Chia sẻ Lời Chúa

Monday, November 18, 2024

Suy Niệm thứ Tư Tuần thứ 33 Thường Niên-

Suy Niệm thứ Tư Tuần thứ 33 Thường Niên-

Trong thế giới của chúng ta ngày nay, mọi người dường như ai cũng nghĩ tới lợi nhuận trong việc buôn bá, hay lợi tức trong vièc đầu tư. Hầu hết chúng ta dành thời gian của chúng ta làm việc, tĩm cách đầu và lúc nào cũng muốn co thêm lợi nhuận nhiều hơn. Chúng ta muốn có lợi tức to lớn sau khi chúng ta ơã bỏ ra một số vốn dù lớn hay nhỏ, lợi càng nhiều càng tốt cho chúng ta. Thậm chí chúng ta còn muốn nhận lãn suất nhiều hơn những gì chúng ta đã bỏ ra.

Thật vậy, dụ ngôn hôm nay Chúa muốn nói với chúng ta rằng Thiên Chúa đòi hỏi chúng ta phải biết dùng những năng khiếu và tài năng mà Chúa đã ban cho chúng để phát triển và sinh lời cho Nước Chúa. Thiên Chúa muốn chúng ta được hạnh phúc và được sống cuộc sống thật đầy đủ với những gì chúng ta đã bò công lao sức lực tài năng của chúng ta để đầu tư vào cuộc sống đời sau. Điều quan trọng là chúng ta phải nhận thấy và đánh giá cao những gì chúng ta đã đầu tư. Những ân sủng, tài năng của Thiên Chúa đã trao ban cho chúng ta một cách tự do và với tình yêu thương thật sự và vĩ đại: chúng ta phải nên cảm tạ, biết ơn và vui vẻ đón nhận và sử dụng món quà, những năng khếu của chúng ta một cách đứng đắn, với mục đích vinh danh Thiên Chúa qua việc giúp ích cộng đồng hay những người thiếu may mắn khác.

Sau hết,, chúng ta hãy cầu nguyện cho nhau, cho những ai đã cầu nguyện cho chúng ta và cho những ai cần đến những lời cầu xin của chúng ta nhiều nhất.

Reflection:

In our world today, everyone seems to be concerned about profit or return of investment. Most of the time we prefer to receive than to give. We want a return for what we have put in. We may even want to receive much more than what we have put in. In today's Gospel parable, is God teaching us about the importance of profit and return of investment?

Indeed the parable tells us that God demands that we make good use, the best use, of gifts and talents given to us. God wants us to be happy and live our lives to the fullest with what we have been given. It is important that we see and appreciate what we have been given. His gifts have been given to us freely and with great love: we should be grateful and joyful in our use of them not only for ourselves but also for others.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Wednesday 33^rd Ordinary Time 2023 Luke 19:11-28

“A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’” Luke 19:12–14

There are three categories of people in this parable. The first includes those who received a gold coin and followed the master’s request to “engage in trade” until he returned. The second has those who received the same command but were lazy and failed to produce any good fruit from that which our Lord has given them. And the third includes those who “despise” our Lord and do not want Him as their King.

Upon the king’s return, this first category of people are represented by the two servants who took the gold coins, engaged in trade, and made five and ten more. These are those who have much apostolic zeal. God not only calls us to use the gifts we have received to expand His Kingdom on earth, He also expects it of us. His expectation is a command of love. For those who understand this command, they see it as a glorious invitation to make an eternal difference in the lives of many. They do not see the apostolic works to which they are called as a burden. Rather, they see them as a joy, and that joy fuels their efforts. The result will have exponential effects for God’s Kingdom.

The second category of people is illustrated by the one servant who kept the one gold coin “stored away in a handkerchief” out of fear. These are the people who avoid evangelizing and furthering the Kingdom of God out of fear. Fear is paralyzing. But giving in to fear is a sin. It’s a lack of faith and trust in God. Serving God will inevitably require courage on our part. It will demand that we step out of our comfort zone and do that which we may not immediately feel comfortable doing. But as that servant in the parable foretold, God is a demanding God. And He will not accept fear as an acceptable excuse not to zealously help to build the Kingdom of God.

The third category of people is the category in which you definitely do not want to fall. These are those who actively work to undermine God’s Kingship and reject Him as God. The world is filled with these people. The only thing we need to say about those who fall into this category is that which our Lord said of them. “Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.”

Reflect, today, upon which category of people your life most fully resembles. Most likely it is one of the first two. Do you have great zeal for God’s Kingdom? Are you willing to do all that you can to help build His Kingdom? Are you willing to do so even at the cost of great personal sacrifice? If so, then rejoice and know that an abundant reward awaits. But if you are one who struggles with fear, specifically, if you struggle with a fear to evangelize, to share the Gospel and to live your faith openly with humility and love, then spend more time with this parable and the fate of that one servant who hid the coin in the handkerchief. Engage in the apostolate. Commit yourself to the furtherance of God’s Kingdom. Dispel all fear and know that you will never regret putting your whole heart and soul into the service of God and the building of His Kingdom.

My demanding Lord, You have entrusted me with much, and You demand that I use all that You have given me to help build Your Kingdom of grace. What a privilege it is to be called by You and used by You for this apostolic mission. Please free me from all fear, dear Lord, so that I will never hesitate to serve You in the ways that You call me to serve. Jesus, I trust in You.

Wednesday 33^rd Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, teach me to be faithful in small matters. May the gift of your grace flourish within me. I promise to engage in trade with what you have given me and do my best to produce good fruit for your kingdom.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Royal Judgment: As Jesus journeys from Jericho to Jerusalem, he tells a parable addressed to those who thought that the Kingdom of God would appear immediately. The parable in Luke is similar to one found in Matthew but also different in some ways. Unlike Matthew’s Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), in which each servant was given different amounts of money, each of the servants in Luke’s Parable of the Ten Minas was given the same amount by a nobleman. Matthew’s parable speaks about a talent, a monetary unit equal to what a person would earn over 20 years. Luke’s parable speaks about a mina, equal to the wage earned for 3 to 4 months of work. Theologically, Luke’s parable refers to Jesus’ ascension into heaven to receive the kingdom from his Father and to Jesus’ return to judge his disciples, who are called to work diligently until his return, and to judge those who reject his royal authority (Luke 19:27) (see Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 144).

2. You Created All Things: In Revelation 4 and 5, John was granted a vision of the heavenly liturgy. Today, we read Revelation 4, which contemplates and praises God for the divine work of creation. There are many images of and references to creation in John’s vision. For example, John first mentions the precious stones that were found in both the Garden of Eden and the Temple in Jerusalem, which was modeled after the garden. The garden, created by God for us, was understood as the original sanctuary, where humanity could worship God, enjoy divine blessing, walk with God, and share in God’s creative work. John also sees a rainbow, which recalls the recreation of the world after the flood and the renewal of the covenant of creation with Noah.

3. The Worship of God the Creator: John then looks at the 24 elders (presbyters) around the throne of God and contemplates the Holy Spirit in front of the throne. The 24 elders recall the 24 divisions of priests established by King David to serve in the Temple in Jerusalem. The four living creatures – the lion, the calf, the man, and the eagle – recall the Zodiac, which divides the heavens. The lion that John sees refers to the constellation Leo, the calf or bull to the constellation Taurus, the man to the constellation Aquarius, and the Eagle is a substitute for the constellation Scorpio. The stars, in the Book of Revelation and other books of the Bible, often symbolize angels. What John contemplates in Revelation 4, then, is the worship of the Lord God by the angels of heaven, represented by the four living creatures, and by glorified human beings, represented by the twenty-four elders (royal priests). Here, on earth, we share in the heavenly liturgy. Through the liturgy of the Church, we join with the saints and the angels in heaven in praising God for the great work of creation.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you reign in heaven, surrounded by the heavenly host and the saints. Keep my eyes and heart focused on you. When I contemplate the beauty of the world around me, bring me to praise you and your Father for your great work.

Wednesday 33^rd Ordinary Time 2023

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to value the talents you have blessed me with and generously use them for the glory of your name!

Encountering Christ:

1. He Gave Them Coins: “He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’” Our Lord entrusts to all of us the building up of his kingdom! By virtue of our baptism we have become heirs of the kingdom with Christ. He doesn’t hold back anything that we need for this task. Jesus wants nothing more than to share what he has received with us so that, by his grace, we can do even greater works than he did. If we could only capture what an honor it is to be invested with such responsibility! Jesus wants us to join our efforts in communion with his brothers and sisters. Do I have zeal to use my talents to “do the works of God” that he calls me to? Am I willing to work alongside others in this effort?

2. No King for Us: Despite Jesus’s complete trust in us, we often rebel, and sometimes show outright disdain, for the talents we have been given. Our fallen tendency is to want to do it our way and not have to depend on God or anyone else. Yet, this attitude always leads us to disappointment, frustration, and loneliness. Jesus tells us: “Apart from me you can do nothing!” When I engage in work–at home, at the office, or in ministry–am I aware that Jesus has rights over me, that I am using talents “on loan” from the Father? How seriously do I take his command to go and bear fruit?

3. Well Done, Good Servant!: “You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.” The Lord is never outdone in generosity! If we could only grasp the depth of love and trust Jesus willingly puts in each of us, we would fall on our faces in worship and tell him without reserve to ask anything he wishes of us. No matter what the Lord entrusts to us, little or big, he is willing to entrust us with even more if we are willing to love and serve him fully. After all, he created us and knows what is best. We can put ourselves completely in his hands without hesitation. Do our hearts reflect a servant’s gratitude toward his good and trustworthy Master?

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, my lord and king, I recognize you as lord of my life and King of the Universe. I so often struggle with a rebellious spirit that shouts out “non servium!” (I will not serve!), but I don’t want to give in to this temptation. I want to serve you in communion with others, with generosity and fidelity. Make my heart like yours and bear fruit for the kingdom with the gift of my life!

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will generously and faithfully seek to accomplish well the small duties of the day.

Wednesday 33^rd Ordinary Time Luke 19:11-28

Opening Prayer: My Lord and my God, I come into your presence for this time of prayer. I believe that you have something you wish to say to me today and I open my heart before you to receive your word. Increase my faith that I may welcome you, my hope that I may cling to you even when you seem to delay, and my love, that you may live in me more and more each day.

Encountering Christ:

The Value of Time: This passage puts us in the proper context for the upcoming Solemnity of Christ the King, the final Sunday of the liturgical year, and the last days before Advent begins. To prepare for his coming in the manger, we recall that he also reigns from the throne of his cross, where redemption was won. In this passage, Christ presents himself as this nobleman who goes off to obtain the kingship for himself and will one day return. His mission is to redeem his children, as Universal King. Our mission is to receive this great gift and to cooperate with him in making his Kingdom present. Each Christian should consider him or herself counted among these ten servants, charged with the care of “talents” in the service of our King.

The Coin: What is the “talent,” the coin given by the king? It must mean more than human qualities or characteristics, which we usually refer to as talents. The ending of the passage hints at an answer: These coins could represent the life of grace, the dwelling of God in the soul. This sanctifying grace comes from Baptism, we know; it is wounded by sin but grows with every act of openness and surrender, of trust and self-giving to God. In a word, love causes this life to grow, because God is love. And all authentic love comes from him. Fear, doubt, clinging to one’s own insecurities—these can make us like the fearful servant, unwilling to take the risk of love.

Great Love: Jesus’ words at the end of this passage may seem strong to us—a grave admonition we find it hard to swallow. But if we dig a bit deeper, we can hear the heart of the King—a King whose heart would soon be pierced open to wash his children clean in the blood of the Lamb (c.f. Revelation 7:14). From the depths of the heart of God, he longs for all to be saved. How often our response to God’s invitations can be hesitation, fear, or the desire for control or perfection. But what he desires is faith, hope, and love. So great is his desire, and often so great our hardness of heart, that he speaks this strongly, hoping we will understand and heed his warning.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I place myself at your feet. You are my King and King of the whole world. You invite me to share in your mission, to make present your Kingdom here, within my own life, home, family, school, office, circle of influence. This is a great mission and you know that sometimes I am afraid, I hold back, and I feel I don’t know what you want from me. Open my heart to greater trust in you so that I may keep giving myself to others with love, as you do, every day. In this way, may your grace, your life, increase in me.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will seek to strengthen the life of grace in my soul by getting to Confession as soon as I can.

Tuesday 33rd Ordinary Time "Scripture: Luke 19:1-10 Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Ba tuần 33 TN.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Ba tuần 33 TN.

Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta hãy tự hỏi? Chúng ta sẽ phản ứng ra sao hay là sẽ phải làm những gì nếu Chúa Giêsu gõ cửa nhà của chúng và nói, "Ta phải lưu lại nhà ngươi hôm nay!" Chúng ta có thể vui mừng hay xấu hổ? Chúa Giêsu thường đến thăm chúng trong những lúc thật bất ngờ " những lúc không mời mà đến" người nghèo, người què, thậm chí tội lỗi công khai như Gia kêu là người thu thuế! (Người Thu thuế lúc bấy giờ thường được xem như hạng người phản bội, gian giảo nên bị đối xử như người ngoại bang không có thành thật vì họ làm giàu trên xương máu của người khác).

Ông Gia kêu là một người thu thuế trưởng và bị rất nhiều người thù ghét. Ông cần tình yêu thương xót của Thiên Chúa và trong cuộc gặp gỡ với Chúa Giêsu, ông ta đã tìm thấy lòng hương xót và tình yêu nơi Chúa Giêsu nhiều hơn những gì ông có thể tưởng tượng. Ông đã cho thấy sự ăn năn thống hối thật tình của mình bằng cách quyết định dâng cúng một nửa số gia tài của mình cho người nghèo và sử dụng một nửa khác đền bù thiệt hại cho những ai mà ông ta có sự gian lận. Những việc ông ta đã làm đẵ làm chứng còn nhiều hơn là những lời ông ta nói. Sự thay đổi tâm hồn của ông ta dẫn đến một sự thay đổi của cuộc sống, một sự thay đổi mà cả cộng đoàn có thể trải nghiệm chân thật.

Chúa luôn luôn sẵn sàng đến để làm niơi trú ngụ của Ngài trong chúng ta, măc dù chúng ta có tội lỗi nhiều đi đến đau năm, nếu chúng ta có lòng quyết tâm hối cải và biến đổi như Gia kêu, thì chúng ta phải dành chỗ cho Ngài trong tâm hồn, trong trái tim và trong gia đình của chúng ta, Và nhờ đó mà Ngài sẽ sống với và trong chúng ta mãi mãi.

Lạy Chúa, xin Chúa đến và ở lại với chúng con, xin Chúa khỏa lấp nhà chúng con với sự hiện diện của Chúa và lấp đầy tâm của chúng con với lời khen ngợi Chúa. Xin Chúa giúp chúng con biết thể hiện lòng tốt và lòng thương xót đến với mọi người, ngay cả những người chúng con không ưa thích và cà những người đã gây ra thiệt hại cho chúng con.

Reflection (SG)

What would you do if Jesus knocked on your door and said, “I must stay at your house today?” Would you be excited or embarrassed? Jesus often “dropped-in” at unexpected times and he often visited the “uninvited” — the poor, the lame, even public sinners like Zacchaeus, the tax collector! Tax collectors were despised and treated as outcasts, no doubt because they accumulated great wealth at the expense of others. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and was much hated by all the people.

Zacchaeus needed God’s merciful love and in his encounter with Jesus he found more than he imagined possible. He shows the depth of his repentance by deciding to give half of his goods to the poor and to use the other half for making restitution for fraud. Zacchaeus’ testimony included more than words. His change of heart resulted in a change of life, a change that the whole community could experience as genuine. The Lord is always ready to make his home with us. We have to make room for him in our hearts and in our home, so that he lives with us forever.

Lord, come and stay with me. Fill my home with your presence and fill my heart with your praise. Help me to show kindness and mercy to all, even those who cause me harm.

Tuesday 33^rd Ordinary Time 2023
At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. Luke 19:1–3

Once again, our Lord reaches out to someone who comes to Him in humility and need. Zaccheaus was a wealthy man, materially speaking. But interiorly he was poor and in need. And it was this spiritual poverty he was experiencing that led him to seek out Jesus with much determination.

Zacchaeus probably never imagined that day that Jesus would offer to come to his home. Clearly, he climbed the tree to get a glimpse of Jesus because he felt a strong desire to know our Lord. Since he was physically wealthy, it seems clear that he no longer was satisfied in life simply because of a comfortable lifestyle. Something was missing, and he couldn’t help but know that Jesus held the answer. So Zacchaeus did what some may have thought unusual. He climbed a tree to be able to see Jesus.

Why did Jesus stop, look up at Zacchaeus, and call him down, stating that He was going to stay at Zacchaeus’ home? It’s because Jesus was able to sense the need within the heart of Zacchaeus. Hearts that are poor, in need, and open are very attractive to Jesus. He never misses the opportunity to come to humble souls like this. Zacchaeus responds to our Lord immediately by promising to right the wrongs he has done in the past. He promises to give away half of his possessions and to repay anyone he has extorted fourfold. This reveals the authenticity of Zacchaeus’ heart.

As Jesus passes by you, what does He sense? Is He drawn to your heart? Is He drawn to you because of your interior disposition of humility and need? It is easy for us to go through life acting as if we have it all together. We can put on a facade that portrays an attitude of strength and success. But Jesus rarely comes to the soul who expresses little need. If we want to draw Jesus to ourselves, then we must acknowledge the poverty within ourselves, even if we are materially wealthy and successful in a worldly way. Every one of us must humble ourselves like Zacchaeus by knowing that Jesus is the only answer in life.

Reflect, today, upon the fact that you and you alone have the ability to draw Jesus to yourself. You can do this by looking at your need for Him. Do not hide it. Climb the figurative tree by which you will be able to look for Jesus and, more importantly, by which Jesus can see your manifest desire for Him. As you express your need for Him, know that He will be compelled, by His unshakable love and mercy, to come to you and to stay with you in the house of your soul. And when He does, be ready and willing to abandon all that has been a hindrance to your meeting with Christ in the past.

My attentive Lord, You are always aware of every heart that longs for You. You never ignore those who desire You in their life. Please help me to see my own interior needs and struggles and to see You as the only source of fulfillment in life. I commit myself to seeking You out, dear Lord. And as You come to me, I commit to abandon all that has kept me from You in the past. Jesus, I trust in You.

Tuesday 33^rd Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you sent your Son to seek me out and save me. I was lost but have been found! Help me to be detached from the things of this passing world and store up true treasure with you in heaven.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Conversion of Zacchaeus: Luke records two events in Jericho before Jesus’ final ascent to Jerusalem. Yesterday, we read the story of Jesus curing the poor blind man. Today, we hear about the conversion of a rich man named Zacchaeus. Both the poor man and the rich man had to overcome obstacles. The crowd and even Jesus’ disciples kept the poor man from Jesus. Zacchaeus was hindered by his short stature. The poor man overcame the crowds by calling out to Jesus even louder. Zacchaeus overcame his obstacle by climbing a Sycamore tree. What both stories teach us is how much God can do with the little we are capable of and can offer. How can I call out to Jesus in prayer so that he hears me? How can I climb the sycamore tree so that I see Jesus and Jesus sees me?

2. The Letter to the Church in Sardis: Yesterday, we read the first of seven letters sent to the churches of Asia Minor. Today, we read the fifth letter written to Sardis and the seventh letter written to Laodicea. Each of the seven letters is a powerful exhortation to faith and a call to repent from evil and corruption. On the one hand, the Letter to Sardis praises the few who continue to walk with the Lord, who are dressed in white, and who are deemed worthy. We will learn later on that the garments of the saints are white because they have been washed in and purified by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. On the other hand, the Church in Sardis is asked to repent from incomplete and dead works. Jesus exhorts them to be watchful, to remember what they have received, and to finish their good works. To those who heed this and who are faithful, Jesus will clothe them in white garments, their names will never be blotted from the Book of Life, and Jesus will present them to God the Father.

3. The Letter to the Church in Laodicea: The seventh letter, written to the Church in Laodicea, does not contain any words of praise. The city of Laodicea was located between Colossae, which had cold water from the mountains, and Hierapolis, which had hot mineral springs. Therefore, the water in Laodicea was neither cold nor hot but lukewarm. God points out that the Church in Laodicea was poor, naked, and blind. Jesus offers purified gold to alleviate their spiritual poverty, white garments to cover the nakedness of their idolatry, and ointment to cure their spiritual blindness. Symbolically, the letter written to Laodicea represents the age of the Pharisees. They thought they were rich, but they were poor. They thought they were robed in righteousness, but they were naked. They thought they saw clearly, but they were spiritually blind. Will they accept what Jesus offers?

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, show me where I have been victorious and where I have fallen. Move me to gratitude for my victories and to contrition for my sins. Fill me with divine hope in your promises and in your grace to help me attain what you have promised.

Tuesday 33^rd Ordinary Time 2023
Opening Prayer: Lord, thank you for this chance to pray. Thank you for giving me the gift of faith, because I know that many live without it. Help me in this moment to see the world the way you see it, and to love like you love. Draw me close to your heart.

Encountering Christ:

1. Nothing to Lose: Ironically, a reputation of sinfulness or weakness can sometimes become an asset. Zacchaeus was almost universally disliked because he gathered taxes from his people for the Romans. Because few liked him, he did not have to worry about impressing anyone. When Jesus came to town, a more respectable person might have thought twice about climbing a tree, but Zacchaeus had no such inhibition. He wanted to see Jesus passing by. And because Zacchaeus forgot himself enough to climb that tree, he caught Jesus’s attention, which ended up being the biggest blessing of his life.

2. The Encounter: When Christ saw that short little man looking down at him from a tree–dressed in clothes far too nice for tree climbing–he did not ignore Zacchaeus, or laugh, or point him out to the crowd. Instead, he took Zacchaeus seriously. Indeed, Zacchaeus was the one with whom he chose to have dinner—not the Pharisees, nor the upstanding citizens in the area, nor even the lowly ones. Christ will never laugh at our efforts to reach him, no matter how ridiculous we feel or may seem to others. He is always seeking to grow in intimacy with us.

3. Imagine the Joy: When Zacchaeus repented and offered restitution, Jesus exclaimed, “Today salvation has come to this house.” Jesus had come to save what had been lost, and in Zacchaeus his mission had been fulfilled. Nothing makes Our Lord happier than the return of a lost sheep! He says to us, “Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep” (Luke 15:6). We can share that joy with Jesus by reaching out on his behalf to others he places in our lives. When we act according to his will, Jesus can change the lives of those for whom we pray and those we serve. What joy!

Conversing with Christ: Lord, increase my faith, hope, and love. I want to be your envoy to those in need of your presence in their lives. Help me to notice them, to greet them, to befriend them and to serve them in your name.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will make one little public act of faith, whether it be making the sign of the cross in front of a church or saying “God bless” to someone.

Tuesday 33^rd Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer: Good Jesus, I believe that you desire to spend this time with me much more than I know. I also wish to be with you, to open my heart to you, to receive your word, and to let you find and make your home in me. I trust in you. I love you. Come Holy Spirit, help me to pray.

Encountering Christ:

A Seeker: There seems to be a contradiction in the first few lines of this passage. First, the evangelist Luke told us that Jesus “intended to pass through the town.” Then, “when Jesus reached the place,” he stopped. The reason his plans changed had a name: Zacchaeus. This little man with a great heart had the power to “change” Jesus’ course, to catch his eye. What was it in Zacchaeus’s heart that drew Jesus to him? Or was it the other way around—what was it about Jesus of Nazareth, a poor carpenter-turned-rabbi, a young but charismatic miracle worker, that attracted wealthy and preoccupied Zacchaeus? This passage expresses the timeless dynamic of the utter attraction of God to the soul who seeks him. Zacchaeus was a seeker, and no obstacle, not even the hustling crowds or his short stature, would keep him from that search.

Zacchaeus Sought Jesus: Faith is kept alive not only in spiritual dispositions. It takes flesh and grows through concrete actions, daily choices. Zacchaeus sought Jesus in the midst of the crowd; he persevered through the difficulties and sought to overcome them. He saw where Jesus was going, ran ahead, and scurried up the tree, perching himself among the branches both to see and, probably, to be seen. What could Zacchaeus’s story have been had he never chosen and taken these actions? The Lord forever invites, never forces his invitation. Zacchaeus’s proactivity opened his heart to receive the Lord as he passed by.

Jesus Sought Zacchaeus: None of Zacchaeus’s efforts were lost on Jesus. What must have been in Jesus’ heart as he set out on the road that day, knowing he would meet Zacchaeus? Did he see him running ahead, finding just the right sycamore tree to hold him up and let him see? How did he respond to Zacchaeus’s utter delight and surprise–almost defiance before the incredulity of the crowds–insisting that his conversion was real, that he was willing to amend his life and live his newfound faith with authenticity? This is the faith that draws the heart of God to the sinner, to the child in need—that was Zacchaeus and that is you and I.

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, you affirmed to Zacchaeus that you had come to seek and to save the lost. You speak this truth to my heart, too: you never tire of going out to seek me. I wish to seek you, too. Strengthen me by your grace to take daily, concrete actions which will open my heart and help me to receive your invitations. And may my faith, sincere though feeble, draw you to me, too. I need you, Lord, and I need you to never tire of seeking me out.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will look for and take concrete actions that will strengthen my faith and openness to you.

Suy Niệm thứ Hai Tuần 33 thường Niên

Suy Niệm thứ Hai Tuần 33 thường Niên

Trong cuôc sống con người của chúng ta, đôi khi chúng ta cảm thấy là rất khó để trung thành với con đường của Thiên Chúa hướng cho chúng ta đặc biệt là khi chúng ta đang phải đối diện với nhiều thử thách và cám dỗ trong một xã hội với nền văn hóa chủ chủ trương cá nhân, sống buông thả, ích kỷ. Con người chúng ta có vẻ thú vị, và luôn luôn có sự thôi thúc mãnh liệt để làm sao có thể được giống như mọi người khác.

Như dân Israel đã phải đối mặt với những thách thức này qua sự đô hô và ảnh hưởng nền văn hoá của người Hy Lạp, và nhiều người đã xuôi tay. Đế vương Antioches Epiphanes đã làm hết sức mình để tiêu diệt đạo Do Thái và văn hóa của người Do thái, nhưng hầu hết dân Do thái vẫn luôn biết cương quyết và trung thành với Thiên Chúa của họ. Cuối cùng họ đã thắng.

Qua bài Tin Mừng chúng ta đã chứng kiến cảnh một người mù và tàn tật thường xuyên bị xã hội kinh bỉ. Nhưng anh đã có cái nhận thức và nhìn sâu sắc vào Chúa Giêsu. anh chào đón Chúa bằng một danh hiệu là Đấng Kitô, Chúa cứu thế, con vua David - và viớ long tin anh ta đã xin Chúa cứu chữa cho anh ta, Anh ta đã kiên trì và đầy đức tin, vì vậy Chúa Giêsu chữa cho anh ta được sáng mắt., không phải chỉ sáng mắt nhìn được cảnh vật bên ngoài, mà anh còn sáng cả đôi mắt tâm hồn nữa.

Chúng ta không thể cho phép người khác hoặc xã hội của chúng ta bịt miệng, ngăn cản và dập tắt ngọn lửa đức tin của chúng ta để đến với Chúa như anh mù. Sự trung tín, và kiên trì là đức tính mà chúng ta cần phải có trong cuộc sống đạo của chúng ta, chúng ta sẽ không bao giờ hối tiếc vì nhờ các đức tính đó mà chúng ta sẽ được ân sủng và cái nhìn sâu sắc trong đức tin hơn.

Lạy Chúa, giúp chúng con biết kiên trì và trung thành với con đường của Chúa.

Reflection (SG)

Sometimes it is difficult to remain faithful to the path of the Lord when we are faced with the many temptations present in our culture. They seem exciting, and there is always the strong urge to be just like everyone else. The people of Israel faced this challenge from their Greek rulers, and many gave in. Antioches Epiphanes did his best to wipe out Jewish religion and culture, but most of the people remained firm and faithful. In the end they were victorious. Today it is so important not to be seduced by the many possibilities that are offered to us, nor to be bullied by those who would force us to abandon our spiritual path. We will never lose by being faithful to God. Today it is so important not to be seduced by the many possibilities that are offered to us, nor to be bullied by those who would force us to abandon our spiritual path. We will never lose by being faithful to God.

The blind and disabled were often looked down upon in ancient society. The blind beggar by the side of the road had no status or honour. His requests to see Jesus were met with stern rebukes and orders to keep quiet. But despite being blind, he had insight into the identity of Jesus. He greeted him with a Messianic title — son of David — and asked for help. He was persistent and faith-filled, so Jesus restored his sight. We cannot allow other people or our society to silence us and snuff out the flame of faith. Fidelity and persistence are virtues that we will never regret. We will be given grace and insight.

Lord, help me to be faithful to Your path.

Monday 33^rd Ordinary Time 2023
As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Luke 18:35–39

This beautiful story of the healing of this blind man, named Bartimaeus in the Gospel of Luke, sets for us a model of how we must come to Jesus in prayer. Bartimaeus and his encounter with Christ is an icon upon which we must meditate so as to imitate him in his weakness, openness, confidence and perseverance.

To begin, this “blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.” We must see this as an ideal image of how to begin our prayer. When we start to pray, we must see our littleness, weakness and extreme poverty in our spiritual life. We come to God with nothing. Unable to see. A beggar. And one who is incapable of meeting our own spiritual needs. This is Bartimaeus, and this must be the way we come to our Lord in prayer. Sometimes we can fall into the illusion that our prayers are so elevated and pious that God must be very impressed. If that’s your struggle, then you are more like the Pharisees. This blind man, however, is the ideal to aim for. So when you begin your prayer, come to our Lord as a spiritually poor and needy beggar.

In this state of humility, just as it happened in this Gospel story, you can be certain that “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” So as you sit in your humble and needy state, wait and be attentive to Jesus passing by. Wait upon His gentle voice, His quiet inspiration, His calming and unmistakable presence.

If you can humble yourself this way and then sense our Lord’s divine presence touching you in some way, then further imitate Bartimaeus by calling out interiorly, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The cry from the depths of your heart in prayer must come as a result of Jesus “passing by.” It must be a response to Him coming to you on His own. As Jesus passes by, spiritually speaking, He waits for you to call to Him. He desires that you call to Him. And He desires that you do it with firm confidence and perseverance.

Notice that as this blind beggar cried out, there were obstacles put in his way. The people “rebuked him, telling him to be silent.” But even this was a gift, because it enabled Bartimaeus to cry out all the more. So also with us, when obstacles arise in our prayer, such as distractions, temptations, a lack of consolation, or any other challenge to our prayer, we must see these obstacles as hurdles that must be overcome. Doing so will deepen our union with Jesus, turning that apparent obstacle into a source of blessing.

Reflect, today, upon these four aspects of a deep prayer life that are presented to us through the witness of this blind beggar. First, ponder your weakness and poverty as you turn to God in prayer. Second, be attentive to the presence of God as He passes by, waiting for you to call to Him. Third, cry out to Him and beg Him to come closer. And fourth, work to overcome every obstacle to prayer and see those obstacles as opportunities to call out to God all the more.

My compassionate Lord, I come to You in my weakness and poverty, I come in need of Your divine touch and healing. As You do pass by, I acknowledge Your presence and call to You. Jesus, please do come to me, have pity on me. Help me to overcome every obstacle to Your love and to trust in You always, never wavering from my commitment to You. Jesus, I trust in You.

Monday 33^rd Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, as you pass by before me, take pity on me. Let me see with the spiritual eyes of faith. Cure the blindness caused by sin. Fill me with your Spirit so that I may praise you, thank you, and give you glory.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Your Faith has Saved You: The Gospel of Luke records two stories in Jericho, one involving a poor man (Luke 18:35-43) and another involving a rich man (Luke 19:1-10). There are many parallels between the two stories, and they mutually illuminate each other. In both stories, Jesus, like God in the Old Testament, is said to be “passing by.” The poor man was blind and was begging for alms as Jesus passed by. The rich man was a chief tax collector and climbed a sycamore tree as Jesus passed by. Both stories are about salvation. Both stories show that Jesus seeks out what was lost. In the first story, faith saves the poor man. He begs the Son of David for mercy, and he receives not only physical sight but also the spiritual vision of faith. Once he was cured, he followed Jesus on the way to Jerusalem. In the second story, which we will hear tomorrow, repentance, faith, and works of charity lead the rich man to salvation.

2. The Prophetic Message of Revelation: Our First Reading is taken from the Book of Revelation. The Book calls itself a “prophecy.” It is a prophecy in at least three ways. In its original context, it is a prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Many of the images of armies, war, and destruction refer to the Jewish War (66-70 A.D.) and the long siege of Jerusalem by the Romans. Second, the Book of Revelation is a prophecy that foretells the battle between good and evil that will unfold throughout human history. Third, it ultimately is a prophecy about the events that will happen near the end of time. In the passage selected as today’s First Reading, John is directed by Jesus, the Son of Man, to write seven letters to seven Churches in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Each letter evaluates the condition of the Church, announces a punishment for infidelity, and offers a blessing for victory through perseverance.

3. The Letter to the Church in Ephesus: The first letter, which we read today, is directed to the Church in Ephesus. The Ephesians are praised for their endurance and work and for discerning between true Apostles and false imposters. At the same time, Jesus points out that the Ephesians have lost the fervor of their original love. They are invited by Jesus to repent and do the works they did at first. If they do not repent, Jesus will remove the Church, symbolized by the golden lampstand, from Ephesus. However, if the members of the Church are victorious over temptation and persevere through the tribulation, they will be blessed with eternal life, symbolized by eating from the Tree of Life.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, give me to eat from the fruit of the Tree of Life, the Eucharist, your own Body and Blood. Keep me in your grace, fill me with your Spirit, so that I may inherit eternal life with you.

Monday 33^rd Ordinary Time 2023
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come before you to spend this time in prayer with you. Open my heart to hear and receive the word that you wish to speak to me today. I believe that your desire to spend this time with me is infinitely greater than mine. Even still, let my desire for you grow just a bit more today. I trust in you, and I love you, Lord. Let my faith, hope, and love grow.

Encountering Christ:

Roadside Beggars: This blind man must have spent a lot of time sitting beside that road on the way to Jericho. The other townsfolk had probably gotten used to his presence and his occasional shouts from his mat begging for alms or a bite to eat, or maybe just asking for the gossip of the day. He could have just blended into the hustle and bustle of daily routines and important things that occupied the minds and hearts of many that day, as Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. But something in his heart prompted him to reach out, in spite of the others shushing him. There was a thirst, a longing within him for sight, and years of darkness and solitude had not yet quenched the hope that this could be possible.

The Hidden Blessing of Blindness: How many years had this man suffered blindness, whether from birth or some accident? Only God knows. How he lived and learned to bear the burden of this suffering is a mystery to us, too. But perhaps over time he came to discover a hidden blessing in his blindness. Even though his world was filled with darkness, perhaps he alone, among all those scurrying the streets of Jericho that day, had true sight, the sight of faith. Perhaps his very blindness kept ever before his eyes the real desire of his heart: that he might see. And it was this faith which allowed him to recognize the Savior as he passed by. This faith gave him the confidence to ask for what he needed.

Faith’s Sight: The blind man could not see, but knew he was looked upon. This experience of being seen and known–accepted despite one’s imperfections and even cherished–is what allows the smallest seed of faith to grow. He could not see, but he knew he was looked upon. In this time of prayer, we, too, pause and sit beside the blind man, seeking a moment of silence in the hustle of my day. Is the Lord passing by? What blindness, darkness, or struggle weighs us down, tempting us to squelch our faith in loneliness and doubt? How can we get up and run to Jesus, let him look upon us, and receive in faith the hidden blessings Jesus wishes to give?

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, my blindness is not so different from this blind man’s. I, too, find doubts and temptations surrounding me, telling me to be silent, causing me to hesitate. But you are so good and you never tire of coming out to seek me. You draw close and ask me, “What do you want me to do for you?” Lord, please let me see.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will try to offer this prayer of petition in my heart throughout the day: Lord, please let me see.

Monday 33^rd Ordinary Time 2022

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come before you to spend this time in prayer with you. Open my heart to hear and receive the word that you wish to speak to me today. I believe that your desire to spend this time with me is infinitely greater than mine. Even still, let my desire for you grow just a bit more today. I trust in you, and I love you, Lord. Let my faith, hope, and love grow.

Encountering Christ:

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will try to offer this prayer of petition in my heart throughout the day: Lord, please let me see.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Chúa Nhật 33 Thường Niên Năm B

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Chúa Nhật 33 Thường Niên Năm B

Các bài đọc hôm nay đã đưa chúng ta đến sự kết thúc một năm Phụng Vụ của Giáo Hội, Trong Chúa Nhật tuần tới, chúng ta sẽ mừng kính lễ Chúa Kitô Vua vũ trụ. Khi mà tất cả mọi loài thụ tạo sẽ phải chịu lệ thuộc vào Thiên Chúa là Chúa Trời đất, thì Chúa Giêsu Kitô sẽ là tất cả và trong tất cả. Chúng ta hãy nhìn vào ba khía cạnh phụng vụ của hội thánh, đó là phụng vụ của Giáo Hội, lời Chúa, và nhu cầu của con người.

Trong phụng vụ Giáo hội, một yếu tố chính đó chính là lời của Thiên Chúa. Từ năm này qua năm khác, các bài đọc kể lại những biến động của sự cứu rỗi chonhân loại. Mùa Vọng là biểu hiện của thế giới đang mong chờ Đấng Cứu Thế. Chúng ta chào đón Chúa khi Ngài đến với chúng ta trong dịp Giáng sinh, nhưng đáng ngạc nhiên thay, Ngài lại đến như một em bé sơ sinh. Qua đó, chúng ta được lớn lên và trưởng thành với Ngài, Chúng ta cùng đồng hành với Ngài trong những vùng núi đồi Galilee và Judea. Chúng ta cũng đươc sống lại qua sự khổ hình và cái chết của Ngài trong Mùa Chay và Phục Sinh. Sự sống lại của Ngài đã đưa tất cả chúng ta đến với Thiên Chúa Cha với Ngài. Thánh Linh của Ngài không những chỉ xuống trên các môn đệ, mà còn trên mỗi người tín hữu chúng ta. Và kể từ đó, chúng ta đã được nghe và sống với trách nhiệm của Giáo Hội, qua những thăng trầm của lịch sử, những niềm tự hào và đam mê, những sự đau khổ và hoan hỷ của Giáo Hội, Với những cuộc đấu tranh không ngừng để phát triển giáo hội trong sự toàn vẹn và sự viên mãn nơi Đức Kitô.

Trong khi chúng ta chuẩn bị những ngày cuối của năm Phụng vụ, chúng ta sẽ tôn vinh Chúa Kitô là Vua vũ trụ. Phụng vụ sẽ được của long trọng vì đó sẽ là điểm cao nhất của sự sáng tạo khi tất cả nhân loại và muôn loài được sáng tạo sẽ phải chịu lệ thuộc vào Chúa Kitô, khi Người phá hủy mọi quy luật, mọi sức mạnh và uy quyền của thế giới. Hôm nay chúng ta đang sống với sự chờ đợi trong ngày sau hết; như chúng ta đều biết. Mùa vọng đã bắt đầu cho sự huyền bí và sự vẹn toàn của mầu nhiệm về Chúa Kitô..

Trong lời Chúa, Tin Mừng đã mô tả những gì? Nói tóm lại, ba thực tại liên quan đó: sự kết thúc của thế giới này như chúng ta biết, sự xuất hiện của Chúa Kitô, nhưng lần này không phải chỉ là một em bé bất lực, nhưng "với sức mạnh và vinh quang cao cả", và Ngài tập hợp tất cả những ai được cứu rỗi vào một nơi. Phụng vụ và Tin Mừng hôm nay có thể liên hệ trực tiếp đến mối quan tâm của nhân loại và Người Kitô giáo của chúng ta như thế nào? Để khởi đầu, chúng ta thấy có hai mối quan tâm mà chúng ta chỉ cần để ý đến: Khi nào thế giới sẽ đến ngày tận thế và ngày tận thế sẽ được xảy ra như thế nào? Có phải tận thế là ngày hôm qua? hay tận thế sẽ là ngàn năm sau nữa? Có phải tất cả thế giới này sẽ phải kết thúc trong băng giá hay trong lửa cháy bất tận? Mặc dù có những sách Tiên tri được viết và những tiên tri đã tiên đoán cho ngày sau hết, nhưng chúng ta cũng không thể nào biết được sự gì sẽ xẩy ra. Chúng ta hãy nhớ những gì Chúa Giêsu đã dạy: " Còn về ngày và giờ đó thì không ai biết được, ngay cả các thiên sứ trên trời hay cả người Con cũng không; chỉ một mình Chúa Cha biết mà thôi.."(Mt 34:36). Trong khi chúng ta chờ đợi ngày trở lại sau cùng của Chúa Kitô, đậy là cơ hội tốt nhất để chúng ta chú tâm, hướng đôi mắt của chúng ta trong ngày trở lại của Chúa Giêsu Kitô "với quyền năng và vinh quang cao cả của Ngài." Đó là niềm hy vọng của những người Kitô hữu của chúng ta. Con người chúng ta sẽ phải bi thảm như thế nào nếu như chúng ta đã mù quáng không thấy Chúa Giêsu đến với chúng ta hàng ngày trong cảnh người hành khất rách rưới và tả tơi, hay một người cô đơn, sợ hãi, hay là một người đang phải đau khổ, bệnh tật, hay lạc lõng trong một thế giới kỳ lạ mà dường như không một ai muốn quan tâm.

Trong tháng 11 này, chúng ta kính nhớ những người đã qua đời, đặc biệt là những người thân trong gia đình và bạn bè của chúng ta. Khi chúng ta có thể tưởng nhớ đến cái chết của những người thân yêu hay bạn bè này, chúng ta có thể nhin thấy những cảm giác bị mất mát và buồn khổ như thế nào. Nhưng cái chết của họ sẽ nhắc nhở chúng ta về cái chết của chính chúng ta. Chúng ta cũng nhớ lại những khoảnh khắc khó khăn trong cuộc sống của chính mình khi chúng ta trải qua những cơn bệnh tật hay tai nạn, những khủng hoảng hay những thiên tai, do thiên nhiên hay con người tạo ra, và nhiều vấn đề khác. Bất cứ những khi nào những sự không may này đến, chúng ta hãy vững tâm trong lời yêu thương của Chúa. Ngài luôn yêu thương và nâng đỡ chúng ta, và lời của Ngài sẽ không bao giờ qua đi, bởi vì Thiên Chúa sẽ không bao giờ từ bỏ chúng ta và tình yêu của Ngài dành cho chúng ta sẽ không bao giờ kết thúc.

Reflection 33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

Today's readings from Daniel and Mark lead liturgically to the end of the Church year, to next Sunday’s celebration of Christ the King, when the whole of creation will be subjected to the Lord of heaven and earth, when Jesus Christ will be all in all. Let us look at three aspects of the liturgical assembly, namely: the Church's liturgy, the word of God, and the needs of the people. In other works, we consider what the Church is celebrating in today's liturgy; what the Gospel is describing; and how liturgy and Gospel might touch our human and Christian concerns.

In the Church liturgy, a major element is God's word. Year after year, the readings recapture the movement of our salvation. Advent represents the world's waiting for its Savior. We welcome the Lord as he came to us at Christmas, surprisingly in the form of an infant. We grow to manhood with him, walk in his footsteps through Galilee and Judea. We recapture his dying-rising through Lent and Easter. His Ascension lifted all of us with him to the Father; his Spirit descended not only on the disciples, but also on each believer. And since Pentecost we have heard and lived the mission of the Church, its ups and downs, its pride and passion, its agony and its ecstasy, its ceaseless struggle to grow into the fullness of its Lord, its living in hope for the final coming of the Savior.

In the word of God: What is the Gospel describing? In short, three inter-related realities: the end of this world as we know it, the coming of Christ, this time not as a helpless baby, but "with great power and glory," and the assembling into one place of all who are saved. There is a danger here. In each of these three powerful prophecies we can be misled by images, distracted by the description. The writers, seeing in vision the final struggle to establish God's kingdom, used incredibly vivid images and symbols, to convey realities beyond their experience.

Lastly, how might today's liturgy and Gospel touch our human and Christian concerns? To begin with, there are two concerns we can only be curious about: When will the world end, and how? Is the last day tomorrow or thousands of years from now? Will it all end in ice or in fire? Despite the books and predictions of the prophets of doom, we simply do not know. Remember what Jesus Himself said: "But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the Son, but only the Father." But such ignorance should not immobilize us or leave us complacent. Whenever and however the world will end, the second coming of Jesus is our ceaseless hope. For without his second coming, his first makes little sense.

Since that is so, let us affirm Christ's final coming with the intensity of the early Christians, who expected him to return within their lifetime. It is indeed good to fix our eyes on Christ's final coming "with great power and glory." It is our Christian hope. It would be tragic if the far horizon blinds us to Christ's daily coming in rags and tatters, as a lonely, frightened, joyless, sick person, lost in a strange world that does not seem to care.

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Jesus said to his disciples: “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” Mark 13:24–25

The “tribulation” of which our Lord speaks, refers to a great persecution of the Church and of those with faith. Regarding this tribulation, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

Before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the “mystery of iniquity” in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. (#675).

Is this “final trial” happening today? Though it is impossible to apply Jesus’ prophecy and the Catechism’s teaching to one specific moment in time, the fact remains that this trial and tribulation will take place. That is for certain. But how and when it will take place we do not know. It might be that it already has taken place or that it is taking place right now. Only God can properly interpret these prophetic words.

With that said, this final trial and “mystery of iniquity” does take place in all of our lives in various ways. When we devote ourselves to the love and service of God, we can be certain that our faith will be tested and that persecution will be experienced in one way or another. Knowing this, however, should not frighten us. On the contrary, it was spoken by our Lord to prepare us and to help us endure whatever trials we experience in life. Jesus’ words must instill hope within us when we endure the suffering caused by evil.

Jesus also said that when we see persecutions, trials and tribulation, we must “know that he is near, at the gates.” In other words, the greater the suffering one endures for their faith, the more present God is. He is there, at the gate of your heart, waiting for you to run to Him in trust and hope.

As we approach the end of our current Church year, most of our readings at Mass will focus upon the end times. We will read about Jesus’ glorious return in glory, the end of the world, and the establishment of His permanent Kingdom as Heaven and earth are united as one. It could take place today or tomorrow, or it might not take place for thousands of years. But it will happen. On that day, the day of the final judgment, the only thing that will matter is our fidelity to God. For that reason, we must daily strive to live as if that day were today. We must diligently prepare for that day and live for that glorious moment alone. If life is easy right now, we should work to be more selfless and sacrificial so as to be prepared. If life is challenging right now, we must enter those challenges with hope and trust, uniting every suffering to Christ’s sufferings as a sacrifice of love.

Reflect, today, upon Jesus’ prophecy that “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” As you do, know that these are words spoken not only to the Church as a whole, but also to you. Jesus wants you to know that any suffering and tribulation you endure, every “darkening of the sun” or any way that you feel “shaken” are opportunities for you to turn to God in trust. Invite our Lord into these experiences and know that they are signs of His closeness to help purify you and prepare you for the glorious day of His return.

Most glorious Judge, You will return one day in glory to judge the living and the dead. Before that day, You have revealed that Your Church will endure much suffering. Please give me hope during those moments in my life so that I can offer to You every suffering I endure as a sacrifice of love, offered in union with Your own perfect sacrifice. Jesus, I trust in You.

Reflection 33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you know all things. I trust that you will bring me to a good end. I earnestly desire eternal life with you, with your Son, and with your Spirit. I will do my best to hear and heed the words of your Son.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The End of the Old Temple: In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus has just predicted that tribulation and destruction will be poured out upon Jerusalem (Mark 13:1-20). There will be false signs (Mark 13:21-23) and true signs (Mark 13:24-27) that mark the time of tribulation before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and before the end of the world. On the one hand, Jesus’ prophecy about the darkening of the sun, moon, and stars refers to the destruction of the Temple, which was understood as a microcosm of the universe. On the other, it indicates the passing away of the old creation and the definitive establishment of the new creation at the end of time. Jesus, the Son of Man, has judged the old Temple as corrupt and as having failed to be a house of prayer for all nations. Jesus will take up the role and purpose of the old Temple and, as the New Temple, will gather in all the nations and, in this way, bring about the restoration of Israel (see Gray, The Temple in the Gospel of Mark, 144).

2. The Time of Tribulation: The First Reading, taken from Daniel 12, contains a prophecy about the time of tribulation and the resurrection of the dead. Those who remain faithful during the time of tribulation, even unto death, are assured of the blessings that the messianic Kingdom of God will bring (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Daniel, 42). Historically, the time of tribulation prophesied by Daniel refers first to the time of Antiochus IV, who persecuted the people of Judah and desecrated the Temple of Jerusalem by sacrificing a pig on the altar in 176 B.C. The First and Second Book of the Maccabees tells the story of those who fought against Antiochus IV, those who persevered through the time of tribulation, as well as the story of those who were martyred. Jesus, echoing the prophecy of Daniel, also foretold a time of tribulation before the destruction of Jerusalem. Since the end of the Temple points to the end of the world, Jesus’ prophetic words reveal that there will be a time of great tribulation before his second coming at the end of time.

3. Now He Waits: The Second Reading, from the Letter to the Hebrews, contemplates Jesus, our faithful and merciful high priest, in heaven. If we ask, “What is Jesus doing there?” or, “How does he act as a priest in heaven?,” the Letter responds that Jesus is sitting down. This draws out a marked contrast between the old Levitical priests who stood in the old Temple, meaning that their work was perpetually unfinished. No matter how many sheep, lambs, goats, bulls, and birds they sacrificed, they could not bring about the forgiveness of the sins of the people. In contrast, Jesus’ sacrifice, work of redemption, and forgiveness of our sins have been definitively accomplished. And so, having accomplished his work, he now sits at the right hand of God the Father: “His victory is complete; all that remains is for every hostile power in the universe to be made subject to him” (Healy, Hebrews, 204). Sitting at the right hand of the Father, Jesus makes intercession for each one of us as our eternal and merciful high priest.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, as you sit on the throne of grace and mercy at the right hand of your Father, speak to him and intercede for me. Tell your Father how I have acted, why I have done what I have done, and what I most need to attain glory and eternal life.

Reflection 33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." In the midst of disturbing prophecies about the end, about tribulations and destruction, we hear the reassuring words of Jesus that his "words will not pass away."

The reassuring words of Jesus reinforce words of the prophet Isaiah, "'The mountains may depart and the hills be moved, but never will my love depart from you nor my covenant of peace be removed, says Yahweh whose compassion is for you." (Is 54: 10)

We also recall a popular passage from Paul's Letter to the Romans, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Will it be trials, or anguish, persecution or hunger, lack of clothing, or dangers of sword? . . . I am certain that neither death nor life, neither the present nor the future, nor cosmic powers, were they from heaven or from the deep world below, nor any creature whatsoever will separate us from the love of God, which we have in Jesus Christ, our Lord." (Rom 8: 35 – 38)

During the month of November we remember those who have died, especially among our families and friends. We may recall how the death of loved ones or friends brought a sense of loss and sadness. Their death reminds us of our own mortality.

We may also recall difficult moments in our lives when we experienced illnesses and accidents, crises and calamities, from nature and man-made, and many other problems. Whenever these crises come, let us be assured that God's words of love and care will never pass away, that we will never be forsaken by God and that his love for us will never end.

Chúa Nhật 33 Thương Niên B
Bài đọc trong Chủ nhật tuần này cho chúng ta thấy trước những hình ảnh cuối cùng của lịch sử nhân loại. Chúa Giêsu nói về những dấu hiệu đáng sợ trên trời. Tiên tri Daniel kể lại về những hình ảnh sinh hoạt trong thị kiến của ông: ôngmđã nhìn thất tất cả những linh hồn của những người đã chết sẽ được đoàn tụ với thân xác của họ. Một số những Người khôn ngoan, những người thực hành công lý sẽ được sống trong sự " rực rỡ "giống như những ngôi sao tỏa sáng mãi mãi." Còn một số người khác sẻ bị chôn vùi trong sự kinh hoàng sự vĩnh cửu và nhục nhã. Câu hỏi đặt ra trước chúng ta là: Làm cách nào mà chúng ta có thể tránh được một cuộc sống trong sự ô nhục, trong nỗi kinh hoàng vĩnh cửu? hay là Làm thế nào để chúng ta có thể trở thành như một ngôi sao sáng chói muôn phương?

Trước khi đưa ra một câu trả lời một cách hoàn chỉnh hơn, chúng ta có thể thử đưa ra những cách giải quyết một quan niệm sai lầm phổ biến. Nhiều người tin rằng chúng ta chắc chắn sẽ lên thiên đàng nếu chúng ta biết thực hiện một vài công việc tốt lành. Chúng ta có thể đã thấy một ví dụ cực đoan về sự hiểu lầm đó ở thành phố Monroe, ở Hoa Kỳ. Vào ngày 21 tháng 10, năm 2009, thị trấn này là một trong 38 thành phố được nhắm mục tiêu bởi một vụ bán ma túy liên bang. Những người bị bắt giữ có liên hệ với gia đình "La Familia", một tổ chức ma túy quốc tế. theo báo cáo tin tức mà điều làm cho tên đầu sỏ gia đình "La Familia" trở nên độc đáo, là triết lý của chính họ. Họ coi mình là những người "đạo đức" bởi vì họ "rao truyền Kinh Thánh cho dân cư trong vùng và cung cấp tài chánh tiền bạc cho các dự án cộng đồng" hỗ trợ " những gia đình nghèo khổ. Nhưng bên lề, thì họ đã biến chế sản xuất bạch phiến, xì ke và ma tuý, họ bắt cóc, tống tiến, tra tấn và chặt đầu kẻ thù của họ, nhưng những việc tàn ác này không thể che mắt được tất cả công việc tốt mà họ làm ...).

Bây giờ, chúng ta đã thấy rõ ràng là các trùm xì ke ma túy này là những tên cực đoan. Nhưng chúng ta cũng có thể có được ý tưởng rằng nếu chúng ta có được những hành vi tử tế, và những việc công đức là tốt rồi còn phần còn lại trong cuộc sống của chúng ta không quan trọng. Nhưng thực sự không phải thế, cho dù có làm được một vài việc tốt lành cũng không thể cứu được phần rỗi con người chúng ta . Bởi Thiên Chúa đòi hỏi nơi con người chúng ta phải có một cuộc sống tốt lành trọn vẹn.

Khi Kinh Thánh dạy chúng ta về sự công chính, có nghĩa là mỗi người phải có nghĩa vụ để thực hiện sự công bình của họ. Có nghĩa là nếu như chúng ta có một nhiệm vụ chính là lo cho con chó của chúng ta, nhưng chúng ta không thể quên là chúng ta cũng có một nhiệm vụ khác với những người đồng loại. Chúng ta có nghĩa vụ trong sự công lý, phải biết đối xử với mọi người và tôn trọng nhân phẩm cá nhân của họ. Chúng ta cũng phải có nghĩa vụ riêng với các thành viên trong gia đình: phải có sự phân chia ngôi thứ rõ ràng và đối xử với mọi người trong sự lịch thiệp và tôn kính, nhưng những người khác ngoài gia đình mà chúng ta cũng phải biết tôn trọng là những người chung quanh, những người trong giáo xứ của chúng ta. Và người công giáo sống trong sự công chính, chúng ta phải có những nghĩa vụ của chúng ta đối với giáo xứ của chúng ta. Trên tất cả, chúng ta phài có nhiệm vụ với người đã tạo dựng ra chúng ta. Công Chính có nghĩa là chúng ta phài có những nghĩa vụ của chúng ta với mọi người chung quanh và với Thiên Chúa cũa chúng ta.

Những người thực hành sự công chính này sẽ giống như những ngôi sao toả sáng mãi mãi. Công lý liên quan đến một cuộc sống toàn vẹn, chứ không phải chỉ đơn thuần là thực thi một vài hành động tốt hay tử tế với những người chung quanh. Đó là lý do tại sao trong những bài đọc trong thánh lễ chúa nhật tuần trước chúng ta nghe Chúa dạy chúng ta nên biết sống và thực hành như người quản gia tốt không phải chỉ loa toan về tài chính, nhưng biết dùng thời gian và khả năng riêng của mình. Thiên Chúa muốn thấy sự trọn vẹn nơi con người của chúng ta. Một vài hành vi tốt không thôi cũng chưa đủ để cứu rỗi chúng ta. Chúa muốn chúng ta hoàn hảo như ngài đã tạo dựng chúng ta. Điều đó tất nhiên bao gồm các hành vi tốt đẹp, như nhũng việc lành phúc đức, biết thương yêu, tha thứ và còn rộng lượng nhiều hơn nữa.

Tin Mừng Chủ nhật tuần trước, giáo hội đã mời chúng ta thực hiện một cam kết lương tâm. Cách mà giúp chúng ta phát triển cuộc sống thiêng liêng của chúng ta là thực hiện và giữ những cam kết là bằng cách tham gia

uan đến các cam kết nhỏ như hiển thị đúng thời hạn và những cam kết lớn, tiêu thụ hết sức như hôn nhân hay chức tư tế. Tờ rơi của Stewardship được thiết kế để giúp bạn nhìn vào cuộc sống của bạn và cam kết. Sau đó xin Chúa giúp đỡ để làm theo.

Giáo xứ của chúng tôi cần thời gian, tài năng và hỗ trợ kinh tế của bạn. Nhưng thậm chí nhiều hơn, bạn cần phải cung cấp cho. Đó là nền tảng cho sự cứu rỗi, sự sống đời đời. Bạn và tôi có thể không cảm thấy như những ngôi sao ngay bây giờ, nhưng Đức Chúa Trời thấy mọi thứ khác đi. Nếu chúng ta khiêm nhường dâng hiến mình cho anh ta - không chỉ là một vài việc tốt, nhưng mọi khía cạnh của cuộc sống của chúng ta - Đức Chúa Trời sẽ biến đổi chúng ta và khiến chúng ta giống như những ngôi sao mãi mãi.

(Homily for Thirty-Third Ordinary Sunday, Year B)

This Sunday we preview the final scene of human history. Jesus speaks about frightening signs in the heavens. The prophet Daniel tells about his night vision: All people who have existed will be reunited with their bodies. Some will go to everlasting horror and disgrace. Other, he says, will "shine brightly." The wise, those who practice justice will "be like the stars forever." The question before us is: How do we avoid becoming a disgrace, an everlasting horror? How do we become like a star?

Before giving a more complete answer, I would like to address a common misconception. Many people believe that you are sure to get to heaven if you perform a few good deeds. We saw an extreme example of that misunderstanding here in Monroe. On October 21, our town was one of 38 cities targeted by a federal drug bust. Those arrested had connections to "La Familia," an international drug cartel. What makes "La Familia" unique, according to news reports, is their self-righteous philosophy. They consider themselves very "moral" because they "pass out Bibles and money to the poor" and "support community projects."* As a sideline, they do traffic cocaine and methamphetamine - and they do kidnap, torture and behead their enemies (but that should not obscure all the good work they do...).

Now, this drug cartel is obviously an extreme. But we can also get the idea that if we perform kind acts, the rest of our life does not matter. No, a few good deeds will not save a person. God requires a life of integrity.

When the Bible speaks about justice, it means giving each person their due. I have a certain duty to my dog, but a much different one to a fellow human being. I have an obligation - in justice - to treat each person with dignity, respect and courtesy. I have further duties to family members: obviously to treat them with courtesy and respect, but other things beyond that because have common parents, whom we honor. As a priest, I have specific duties to you as my parishioners. And you - in justice - have certain duties to your parish. Above all, we have duties to the one who made us. Justice means that I give each person - including God - their due.

Those who practice this justice will be like the stars forever. Justice involves a life of integrity, not simply a few kind actions. That's the reason why last Sunday we asked you to make a broad renewal of Stewardship: not only financial giving, but your time and abilities. God wants your complete self. A few isolated acts will not save you. God wants you. That of course includes good acts, but it involves much more.

Last Sunday I invited you to make a conscience commitment. The way we grow is by making commitments and keeping them. It involves small commitments such as showing up on time and huge, all-consuming commitments such as marriage or priesthood. The Stewardship brochure was designed to help you look at your life and make a commitment. Then ask God's help to follow through.

Our parish needs your time, talent and economic support. But even more, you need to give. It is fundamental to salvation, eternal life. You and I may not feel like stars right now, but God sees things differently. If we humbly offer ourselves to him - not just a few good deeds, but every aspect of our lives - God will transform us and make us like the stars forever.