up, help, serve, improve, and beautify.
If every Christian simply lived this one commandment to the full, imagine how
different the world would be. How fully am I living it?
2.
Christ’s Challenge: Jesus
tells us that the road that leads to life is constricted, the gate that leads
to life is narrow, whereas the path leading to destruction is wide and popular.
In this one comparison, he gives us a sketch of life in a fallen world. The
default position of our fallen human nature is contrary to our true good. In
other words, it is easier for us to fall into self-centeredness,
self-indulgence, self-pity, and self-absorption than it is for us to live with
generosity, courage, kindness, charity, and creativity. This is the real core
of what is often referred to as “spiritual warfare.” A battle rages within us.
Our tendencies to sin pull us in one direction, while our faith invites us to
travel in another direction. It is hard to accept faith’s invitation and curb
our worldly desires. It would be easier to give in to those worldly
desires—they seem so easy, they promise a quick satisfaction, and everyone else
is doing it anyway. That’s the wide gate that leads us towards the frustration
of our real calling. Choosing to follow the invitation of our faith–entering in
by the narrow gate–means, at times, going against popular trends and fads,
delaying the gratification of some of our desires, and just plain working hard
to do what is right and good. Jesus knows that his way can be hard. But he
encourages us to follow it anyway. He believes in us. He knows that he made our
hearts to find their fulfillment–the fullness of life–in our relationship with
him, in obeying the commandments that reveal the authentic requirements of our
human nature. How willing am I to battle against the destructive tendencies of
my human nature in order to nourish and release the full potential of life
within me? Jesus wants me to be willing, and he will help me. I just have to
decide.
3.
Sagacious Disciples: When
Jesus warns us about the danger of giving our pearls to swine, he is teaching
to be Christian realists. Jesus understands better than any of us just how
broken our world is, just how fallen our human nature is. He knows that it is
not enough for us simply to want to do good, to be a positive influence in the
world. No, we also have to learn how to do that. We have to learn to be
sagacious about choosing the right time, place, and manner for sharing with
others the pearls of truth and grace we have received from the Lord. When a
space capsule reenters the earth’s atmosphere, it has to do so at just the
right angle and speed. Otherwise, it may bounce off the atmosphere and drift
irretrievably back into space. Or it may enter too sharply and incinerate
completely, instead of navigating toward a safe landing. It is similar to our attempts
to share with others the Good News and the wisdom of Jesus Christ through our
words and deeds. The right word spoken at the wrong time can worsen situations
rather than improving them. A good deed done with the right intention but in
the wrong circumstances can actually cause damage instead of promoting healing.
In a certain sense, this fallen world is like a battlefield strewn with
landmines. Jesus wants us to learn to identify where those mines are hidden and
develop the ability to avoid setting them off. This doesn’t need to make us
timid–after all, he also instructed us to shout from the rooftops what the Lord
whispers to our hearts–but Jesus wants it to help make us wise and discerning.
Conversing
with Christ: Your teaching
challenges me, Lord. I don’t always feel like doing to others what I would want
them to do to me. I don’t always feel like following the narrow path through
the narrow gate. I don’t always feel like taking time to reflect and discern
how I should behave. But here you are, teaching me that it is well worth it to
do all those things, even if at times I don’t feel like it. I want to trust
you, Lord, and to follow your teachings, these teachings. I want to be your
faithful disciple so that my life can bear fruit and bring me the fulfillment I
yearn for. But I need your help, Lord. Grant me your grace, Lord: light to know
what you want me to do, and strength to carry it out.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will go out of my
comfort zone in order to do something for someone else that can help them.
Afterward, I will spend some time in prayer, talking with the Lord about what
it felt like and what I learned from it.
Reflection Tuesday 12th Odinary 2021
Opening Prayer:
Lord, these are sobering words. Enlighten me
and help me to draw the lessons from this reflection that you have for me on
this day.
Encountering Christ:
Pearls to
Swine: What a vivid description Our Lord used to show us how he wants us
to evangelize! When we speak of the beauty of knowing Christ to others, love
demands that we first prayerfully assess their receptivity. It takes mature
discernment to know what to say, how to say it, and when it will be well
received. If we’re overly enthusiastic, too forceful, or speak in a churchy
tone (i.e., quoting line-and-verse of the latest encyclical to someone who
doesn’t even know Jesus), our listener may “tear us to pieces.” Additionally,
if we overshare or proffer books, website links, etc., too much too soon, we
may fail as the Lord’s emissary. Jesus wants his disciples to communicate first
and foremost his love. For this purpose, he sent his Spirit to teach us what to
say (Luke 12:12).
The Golden
Rule: What a world we would live in if people abided by the Golden Rule:
Do unto others as you would have them do to you. Our workplaces, our homes, and
our communities would be a little slice of heaven on earth. This rule of life
applies equally to Christians and non-Christians because the point of reference
for behavior is not Christ, per se, but ourselves. However, Christ told us
later in the Gospel of John to do what he has done (John 13:15). In this case,
the model for our behavior is Christ himself. Not only are we to do for others
what we would have them do to us, but we are called to imitate Christ’s love
for others: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for
one’s friends” (John 15:13). We can fulfill this lofty command only by relying
on the Lord’s grace.
The Narrow
Gate: We can certainly surmise, looking around at our current culture,
that there are many broad roads leading to destruction. But, as faithful
followers of Christ, how are we expected to respond to Our Lord’s description
of the narrow and constricted gate that leads to life? Only a few find it. How
many is “a few”? Would this “few” include me, my family members, those I pray
for, my grandparents, my future grandchildren? The best response to Jesus’s
warning is to practice the sometimes elusive virtue of hope. “Hope is the
theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as
our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our
own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 1817). Full
of hope, we emanate peace in our dealings with others, reflecting the love of
Christ in our countenance.
Conversing with
Christ: Lord, in these short lines of Scripture your admonitions are very
challenging. I need to be discerning before I speak about you, to love others
as you love them, and to enter through the narrow gate. And of course, I want
to bring my loved ones with me. Without your grace, I can truly do none of
these things. You make it very clear that I am to love you, depend on you, and
trust you with everything and everyone I care about. Please send your Holy
Spirit to bring me peace and confidence so that I may radiate not anxiety of
any kind, but only your joy.
Resolution: Lord,
today by your grace I will pray ardently for those you place on my heart and
have hope that you will bring them through the narrow gate to heaven.
REFLECTION
In the first reading
Abram and Lot separate and settle in different lands. God promises Abram land
for himself and his descendants.
The Gospel reading
gives various sayings of Jesus.
He cautions them
about not giving thing of great worth to those unable to understand or
appreciate them. Our teaching must be appropriate for those receiving them.
Jesus taught in parables so that those who can see could know what he was
teaching and those who could not see would not know what he was teaching.
Secondly,
he summarizes the Law and the Prophets in a simple statement, "Do to
others whatever you would that others do to you."
Thirdly, he
reiterates that the road to life and happiness is narrow and rough. Many choose
the most pleasant pleasurable things as their values and forget God and his
values. The narrow gate mirrors the life of the Lord who chose to be poor so
that we could be rich from his poverty.
In
several Gospel passages, such as the one we read today from Matthew, Jesus
seems to speak in a threatening way, a way that seems more calculated to
destroy our hope and peace of mind rather than to reveal to us the God who is
love. Many people delight in climbing high mountains such as Everest. The more
prudent climbers, of course, follow an experienced guide and, by following his
instructions, can accomplish the climb safely. Since many people can be very
foolish in dangerous situations, no doubt the guides have to be severe with the
climbers at times.
If
we think of Jesus as a wise and experienced guide for our journey along the
frequently treacherous and dangerous pathways of life, we will not be upset at
his apparently threatening language. Rather than lose our peace of mind, our
confidence in Jesus as our guide will be reinforced as he guides us safely
along the rough road leading to the narrow gate and then through that gate to
life everlasting.
Jesus presents himself to us
as the way: by following closely all his instructions, we grow in confidence
and hope.
Lord,
even though we may often be reluctant to follow your teaching, nevertheless,
guide us firmly and patiently along this rough road and through the gateway to
life.
