Suy niệm lời Chúa
Thứ Tư 28 thuờng niên (Luke 11:42-46)
Điểm chính của bài học mà Chúa Giêsu dạy chúng ta hôm nay
là cốt lõi của giới răn Thiên Chúa đó là
tình yêu thương, yêu thương là giới răn quan trong nhất, và yêu mến Thiên Chúa
và thương yêu những người chung quanh là những người được tạo dựng nên theo giống
hình ảnh Thiên Chúa. Thiên Chúa là tình yêu (1 Gioan 4:8) và tất cả mọi thứ
Ngài dựng nên đuộc phát sinh ra từ tình yêu của Ngài cho chúng ta. Tình yêu
Thiên Chúa là Tình yêu vô điều kiện và hoàn toàn hướng tới những lợi ích cho
người khác. Tình yêu thương chân thật đều biết chia xẻ và nâng đỡ những gánh nặng
của người khác. Thánh Phaolô đã nhắc nhở chúng ta như trong thư gửi tín hữu
Rôma rằng "Thiên Chúa đã đổ tình yêu của Ngài vào lòng chúng ta, nhờ Thánh
Thần mà Người ban cho chúng ta." (Rô-ma 5:5).
Mỗi ngày trong cuộc sống của chúng ta, Thiên Chúa đã ban cho mỗi
người chúng ta những hồng ân của Ngài hầu giúp chúng ta có đủ sức mạnh để chúng
ta yêu thương nhau như Ngài đã yêu thương chúng ta và giúp chúng ta dỡ bỏ những
gánh nặng của người khác để họ cũng có thể trải nghiệm được ân sủng và tình yêu
của Chúa Giêsu Kitô.
Reflection Luke 11:42-46
The point of lesson Jesus teach us today is the essence of God's commandments is love;
love of the supreme good ; and Love God himself and love of our neighbor who is
made in the image and likeness of God. God is love (1 John 4:8) and everything
he does flows from his love for us. God's love is unconditional and is wholly
directed towards the good of others. True love both embraces and lifts the
burdens of others. 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 us" (Romans 5:5).
Each day in our lives,
God gives each of us sufficient grace in order for us to love as he loves and
to lift the burdens of others that they, too, may experience the grace and love
of Jesus Christ.
Wednesday
of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Then one of the scholars of the
law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.”
And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens
hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.” Luke 11:45–46
This scholar of the law had
been listening to Jesus firmly rebuke the Pharisees. As he listened, his own
conscience was pricked, and he challenged our Lord. What does Jesus do? He
quickly and firmly rebukes the scholar of the law, pointing out that the
scholar uses the law to impose heavy burdens on people. Jesus did not back down
in this rebuke of love. Instead, He directed it to the very place that His
rebuke was bearing fruit: in the conscience of this scholar of the law.
This experience of the scholar
of the law teaches us two important lessons. First, we learn from him the
importance of paying attention to our conscience when it is “pricked.” Second,
it teaches us that when this happens, it is very easy to become defensive.
What is it that pricks your own
conscience? Think back over the past month and reflect upon anything that you
became defensive about. Did something someone said bother you? If so, pay
attention to this. Sometimes we are bothered for reasons other than our own
sin. But oftentimes, what actually bothers us is that we come face-to-face with
some sin with which we struggle, and we do not want to admit it.
What if this scholar of the law
would have listened to Jesus and, instead of being offended, became grateful
for Jesus’ words? What if he would have humbly looked at his own life and
realized that he was also guilty of the very things that Jesus was condemning
the Pharisees for? If he would have done that, he would have been put in a
position to sincerely examine his actions and begin a process of change. But
this is hard to do.
Reflect, today, upon anything
that has recently offended you. Be honest and admit that it is often the case
that when God presents you with your sin through some means such as the loving
rebuke of another, you must work diligently to overcome any pride. And when you
feel defensive, you must immediately see that as an indication that there is something
in your life that you need to change. A pricked conscience is a gift from God.
Rejoice when that happens, rather than being offended, and you will discover
one of the best ways by which you can grow in holiness of life by becoming free
of the very sin our Lord is presenting to you.
My challenging Lord, You are
constantly speaking to me in various ways. Sometimes You are gentle, and at
other times You lovingly rebuke me. Please help me to see my sin. As I do, I
pray that I will not become defensive or dismissive, rationalizing my erroneous
actions. May I learn to rejoice in all that You say to me, especially when You
speak Your rebukes of love. Jesus, I trust in You.
Wednesday 28th in Ordinary Time 2021
Opening Prayer: I join my voice to the words of today’s psalm: Lord, let
your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication. I come into your presence
knowing that you are interested in my life, that you care, that you want me to
grow in holiness and bear everlasting fruit for your Kingdom. I open my heart
to receive whatever word, whatever grace you want to give me. Hallowed be Thy
Name, O Lord, in me and through me…
Encountering Christ:
1. A Love-Hate Relationship: The history of God’s chosen people, the Jews,
and indeed, the history of the entire human family, is marked by the
beneficiaries of God’s generosity repeatedly rebelling against God. Jesus
invoked this history when he pointed out the violence committed against Abel
and Zechariah, two bookends of the Old Testament. He showed that the generation
of religious leaders who were rejecting him, and who would crucify him, were
linking themselves to all the past rebellions against God, bringing them to a
climax, in fact. In short, Jesus called out their sin. He hoped that in so
doing, he would stimulate them to reflection and repentance. This rebellious
spirit is within each one of us. As children of Adam and Eve, the initiators of
mankind’s rebellion against God, we have a strong tendency to want to dictate
how things should be in our lives and in the world, regardless of God’s
providence or sovereignty. Where do I see this rebellious spirit in my life?
Where do I join the crowd who opposes God’s will and God’s plan?
2. What Knowledge Is For: Jesus rebuked the scholars of the law
for having much knowledge but not living in accordance with that knowledge.
Unfortunately, this too is a trap that we easily fall into. We know so much,
simply by knowing our catechism and having heard so many explanations of the
Gospel. We know that obeying the moral law is the path to a flourishing life;
we know that we are each called to help build up Christ’s Kingdom; we know that
happiness is not to be found in money, pleasure, power, or popularity. And yet,
do we act according to this knowledge? Do we follow the moral law? Do we dedicate
ourselves to bringing people closer to Christ and his Kingdom? Do we direct our
energy towards living in communion with God, confident that whatever else we
may need will be given us as well if we keep his Kingdom first? Yes and no.
Like the scholars of the law, we profess faith in the truths God has revealed,
and we follow them to a certain extent. But when we take an honest assessment
of the authenticity of our Christian discipleship, we find an awful lot of room
still to grow.
3. The Pharisees Got Defensive: Jesus hoped his “woes” would startle the
Pharisees into openness or repentance. Maybe in the end, after his Passion and
Resurrection, these words came back to their minds and helped them accept the
Gospel. But their immediate reaction was to get defensive: the scribes and
Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him. What do I get defensive
about? In what circumstances do I get defensive? When we interact with our
loved ones, when we have challenging encounters at work, we often find ourselves
getting defensive. Anytime a difference of opinion seems to question our
intelligence or integrity, our initial reaction is usually to assert our
intelligence and integrity, even violently. If we can catch ourselves when we
do that, if we can become aware of when we are acting defensively, we will
capture a golden opportunity for spiritual growth. Defensiveness exposes
insecurities. Insecurities expose areas in need of God’s grace and light. Jesus
pointed out in his Sermon on the Mount that the meek and the poor of spirit are
blessed. The peacemakers are blessed. Whenever we find ourselves reacting to
something violently, it’s an opportunity to pause, ask ourselves where that
reaction is coming from, and adjust the reaction to be more Christlike, more in
harmony with virtues like humility and patience. The truth is that we all have
weak points, blind spots, areas where we need to work hard to grow in wisdom,
fortitude, faith, and temperance. When someone triggers emotional
defensiveness, we can rest assured that nine times out of ten they have exposed
one of those weak points, giving us a golden opportunity to exercise one of
those virtues.
Conversing with Christ: I want to welcome your words, Lord. I want to truly hear
what you are saying to me. But I fear that I may be more like the Pharisees
than I realize. I may be closed to your grace without realizing it. I may be
attached to my own opinions and expectations and ideas so furiously that there
is little room left for me to learn from you. Help free me from my
stubbornness, from my blindness. As painful as it may be, I want to leave my
old self behind, every single day, so as to become the new creature you want me
to be.
Resolution: Lord,
today by your grace I will notice quickly whenever I start feeling defensive
and respond by inquiring about the reasons behind someone’s statements instead
of just shutting that person down.
Reflection 2018
Jesus spoke with so much emotion in today's
Gospel reading. Woe connotes elements of sadness and anger. Jesus laments
that people who should know better behave in such unloving manner. At the same
time he is angry exactly for the same reason.
In
Sacred Space, the author says that "Jesus is attacking a certain mentality
which can all too easily be among us Christians and if we are honest, sometimes
in ourselves. It is the scrupulous observance of even the tiniest regulations,
not because it is wrong but because they by-pass the love of God which is what
really matters."
God's
commandment is rooted on love of God and love of neighbor. In essence it is
life giving. Often it becomes a measure by which people regard each
other. Following it to the letter does not guarantee one's goodness in
the eyes of God. Such mindset ignores the fact that salvation comes from God's
grace and mercy.
We
also have to face the reality that as human beings we are all sinners.
Accepting our sinful nature is the first step to conversion. For only when we
see our sinful state will we be able to appreciate God's goodness towards us.
Then and only then can we be thankful for this grace. Our response to His
immense love will be our gratuitousness in the form of our love toward our
neighbor.
The
question now is, do we accept that we are sinners?
Reflection:
Have you ever
found yourself making a judgment on another person and then realizing that you
are guilty of the same offense? Probably not often because we so easily see the
faults of other people but are very hesitant to admit our own.
When it comes to
sinfulness and wrongdoing we tend to be demanding and harsh on others, but
kinder and more considerate on ourselves. How readily we assail graft and
corruption in government officials? And yet we are not unwilling to evade
paying the correct taxes? When others curse or use foul language, they are
foul-mouthed and boorish; when the same comes out of our mouths, they are
harmless "expressions." The courts would easily condemn a cell-phone
thief-snatcher but take ages to convict a plunderer.
In the Gospel
reading Jesus condemns the Pharisees and the teachers and leaders of Israel for
their self-righteousness and hypocrisy: they focus on externals and
minutiae of observance of the Law and forget the Spirit and real purpose of the
Law. They stress observance of the Law and forget about the people to be served
and protected and helped by the Law.
How much of the
Pharisees condemned by Jesus is there in each one of us? How much
hypocrisy is there in us? How easily do we judge others? How much do we
ourselves focus on externals? How often have we forgotten the spirit
behind the Law and that the real purpose of Law is to help and protect real
people?
Suy
Niệm bài đọc Thứ Ba Tuần thứ 28 Thường Niên
Trong bài đọc thứ Nhất hôm nay, Thánh Phaolô nhắc nhở
Giáo Đoàn Rôma rằng họ được cứu bởi vì họ có niềm
tin vào Chúa Kitô và Tin Mừng. Thánh Phao
lô cũng nói rằng chúng ta biết được Thiên Chúa là
do bởi những
công trình mà Chúa đã tạo ra trong thế giớ và trong cuộc sống của chúng ta..
Trong bài Tin Mừnh, Chúa Giêsu đã khiển trách những người Pharisêu
vì lòng đạo đức giả của họ, họ thờ phượng Thiên Cha bằ môi miệng trong nhiều quy tắc: họ có hàng đống
luật lệ như nhỡng
toa thuốc vô tận về sự thanh tẩy và sự sạch sẽ của
họ với những nghi thức bề ngoài như
việc chuẩn bị thức ăn và cách ăn uống. Tuy
nhiên, lòng của họ thì "đầy tham
lam và ác độc."
Điều quan trọng thực
sự chính là những gì chúng
ta đang làm bằng tất cả trái tim, lòng nhiệt huyết
và cuộc sống của chúng ta.
Lạy Chúa, xin giúp chúng con hiểu biết về Chúa nhiều ơn
thêm và có ược tấm
lòng quảng ại và từ bi. Xin Chúa giúp
chúng con lạy Chúa, đừng bao giờ để con đi tìm lỗi của người
khác nhưng
giúp chúng biết yêu thương lại. Xin Chúa giúp
chúng con biết thông cảm
và không xét đoán người khác trong động cơ và hành động của họ. Xin Chúa dạy
chúng con biết khiêm tốn và rộng lượng.
REFLECTION
In the first reading Paul reminds the
Church in Rome that they are saved by their belief in Christ and the Good News.
Paul also says that we know God from his works, the world he had created..
In the Gospel reading Jesus reprimands the Pharisees for their hypocrisy
in their many rules: they have endless prescriptions about ritual purity and
cleanliness, about preparing food and eating. Yet they are "full of greed
and evil." What is truly important is what we are in our hearts and inmost
being.
Lord, help me to become more understanding and compassionate. Help me,
Lord, not to be a fault-finder but a loving person instead. Help me to be
discerning and yet not judgmental of others in their motives and actions. Teach
me to be humble and generous.
Tuesday 28th in Ordinary time 2023
After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him
to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was
amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal.
The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of
the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You
fools!” Luke 11:37–40
It’s hard to imagine Jesus
calling someone a fool. But that’s exactly what He did. This Pharisee had just
finished listening to Jesus give a series of teachings and then invited our
Lord to His home for dinner in an apparent gesture of kindness. But as the
passage unfolds, it’s clear that this Pharisee is no friend of Jesus. Instead,
his hospitality and kindness are a cloak for the evil within his soul.
Why does Jesus respond so
fiercely, calling the Pharisee a fool? Because this Pharisee is filled with
hypocrisy. His exterior actions do not flow from a heart filled with charity
and faith. Instead, his exterior actions are a show. He is a fraud. He, like
many of the Pharisees, was very concerned with various external rituals, such
as scrupulously washing his hands before he ate. He believed that doing so was
a sign of his holiness and closeness to God. But it wasn’t. His heart was one
that was filled with judgment and self-righteousness. He looked down on others
and elevated himself. In doing so, he deceived others and even deceived himself.
The central message we must
take from this is that we must diligently focus upon that which is in our
hearts. Our hearts, our interior life, must be blooming with love of God and
others. We must place all of our efforts on cultivating a sincere life of virtue
within. This is done by prayer and humility. Humility will open our eyes to see
the truth of who we are. Prayer will strengthen us to change as we see that
which needs to be changed within. Only then, when we see clearly the truth of
who we are and prayerfully rely upon grace obtained by prayer, will we be able
to become people of true integrity and holiness. And only then will our
interior holiness be made manifest externally in our actions.
Reflect, today, upon these
powerful words of Jesus: “You fools!” Don’t be offended by these words; they
are words of love from our Lord. They are His fierce attempt to wake this
Pharisee up and lead him away from his hypocrisy. Listen to these words as if
they were also spoken to you. Every one of us can humbly benefit from this
loving chastisement from Jesus. Every one of us needs to humbly be transformed
more fully interiorly. Let Jesus’ words speak to you and reveal to you the ways
that you need to change. Perhaps your pride has led you to an interior practice
of judgment of others. Perhaps it has blinded you to sins that you need to
confess. If you can listen to these words as if they were spoken to you, then
Jesus’ fervor will reach you, and your eyes will be opened to that which is in
your soul that needs to be changed. Do not turn a blind eye to this. Be open,
be humble and listen.
My fervent Lord, You spoke
words of love in many ways. At times You were gentle and at times You were
firm. Please give me the grace and humility I need to be open to Your firm
rebukes of love. Help me to sincerely see the ways in which I need to change my
life so that Your grace will transform my interior life, flowing over into my
actions. I love You, dear Lord. Help me to love You more. Jesus, I trust in
You.
Tuesday 28th Ordinary Time 2023
Opening Prayer: In today’s psalm you make us a promise: The
Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. I
call upon you right now! I call upon you to be with me, to comfort me, to
enlighten me, to grant me all the grace I need so that I can live this day to
the full, glorifying you and moving forward on the path of holiness.
Encountering Christ:
1. Seventy-Two: In Jewish tradition, the number seventy-two
(or seventy, depending on the sources) has symbolic significance. It was considered
the number of gentile nations in the world. It was the number of members of the
Sanhedrin, the Jewish governing body. It was the number of elders chosen to
assist Moses. Scholars disagree about how to link these Old Testament realities
to Christ’s choice to send out seventy-two disciples, in addition to his
original Twelve Apostles. Many Catholic spiritual writers, however, see in this
gesture a preview of Christ’s great commission to his Church, given after his
Resurrection and right before his Ascension, to “go and make disciples of all
nations.” Jesus wants his Gospel to spread. He wants the peace that comes with
his mercy and truth to spread. He wants all people in every single corner of
time and history to discover that God loves them and enter into friendship with
him. This is the deepest desire of his heart. And this is why Pope St. Paul VI
could write: Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the
Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize (Evangelii
nuntiandi, 14). Is that how I think about the Church and my role in the Church?
2. Asking for Laborers: Jesus commands us to ask the master of
the harvest to send out laborers for the harvest. Traditionally, this is
understood as a call to pray for vocations, to pray that God will call many men
and women to dedicate themselves completely to spreading Christ’s Kingdom by
word, deed, and example. Jes
us tells us that the harvest is abundant, but the
laborers are few—there are many opportunities for spreading Christ’s Kingdom,
but few people are taking advantage of those opportunities. Few people seem to
have the spiritual sensitivity to hear God’s voice calling them to this work.
Few people seem to have the spiritual courage to heed the call even when they
hear it. Add to the innate difficulty of hearing and heeding the call today’s
additional obstacles–the cacophonous, frenzied, secularized noise that
surrounds and oppresses us through popular, digital culture–and we can see why
Jesus asks us to pray. When we pray for these vocations, we send unseen
spiritual reinforcements to help open the ears and strengthen the hearts of
those whom God is calling. If this is something Jesus himself is asking of me,
how could I not make it a priority?
3. Thanking St. Luke: Today the Church celebrates the feast of
St. Luke, the only non-Jewish writer of the New Testament. Luke was a writer,
doctor, and artist who ran into St. Paul and decided to join the intrepid
Apostle on his missionary journeys. In today’s first reading, we got a glimpse
of St. Paul during his imprisonment and trial in Rome, when so many of his
companions abandoned him. We can infer a twinge of sadness when he wrote, Luke
is the only one with me. Luke didn’t meet Jesus while he was still traipsing
the paths of Galilee. Instead, he gathered the material for his Gospel by
interviewing those who had known Jesus, and he put together his narrative with
a special emphasis on the aspects and perspective that would help non-Jewish
readers understand and appreciate the good news of Christ. He added a second
part (in a sense) to his Gospel, The Acts of the Apostles, which shows how the
early Church embodied the Gospel and continued Christ’s Incarnation through
their own witness, miracles, and sufferings. St. Luke symbolically joins the
ranks of the seventy-two disciples whom Jesus sent out to spread the Gospel
because through his writings he too responded to the Lord’s call to go and make
disciples of all nations. Each one of us is called somehow to join those ranks.
How am I responding to that call in my life?
Conversing with Christ: At times, Lord, I am puzzled by your
decision to make the spreading of your precious Gospel, the building up of your
eternal Kingdom, dependent upon the cooperation of normal, flawed, weak people
like myself, like the seventy-two, like St. Luke. It’s a rather strange
strategy, you must admit. And the news headlines are continually reminding us
of the downside of the risk you took—all the scandals of Christian disciples
who are unfaithful to their calling. But I cannot deny that this was indeed
your decision. I want to accept the call you offer me, to bring your Gospel to
those around me, as best I can, just as St. Luke did. Be my strength, Lord
Jesus, and make me a harbinger of your salvation.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will make a special visit to a
Eucharistic chapel and offer a decade of the rosary (or some other prayer) to
ask the master of the harvest to send out workers to his harvest.
Suy Niệm bài đọc thứ Hai Tuần 28 Thường Niên
Qua bài Tin Mừng chúng ta Chúa Giêsu đã từ chối những đòi hỏi người Do Thái yêu cầu đó là làm các phép lạ hay đưa ra những dấu lạ đương thời cho thấy để họ
tin. Nhưng Ngài đã chỉ cho họ biết về những dấu lạ riêng của Ngài qua hình
ảnh ôngGiona và những
lời cảnh báo của Giona!
Ma quỷ cũng có đòi hỏi những việc như thế, trong khi ngài
ăn chay và bị cám dỗ, Chúng đã thử lòng Ngài và xúi ngài ném mình xuống từ
đỉnh cao của đền thờ (Lc. 9-11). Chúa Giêsu đã khiêm tốn và hạ mình, Ngài đã
không thực hiện
những đìều lạ và kỳ diệu để phô
trương quyền năng và sức mạnh của Ngài.
Hôm nay, chúng ta đã chứng kiến
cảnh đám đông người đã vội vàng xô lấn nhau để tới phiên mình "chữa bệnh" và họ mong muốn rằng sẽ nhìn thấy phép
lạ chữa lành của Chúa được xảy ra ngay trước mắt họ!
Phần chúng ta hôm nay, Chúng ta
hãy tự hỏi chính mình coi, Sự cải hoá cá nhân của chúng ta có phải là một nhiệm
vụ cấp bách đối với chúng ta? Dấu hiệu của Giô-na có ý nghĩa gì đối với chúng
ta, và chúng ta phải làm thế nào để đáp ứng với những lời Chúa Giêsu cảnh cáo
chúng ta hôm nay.
Lạy Chúa, Chúa đã Chết đi và đi
vào trong lòng đất ba Ngày như ông Giôna đã sống trong bụng cá voi ba ngày, Và
chính Chúa đã sống lại hiển vinh để cứu rỗi và cho chúng con có được cuộc sống
mới trong Chúa. Xin Chúa Hướng Hẫn và Thánh Hoá chúng con, để chúng con được
sống đời với Chúa trên
nước Thiên Đàng.
Reflection Monday 28 Ordinary Time
When
we are very busy, yes, even obsessed with ourselves, we are unable to see
goodness in others, (outside ourselves). God is surely present and active in
our life, our world. It takes courage to burst out of our own selves to behold
his presence and plan in and through others. Yet there are many signs of his
presence and love; but if we are not open for him in others, we will suffocate
in our own selves. The presence and call of God are very real in our life,
history and the world. The Ninevites were outside Israel, yet they listened to
Jonah’s preaching, and responded to God’s call to repentance: from the king to
the last animal!
Jesus refuses his contemporaries their request for a sign, other than his
own person and message he proclaimed, and the person of Jonah and his
preaching! The devil too had such a demand in asking Jesus to throw himself
down from the pinnacle of the temple (Lk. 9-11). Jesus refuses to make any show
of such feats of power. Today, we witness crowds who rush to “healing”
sessions, eager to see miracles of healing happening before their very
eyes! Is personal conversion an urgent
task for us? What does the ‘sign of Jonah’ mean to me, and how do I respond to
Jesus
Reflection Monday 28 Ordinary Time
2023
“This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no
sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to
the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.” Luke 11:29–30
Do you ever find yourself
looking for signs from God? Often when we go through life, navigating through
the ups and downs we all experience, we can easily find ourselves looking for signs
from God about what we should do about this or that. And though God certainly
communicates to us at times through special graces that are signs from Heaven,
the passage above gives clarity to what sign we must be most attentive to.
The simple message in this
Gospel passage from our Lord is that we must discover the meaning of the most
profound sign ever given and use that as the foundation of all our decisions in
life. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection were not only the source of eternal
life, they are also the clearest sign we need as we make all of our decisions
in life.
A sign is some action that
reveals a deep and hidden mystery. One mystery that Jesus’ life, death and
resurrection reveals is that if we are to share in the new life won for us by His
Cross, then we must follow the example He set by living a life of selfless
sacrifice, laying down our lives for others, so that they will discover and
embrace the new life of Christ’s Resurrection. Practically speaking, if you
find yourself looking for answers in life, seeking signs from God about what
you should do at times, then turn your eyes to the life of Christ and ponder
ways in which you can more fully imitate His life in every daily practical
decision you make. This is true whether you are discerning some important
decision in life or some small practical decision.
It is common to engage in such
a discernment by looking at ourselves in a more selfish way. It’s difficult to
move away from this line of thinking, but if we are to use the “sign” of the
Son of Man, then we will discern our life decisions very differently. When we
use the life, death and resurrection of our Lord as the source of our
discernment and decision making in life, then we will end up making decisions
that imitate His selfless sacrifice of love. So if you are faced with a
decision, you will not ponder what is easier or what you prefer; rather, you
will ponder what is more selfless and best for others. What is it that best
imitates the sacrificial love of Jesus?
Reflect, today, upon any
decision you are trying to make. Then reflect upon how you are going about this
decision. Do you use the witness Jesus gave to us as the foundation of your
discernment? Do you reflect upon how you can lay your life down as a
sacrificial gift for others? Do you look at love from the point of view of the
Cross of our Lord and strive to imitate His glorious and selfless dedication to
the salvation of those whom He loves? Seek to imitate our Lord, using the
witness of His actions as the foundation of all of your discernment and
decisions in life, and you will have discovered the only true sign you need to
navigate the challenges of life.
My perfect Lord, every decision
You made in life was made out of love and was in accord with the perfect will
of the Father. Give me the grace I need to make every decision in life in
imitation of Your perfect example. May my life imitate You as You laid down
Your life for others. I choose You and Your glorious sacrificial life as the
sign by which I am directed in life. Jesus, I trust in You.
Reflection Monday 28 Ordinary Time 2023
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe that you are present here as I
turn to you in prayer. I trust and have confidence in your desire to give me
every grace I need to receive today. Thank you for your love. Thank you for
your immense generosity toward me. I give you my life and my love in return.
Petition: Lord, grant me this grace of conversion.
1. Law for the Law’s Sake: The Mosaic Law was intended to
free them for worship, delivering them from slavery to pagan gods and from
slavery to sin. When the Law (and the added customs and regulations) became an
end in itself, it was truncated and severed from the One to whom it was meant
to lead. Today in the Catholic Church, there are enough laws, customs, and
regulations to make even the most rigorous Pharisee proud. The danger is that
we can fall into one of two traps. First, we can adhere to them with such vigor
that we lose sight of the One they are freeing us to worship. We don’t allow
our hearts and minds to be educated and formed by them; we just follow them
blindly. We wind up cleaning the outside of the cup and stopping there, without
going on to see God’s love and let it purify our hearts.
2. The Second Trap: The second trap we can fall into is at the
other extreme: to give ourselves an easy pass by presuming that “if my heart is
in the right place, I don’t need to worry about all these rules and such.” With
a lax attitude, we permit ourselves to ease up on fulfilling these laws, which
in truth will free us. “I know today is Sunday, and I should go to Mass, but
it’s vacation! God knows I’m a good person.” Yet it is in the Sunday Mass that
we receive the many graces necessary toward our being that “good person.” The
commandment to keep the Sabbath holy, as with any of the Ten Commandments and
customs of the Church, is there to lead us to God. These free us from our often
confused subjective conclusions about how we should worship God and live our
lives.
3. Cleaning the Cup: “Charity covers a multitude of sin” (1 Peter
4:8). The law of love is the most important of all the commandments of the
Lord. In Chapter 12 of the Gospel of Mark, Christ responds to a scribe’s
question about the first of all the commandments: “The first is this: ‘Hear, O
Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your
strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these.” Love of God and neighbor is
both the source and the summit of the Law of the Old Covenant and the New.
Living these two greatest commandments purifies and cleanses our hearts—the
inside of the cup. So when Christ says to give alms, he is telling the
Pharisees to love their neighbors. Then their hearts will be clean.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I want my heart always to be focused on
you. I need your guidance, for I can’t do it alone. I need you to teach me how
to love you, how to worship and serve you. The laws you give me free me and
guide me toward you. Help me to see your hand leading me ever closer to you.
Resolution: If there is a rule or custom of the Church
that I don’t understand or don’t practice, I will read up on it to come to
understand better how it frees me and guides me in my relationship with Christ.
Suy Niệm Tin
Mừng Chúa Nhật thự 28 Thường Niên A
Đối với người Do Thái đám cưới là khoảng thời gian trọng đại được diễn ra trong niềm vui cho gia đình và lối xóm, vì
thế đám cưới người Do thái ăn mừng, vui chơi trong ba ngày đến cả
tuần lễ để mừng hạnh phúc cho vợ chồng mới. Chúa Giêsu thường dùng hình ảnh ưa thích này ví như cho thiên đàng, cho vương quốc của
ngài. Điều
này chỉ mô tả những gì Ngài mong muốn được chia sẻ với chúng ta và Ngài hứa sẽ ban cho chúng ta nước Trời nếu như chúng ta biết sống và làm theo ý Chúa:
Niềm vui đang mong chờ chúng ta sẽ vượt xa hơn bất cứ những nỗi đau khổ nào mà chúng ta có thể mang trong cuộc đời này.
Niềm hy vọng vào sự Phục sinh và sự sống với Chúa đến muôn đời sẽ tràn ngập
niềm vui và hạnh phúc tràn ngập trong chúng ta. Đức tin và hy vọng vào thiên
đàng ảnh hưởng thế nào đến việc chúng ta làm chứng để
sống như một Kitô
Giáo trong niềm vui tràn đầy trước những
thử thách trong thế giới sa đọa này?
Qua Tin Mừng, chúng ta
thấy ba lần, nhà vua phái người nhà của mình đi mời tất cả những người muốn ến dự tiệc
cưới. Chúng ta thấy rằng nhiều người đã ngu
ngốc và tự co mình trong ích kỷ riêng, bận tâm đến những
nhu cầu mưu sinh trần tục của
họ. Cuội đời
của họ bị gắn liền với những công việc,
hạnh phúc và lợi nhuận riêng của họ mà đã từ chối một cơ hội cho một cuộc vui, hạnh phúc lâu
dài và cuộc sống tốt đẹp hơn rất nhiều. Đây là một bí
ẩn và kịch tính về quyền tự do của con người chúng ta.
Chúng ta bỏ qua việc thừa nhận rằng chúng ta mắc nợ lòng
tốt của Thiên Chúa như là nguyên nhân và mục đích của chúng ta. Trong
cuộc sống của chúng ta, tính tự lập, mất tập trung và bận rộn có thể khiến
chúng ta coi những kế hoạch của Thiên Chúa là sự gián
đoạn, hay phá
rối cho cuộc sống của chính mình và chúng ta quên rằng tất cả những gì chúng
ta có sẽ không có ý nghĩa gì chúng ta nếu không chú tâm và tập trung vào Thiên Chúa. Khả năng chúng ta có thể từ
chối lời mời gọi
của Thiên Chúa sẽ thúc đẩy, xúi dục chúng ta liên tục quan tâm đến
đời sống ân sủng của mình trong tình bạn với Đức Kitô và chia sẻ lời mời tham dự
vào tiệc cưới với những người khác.
Thiên Chúa không bao giờ thiếu kém
lòngrộng lượng. Thật là một niềm an
ủi biết bao cho
chúng ta khi biết được lòng rộng lượng của Thiên Chúa không phụ thuộc vào những gì chúng ta xứng đáng được
hưởng mà phụ
thuộc vào lòng quảng đại, thương xót của Chúa và mong
muốn chúng ta
được hạnh phúc. Không một ai được mời đến
dự tiệc cưới vì công trạng hay địa vị của họ, mà là sáng kiến và sự độ lượng của nhà vua.
Chính Chúa Kitô là bữa tiệc của sự sống thần linh và ân
sủng dồi dào
cho nhân loại. Chúng ta
không xứng đáng được tiếp nhận Ngài “Lạy Chúa, con
không xứng đáng”, Mat 8: 8). Chúa luôn khao khát được chia sẻ niềm vui trong
sự hiện hữu của Ngài với chúng ta trong sự quảng đại vô bờ bến. Việc đầu tiên của
chúng ta phải
làm để đáp lại sự quảng đại và yêu thương của Thiên Chúa là chấp
nhận những món quà và ân sủng của Ngài. Chúng
ta hãy mau mắn nắm lấy cơ hội để nhận được ân sủng Chúa ban qua việc thường xuyên lãnh nhận Bí tích Thánh Thể, thường
xuyên xưng tội, và rộng mở lòng mình với ý muốn của Chúa.
Lạy Chúa, hôm nay, nhờ ơn Chúa, chúng con sẽ dành một chút thời gian để suy ngẫm và nuôi dưỡng
lòng khao khát thiên đàng của chúng con. Với niềm hy
vọng vào Sự Phục Sinh, chúng con sẽ tìm cách làm chứng cho Tin Mừng qua việc sống với niềm vui của Người Kitô Giáo khi phải đối phó với bất
kỳ thử thách nào trong thế giới hôm nay.
Reflection
Sunday 28th Ordinary Time A
Wedding feasts are a time for great joy, celebration, and
happiness. Jesus often used this favored image for heaven;
for his kingdom. It describes what he longs to share and promises to us if we
follow the way of faithful obedience to his will. The joy that awaits us will
far exceed and outlast any suffering we may carry in this life. Hope in the
Resurrection and life with God for all eternity should fill us with
overwhelming joy and happiness. How does my faith and hope for heaven influence
my witness to living as a joy-filled Christian before the challenges in this
fallen world?
Three times, the king dispatched servants to extend his
invitation far and wide to anyone interested. We see that many were foolish and
self-absorbed, preoccupied with their worldly pursuits. Attached to good things
(work, well-being, and profitability), they sadly rejected the opportunity for
something far better. Here lies the mystery and drama of our human freedom. We
overlook admitting how indebted we are to God’s goodness as the cause and
purpose of our very being. In our own lives, self-reliance, distraction, and
busyness can lead us to consider God’s plans an interruption to our own, and
forget that ours have no meaning if not centered and focused in his. The possibility
that we could reject God’s invitation should motivate us to continually care
for our life of grace in friendship with Christ and share with others an
invitation to the feast.
God is never outdone in generosity. How consoling to know
his generosity is not dependent upon what we deserve but rather on his abundant
goodness, love, and desire for our happiness. No one who had been invited to
the feast was there because of merit or status, but purely by decree of the
king’s initiative. Christ himself is the banquet of divine life and abundant
grace. We don’t deserve to receive him (“Lord, I am not worthy,” Matthew 8:8).
It is his longing to share the joy of his existence with us that overflows in
bountiful generosity. Our first duty in response to God’s loving generosity is
to accept his gift of grace. Let us run forward, embracing the opportunity to
receive grace through the regular reception of the Eucharist, frequent
confession, and openness to his will.
Lord, today, by your grace, I will spend a moment
contemplating and fostering my longing for heaven. With hope in the
Resurrection, I will seek to give witness to living with Christian joy in
responding to any challenge today.
Sunday 28 Ordinary Time 2023
Jesus again in reply spoke
to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying, “The kingdom
of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He
dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they
refused to come.” Matthew 22:1–3
Do you refuse to come? Jesus
spoke this parable to the chief priests and elders of the people because, even
though they gave the impression to others that they were true followers of the
will of God, they were, in fact, among those who refused to come to the wedding
feast of the Lamb of God. The chief priests and elders of the people were
masters at portraying themselves as something they were not. They knew how to
look good in the eyes of the people, how to avoid public criticism, and how to
appear as holy men. But they were none of the above. Inside they were
hypocrites, liars and murderers.
In this parable, three invitations
are sent forth. The first two are given to the invited guests. Though these
“invited guests” refer especially to the people of Israel who were raised in
the faith handed down from Moses and the prophets, we should also see in it
those who have been raised within the Christian faith today. After the first
invitation, those invited refused to come. After the second invitation, some
who were invited reacted with indifference, while others reacted with
hostility. These responses are common today.
When Jesus sends forth His
invitation to share in His wedding banquet today, there are many different
responses. Some are indifferent to our Lord. These are those who are so
consumed with worldly endeavors that they give little time and attention to
God. For them, the practice of the faith, such as daily prayer, attendance at
Mass and ongoing works of charity, is not important. Making money, obtaining
material possessions, indulging in entertainment and other secular pursuits are
far more the focus of their time and energy. Others, like the chief priests and
elders, are good at playing the part and acting as if they are faithful
followers, but they are actually hostile to the will of God. They are concerned
only about their appearance and not about the reality of their souls. If they
are challenged in any way, they respond with anger and attack. They are not
open to the truth of the Gospel and remain self-justified by attacking anything
or anyone who dares to call into question the direction they have taken in
life.
When the third invitation was
sent forth to all people, some responded. How completely do you respond to
Jesus’ invitation? To answer that question properly, we must “read” the
invitation and know what we are invited to participate in. The invitation given
to us is an invitation to share in the wedding feast of the Son of God. But to
attend that banquet, we must be clothed in the garment of charity. Charity is
the form of love that is sacrificial, selfless, and total. This form of love
begins by making God the center of our lives and concludes by making His will
the sole purpose of our lives. True charity will have the effect of purging all
selfishness from our lives. This is why some were hostile to the invitation.
When God invites us to a life of charity, we will be faced with a need to
change. For some, this is very difficult. They react either with indifference
or become defensive and lash out in hostility so as to protect the life of sin
they have chosen.
The parable concludes with one
of the invited guests being cast “into the darkness outside, where there will
be wailing and grinding of teeth” because he doesn’t have on a proper wedding
garment. But this wedding garment is a symbol of true charity that flows from
an authentic worship of God.
Reflect, today, upon how
charitable you are toward others, for that will determine whether you are fit
to share in the banquet of the Lord. True charity always seeks to lavish the
greatest good upon others. It seeks to do everything necessary to help others grow
in love of God. True charity never leads a person to gaze upon themselves. It
is always outwardly focused and selfless in its choices. As you reflect upon
your charity, or lack thereof, be open to the purifying invitation from Jesus
and do not react in hostility. Welcome His invitation to change and allow your
wholehearted worship of Him to transform you into a gift of love for others.
Lord of perfect charity, You
have invited all people to share in the glorious banquet of Heaven. The only
requirement is that we allow all sin and selfishness to be purged from our
lives so that we are covered with the garment of charity. I accept Your
invitation this day, dear Lord, and commit myself to the purifying fires of
Your perfect love. Jesus, I trust in You.
Sunday 28 Ordinary Time 2023
Opening Prayer: I come before you today, Lord,
distracted and discouraged, but eager to receive the grace I need to live this
day in a way that will glorify you. You know my weakness. But I believe in your
strength. I believe in your commitment to me, and through this time alone with
you, I want to renew and strengthen my commitment to you. Teach me, Lord, and
guide me along the right path.
Encountering Christ:
1. Jesus Was Not Seeking Popularity: St. Luke tells us that the crowd
following and listening to Jesus was steadily growing: While still more people
gathered in the crowd… For most of us, drawing bigger and bigger crowds would
boost our self-esteem, but maybe also feed our vanity. We would want to keep
those crowds following us, so we would try to please them, to say things that
would make them want to come back. Jesus does just the contrary. He doesn’t
stroke their self-complacency. He calls them out: This is an evil generation…
Why would Jesus speak like that to them? Maybe because what he said was true.
The generation he was preaching to, and in a sense every generation of fallen
humanity, is evil. We have a strong tendency to be self-centered,
self-absorbed, greedy, lustful, insensitive to God’s voice and to the needs of
those around us. Only a few members of that growing crowd would faithfully
follow Jesus until the end. They were seeking quick fixes for their worldly
problems; they weren’t seeking the best way to glorify God and advance Christ’s
Kingdom. What am I seeking?
2. Jesus Made Radical Claims: Solomon and Jonah were towering Old
Testament figures. And Jesus, when comparing his listeners to those who
listened to Solomon and Jonah, affirmed his superiority to both of them: …there
is something greater than Solomon here… there is something greater than Jonah
here. We call ourselves Christians, followers of Jesus Christ. And yet, does
Jesus Christ have the central place in our desires, thoughts, and plans that he
ought to have? Jesus is God! Jesus is the Word incarnate! Jesus is the Second
Person of the Holy Trinity! That same Jesus comes to us and stays with us every
single day in the Gospels, in the Eucharist, in the gifts of his Holy Spirit.
How do we respond when he comes? Do we build our lives around his grace and his
will? Oh, how he wishes that we would! What wonders he could do in our lives if
only we wouldn’t relegate him to the sidelines!
3. The Judgment Is Real: Jesus referred to “the judgment” twice
in this passage. He was warning us that all our choices in this life will have
everlasting consequences. If we choose to hear and heed his voice, it will bode
well for us at the end of our lives. If we don’t, it won’t. How often do we
think of the judgment that is to come? In ancient times, when life was short
and uncertain, people lived with a keen awareness of the fragility of their
lives and the closeness of death, the doorway to our definitive, face-to-face
encounter with God. In our days, a secularized culture tends to minimize this
long-term perspective. But if we can overcome the secular seductions, we will be
much better for it. Living our daily lives against the true horizon of eternal
life can only bring us greater wisdom, peace, and joy even now, let alone
beyond the grave. In medieval times, Christians used to intentionally reflect
on their life decisions relative to their eternal destiny, keeping in mind this
classic phrase: Quid hoc ad aeternitatem? What does this mean in the light of
eternity? If we were to do the same, we might end up avoiding a lot of misery,
both in this life and in the hereafter.
Conversing with Christ: You are greater than Solomon and greater
than Jonah. You are the Savior, the Lord, God from God, and Light from Light.
And you have loved me so much that you have given me the gift of faith, the
light to recognize the truth of your presence and your doctrine. Thank you,
Lord, for that gift and for all your gifts. I want to follow you. I want you to
be the center, the anchor, and the goal of my life. But I so easily get
distracted! I so easily forget about you and fall into living my life as if you
were not always reaching out to me and wanting to guide and enlighten me!
Forgive me, Lord. Help me to live in harmony with what I truly believe. Sacred
Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in you.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will go to confession, making
a clean break with all the selfishness of my past and resolving to live from
now on more intentionally in the light of eternity.
Sunday 28 Ordinary Time
Opening
Prayer: Lord, today I come to you with deep hope and desire to know
you and recognize your grace at work in my life. I know that my life here on
earth is a short journey moving closer to the eternal wedding feast in the
Father’s house. Help me to persevere through any difficulty or challenge I
encounter on my journey with you this day. How I need your help, your guidance,
and your protection. Increase my faith in your presence and your goodness
toward me, granting all I need as your chosen and beloved child.
Encountering
Christ:
1. Accepting the
Gift: God is never outdone in generosity. How consoling
to know his generosity is not dependent upon what we deserve but rather on his
abundant goodness, love, and desire for our happiness. No one who had been
invited to the feast was there because of merit or status, but purely by decree
of the king’s initiative. Christ himself is the banquet of divine life and
abundant grace. We don’t deserve to receive him (“Lord, I am not worthy,”
Matthew 8:8). It is his longing to share the joy of his existence with us that
overflows in bountiful generosity. Our first duty in response to God’s loving
generosity is to accept his gift of grace. Let us run forward, embracing the
opportunity to receive grace through the regular reception of the Eucharist,
frequent confession, and openness to his will.
2. Called and
Chosen: Three times, the king dispatched servants to extend
his invitation far and wide to anyone interested. We see that many were foolish
and self-absorbed, preoccupied with their worldly pursuits. Attached to good
things (work, well-being, and profitability), they sadly rejected the
opportunity for something far better. Here lies the mystery and drama of our
human freedom. We overlook admitting how indebted we are to God’s goodness as
the cause and purpose of our very being. In our own lives, self-reliance,
distraction, and busyness can lead us to consider God’s plans an interruption
to our own, and forget that ours have no meaning if not centered and focused in
his. The possibility that we could reject God’s invitation should motivate us
to continually care for our life of grace in friendship with Christ and share
with others an invitation to the feast.
3. Christian
Joy: Wedding feasts are a time for great joy,
celebration, and happiness. Jesus often used this favored image for heaven—for
his kingdom. It describes what he longs to share and promises to us if we
follow the way of faithful obedience to his will. The joy that awaits us will
far exceed and outlast any suffering we may carry in this life. Hope in the
Resurrection and life with God for all eternity should fill us with
overwhelming joy and happiness. How does my faith and hope for heaven influence
my witness to living as a joy-filled Christian before the challenges in this
fallen world?
Conversing with
Christ: My Lord, you want to offer me every good gift and grace I
need to draw closer to you as the source of my happiness. You offer your
intimate friendship to every single person. Your goodness, love, and mercy are
for everyone, including me. Please forgive me for the moments I have rejected
you out of foolishness over my own concerns. You know how hard it is for me to
overcome attachments to seeking security in my achievements, in how others
perceive me, and in worldly comforts. Help me to respond freely to seeking your
grace and expressing my gratitude with a generous and joy-filled heart each
day.
Resolution: Lord,
today, by your grace, I will spend a moment contemplating and fostering my
longing for heaven. With hope in the Resurrection, I will seek to give witness
to living with Christian joy in responding to any challenge today.
