Bài giảng cho Chúa Nhật thứ Ba Mùa Phục Sinh, Năm A

 

Bài giảng cho Chúa Nhật thứ Ba Mùa Phục Sinh, Năm A
Trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta thấy hai môn đệ rời Giêrusalem để về quê đang bối rối để tìm cách câu trả lời cho những biến cố vừa xảy ra tại Giêrusalem đó là cái chết của Chúa Giêsu và tin tức về sự phục sinh của Người. Và rồi bỗng nhiên, một người lạ mặt bất dưng xuất hiện trên đường cùng đi với họ.
Họ đang kể lại câu chuyện về những nỗi thất vọng của mình; họ nói: "Hy vọng của chính chúng tôi là Người sẽ là Đấng giải phóng Israel". Câu chuyện này phản chiếu cuộc sống bình thường mỗi người, những khám phá và cả những nỗi thất vọng trong cuộc sống.
Qua câu chuyện của họ, chúng ta thấy rõ rằng họ chưa thể thấu hiểu trọn vẹn niềm hy vọng của mình nơi Chúa Giêsu cũng như về cái chết của Người. Cuộc gặp gỡ này giữa Chúa Giêsu và hai môn đệ cũng tương tự như cuộc gặp gỡ của chính chúng ta với Chúa Giêsu Kitô trong Bí tích Thánh Thể.
Câu chuyện mà Chúa Giêsu kể thật lôi cuốn đến nỗi họ không muốn Người rời đi; họ đã mời Người ở lại với họ. Người mời gọi họ nhìn lại quá khứ một lần nữa, nhưng lần này là dưới ánh sáng của Kinh Thánh. Chúa Giêsu đã mang đến cho họ một cách giải thích hoàn toàn mới mẻ về chính biến cố ấy.
Theo lời của người lạ mặt, cái chết của Chúa Giêsu chính là sự hoàn tất sứ mệnh của Người, chứ không phải là một thất bại. Khi người lạ mặt giúp hai môn đệ thấu hiểu quá khứ dưới một ánh sáng mới, họ đã đáp lại bằng cách mời Người ở lại với mình. Người lạ mặt bẻ bánh và trao cho các môn đệ, và đôi mắt họ bỗng mở ra.
Người lạ mặt không chỉ giúp họ giải thích quá khứ dựa trên kinh nghiệm mới mẻ về Người và là Chúa, mà còn trao tặng họ một tương lai mới. Họ quay trở lại Giêrusalem; nơi mà trước đó họ đã tìm cách trốn chạy để chia sẻ khám phá mới mẻ cùng câu chuyện đầy hy vọng của mình với những người khác.
Trong kinh nghiệm nhận biết Chúa Giêsu là Chúa, quá khứ của các môn đệ đã được biến đổi. Họ có thể nhìn lại quá khứ dưới một ánh sáng và niềm hy vọng mới. Họ đã mang bóng tối của ngày Thứ Sáu Tuần Thánh bước vào ánh sáng rạng ngời của Chúa Nhật Phục Sinh. Đối với họ, chỉ cần một kết luận duy nhất là đủ: đó là Chúa Giêsu Kitô đã thực sự phục sinh. Đó chính là sứ điệp mà họ mang trở lại Giêrusalem.
Việc chúng ta cử hành Bí tích Thánh Thể mang Chúa Giêsu đến với chúng ta không phải như một người lạ mặt nhưng hiện diện qua Lời Chúa và các Bí tích; Người ban cho chúng ta niềm hy vọng để vững bước đối diện với tương lai bằng đức tin nơi Người. Người đang đồng hành cùng chúng ta, và cũng giống như đối với các môn đệ xưa, Người muốn gieo vào lòng chúng ta niềm hy vọng.
Cũng như các môn đệ, chúng ta được mời gọi kể lại câu chuyện của chính mình câu chuyện đôi khi nhuốm màu thất vọng, giận dữ, bất mãn và khổ đau. Quá khứ và hiện tại của chúng ta có thể khiến chúng ta cảm thấy khó hiểu, nhưng lời của Chúa Giêsu vẫn luôn vang vọng rõ ràng trong khoảnh khắc này, cũng như mọi khi: "Ta thực sự quan tâm đến những gì các con đang trải qua," và "Ta đang sánh bước cùng đồng hành với các con."
Hôm nay, chúng ta được mời gọi kể câu chuyện cuộic đời mình cho Chúa nghe, lắng nghe Ngài ngay cả trong sự bình yên nơi mái ấm của mình, và nhận ra sự hiện diện của Ngài trong mọi sự đang diễn ra. Chỉ khi ấy, chúng ta mới có thể nhìn về quá khứ với sự thấu hiểu, và hướng về tương lai với niềm hy vọng.
Khi các môn đệ ngồi dùng bữa cùng Chúa Giêsu và Ngài bẻ bánh, họ đã nhận ra Ngài chính là Chúa. Giống như các môn đệ xưa kia được Chúa Giêsu tỏ hiện, nhiều người trong chúng ta cũng dần nhận ra rằng, trên hành trình cuộc đời này, chúng ta không hề đơn độc. Nhưng làm sao để chúng ta thực sự cảm nghiệm được rằng mình không bao giờ đơn độc? hay cảm nghiệm được là người đang cùng đồng hành với chúng ta chính là Thiên Chúa, Đấng yêu thương chúng ta bằng với một tình yêu nồng nàn, say đắm?
Trong câu chuyện về Emmaus, hai môn đệ đã chia sẻ bữa ăn của mình với Chúa Giêsu. Họ đã mở rộng lòng hiếu khách. Trong khoảnh khắc ấy, họ quên đi chính mình, quên đi những nỗi thất vọng và tổn thương. Họ hướng sự chú ý về người khác. Đó chính là cánh cửa mở ra để họ nhận diện Đức Kitô; Đấng vẫn luôn hiện diện ở đó từ trước đến nay. Trên hành trình của họ, sự hiện diện vốn dĩ vẫn ẩn giấu ấy đã được tỏ hiện qua cử chỉ bẻ bánh.
Thưa anh chị em trong Đức Ki-tô, đôi khi chúng ta cảm thấy như mình đang hoàn toàn đơn độc. Ai trong chúng ta cũng phải đối mặt với những khó khăn và bi kịch trong cuộc sống như: mất việc làm, hay sức khỏe suy sút; người thân yêu qua đời, hay cuộc hôn nhân tan vỡ; và bỗng chốc, cuộc sống gia đình của chúng ta không còn như xưa nữa. Những giai đoạn gian khó ấy khiến đức tin của chúng ta bị lung lay.
Chẳng có vấn đề nào khó lý giải hơn mầu nhiệm về sự đau khổ. Đó chính là cuộc sống của chúng ta; đó chính là thân phận làm người của chúng ta. Tuy nhiên, câu chuyện về Emmaus cũng chính là câu chuyện của mỗi chúng ta. Nó nhắc nhở rằng chúng ta không hề đơn độc. Thiên Chúa luôn hiện diện bên ta và ban cho ta sự sống. Ngài luôn ở đó để trở thành sức mạnh và nâng đỡ chuang ta mỗi khi thử thách ập đến.
Chúng ta biết rằng mình không phải vác thánh giá một mình. Thế nhưng, câu chuyện Tin Mừng cũng nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng: có thất vọng; thậm chí là có than trách cũng chẳng sao cả. Và việc bày tỏ những niềm hy vọng đã bị dập tắt, hay tự hỏi liệu có ai thực sự quan tâm đến mình hay không; đó cũng là điều hoàn toàn bình thường.
Tin Mừng hôm nay mang lại cho chúng ta niềm xác tín rằng Thiên Chúa luôn hiện diện ngay đó, ngay bên cạnh chúng ta. Tuy nhiên, như chúng ta đã thấy, sự tỏ hiện ấy thường chỉ được nhận ra khi ta nhìn lại mọi sự từ góc độ của quá khứ. Điều này nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng, bất kể đang phải trải qua điều gì, đừng bao giờ khép mình lại; để rồi chỉ còn bận tâm đến những nhu cầu và mong muốn của riêng bản thân mình.
Chỉ khi hai môn đệ kia chủ động đến với Chúa Giêsu để chăm sóc Ngài, họ mới nhận ra Ngài là ai. Dường như sự việc nhận biết Chúa Giêsu, và việc Ngài phục sinh thôi vẫn chưa đủ. Giống như hai môn đệ ấy, chúng ta cũng cần phải mở lòng đón tiếp những người xa lạ mà ta gặp gỡ trên đường đời; và hãy vươn tay giúp đỡ những người xung quanh đang cần đến sự sẻ chia chân tghafnh nơi chúng ta. Xin Chúa chúc lành.
 
Homily for the Third Sunday of Easter, Year A
          In today’s Gospel, two disciples who leave Jerusalem to a country side are struggling to make sense of recent events which have happened in Jerusalem the death of Jesus, and the news of his resurrection. And suddenly a stranger joins them on the road. 
They tell the story of their disappointments, they said “our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free”. This story is about everyday ordinary life, life discoveries and disappointment.
      In their story, it was clear that they cannot comprehend, their hope in Jesus and His death.  This encounter of Jesus with the two disciples is similar to our encounter with our Lord Jesus, in the Eucharist.
The story Jesus was so appealing that they didn’t want Him to leave, they requested Him to stay with them.  He invited them to look at the past again, this time in the light of the Scriptures. Jesus gave them a whole different interpretation of the same event.
      According to the stranger, the death of Jesus was an achievement of His mission, not the failure. As the stranger helped the two disciples to make sense of the past in a new light, they responded by inviting Him to stay with them. The stranger broke the bread and gave it to the disciples and their eyes were opened.  The stranger did not only help them to interpret the past in their new experience of Him as Lord, but also gave them a new future. They went back to Jerusalem which they were running from and shared their new discovery and hope story with the others. 
            In their experience of Jesus as Lord, the disciples’ past is changed.  They were able to revisit the past with new light and hope.  They took the darkness of Good Friday to the light of Easter Sunday.  For them, one conclusion was enough, namely Jesus Christ is truly risen.  That is the message they took back to Jerusalem. Our celebration of The Eucharist brings Jesus to us not as a stranger but, rather, in word and sacrament and he gives us hope to face the future with faith in Him. He is walking with us and, like the disciples, He wants to instill hope in us. Like the disciples, we are invited to tell our own story, the story covered with disappointment and anger, displeasure and distress.  Our past and present may not make sense to us, but Jesus’ word is clear in this moment as always” I do care about what you are going through” and I am walking with you.
Today, we’re invited to tell our story to the Lord, to listen to Him even in the comfort of our homes and recognize Him in all that is happening.  Only then can we look with understanding at the past and with hope, look to the future. When the disciples sit together with Jesus for a meal and He breaks the bread, they recognize Him as the Lord. Like the disciples to whom Jesus revealed Himself to, many of us come to realize that on our journey in life, we are not alone. But how do we break through to a sense that we are never alone? That walking with us is a God who is madly in love with us? 
In the Emmaus story, the two disciples shared their food with Jesus. They shared their hospitality. They forgot themselves and forgot their disappointments and hurts for a moment. They focused on others. That was their point of entry that revealed the Christ who was there all along. On their journey, the presence that had been hidden was revealed in the breaking of the bread.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, sometimes we can feel like we are all alone. We all face difficulties and tragedy in our lives. The loss of a job, or poor health. A loved one dies or a broken marriage, and suddenly life is not the same any more. The rough times cause us to lose faith. No problem is harder to explain than the mystery of suffering. This is our life. This is our human condition. But the Emmaus story is also our story. It reminds us that we are not alone. God is always with us and giving us life. He is there to be our strength when trials come. We know, we do not carry our cross alone. Yet, the Gospel story reminds us that it is OK to be disappointed, and even complain. And it is OK to talk about hopes that have been dashed and to wonder if anyone cares.
Today’s Gospel reassures us that God is always right there, right beside us. But as we saw, that revelation only comes in hindsight. It reminds us that no matter what we are going through, not to be turned in on ourself. So that nothing matters but our own needs and wants. It was only when the two disciples reached out to Jesus to care for Him that they knew who He was. It would seem that to recognize Jesus, the resurrection was not enough. Like those two followers of Jesus, we must reach out to the stranger we meet on the road. And reach out to those around us with their need. God Bless.
 
Third Sunday of Easter (Year A)
That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. Luke 24:13–16
These two disciples were overwhelmed by grief and bewildered by the events that had taken place. As they walked the seven-mile journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus, they expressed their sadness and confusion. Jesus, Whom they had hoped “would be the one to redeem Israel,” was brutally tortured and crucified before their eyes. After His death, He was buried, and that very morning they heard reports from some of the women, as well as Peter and John, that His body was missing from the tomb. What’s more, the burial cloth was neatly rolled up in the tomb, and the women informed the disciples that they saw “a vision of angels who announced that he was alive.” The two did not know what to think.
As the story unfolds, Jesus appeared to them as they walked and conversed with them, “but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.” Jesus’ hidden presence teaches us that He is often with us, in our midst, yet we do not recognize Him. Distractions, trials, or our own misconceptions can dull our spiritual senses. We often fail to perceive His presence in the Eucharist, the Scriptures, the Church, during our prayer, and in one another.
Jesus’ loving rebuke of these two disciples was intended to wake them up: “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Every time we stumble from spiritual blindness, which leads to confusion, our Lord lovingly says the same to us. We must take that rebuke with humility, acknowledging our blindness and inability to perceive His constant presence.
Jesus then “interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.” This opening of their minds to the spiritual Gift of Understanding is key. By humbly acknowledging our spiritual blindness and the foolish way we often go about our daily lives, we dispose ourselves to this precious gift. The Gift of Understanding cannot be acquired by our own effort. Only after we honestly humble ourselves before God will He open our minds to all we need to know and understand.
Once they arrived in Emmaus and invited this divine Stranger to stay with them for the night, Jesus agreed. As they dined, “while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.” The Lord Himself, the great High Priest, gave them the Eucharist, and suddenly “their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.”
Though our Lord vanished from their sight, He remained with them, as He does with us today. His presence in the Eucharist is His True Presence, His Divine Essence. By revealing Himself in the Scriptures and the Breaking of the Bread, He teaches us that He is always with us in His Word and in the Sacraments. We consume His Word through daily meditation, study, and the teachings of the Church. His True Presence is with us when we attend Mass and participate in the Sacraments.
Reflect today on the initial confusion of these two disciples, filled with sorrow and bewilderment as they grappled with recent events. Contrast this with the growth in faith they likely experienced in the months and years ahead. Little by little, they grew in understanding and belief, allowing their misconceptions about who the Messiah would be—not a political leader, but the Savior of the World—to be dispelled. Whenever you face confusion, turn to the example of these disciples and learn from the lessons taught through them. Seek Christ in His Word and Sacraments, trusting that He will dispel doubts and guide you to greater faith.
Ever-present Lord, please humble me so that I turn more fully to You, hearing Your voice and recognizing Your presence. When I am confused or uncertain, please intervene and open my mind to You and to Your Truth so that I will believe with all my heart and follow wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
3^rd Sunday of Easter Year A
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you inspired the prophets of Israel who foretold the day when you would send your only begotten Son as your Servant. You gave him the mission of establishing justice and peace on earth and, through his suffering, expiating the sins and iniquities of your people. Open my mind and heart today to contemplate your Son as the Suffering Servant.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Breaking of the Bread and the New Exodus: In the Gospel of Luke, the two disciples who encountered the risen Jesus on the way to Emmaus and in the breaking of the bread, returned to Jerusalem and recounted to the other disciples what happened. The phrase “breaking of bread” refers to the four actions that occurred at the feeding of the five thousand, at the Last Supper, and at Emmaus. In the Acts of the Apostles, this phrase refers to the community’s celebration of the Eucharist (Acts 2:42; 20:7, 11). In our day, Jesus continues to make himself known to us in the Eucharist (see Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, p. 396). Just as the risen Jesus opened the minds of the disciples on the way to Emmaus, he opened the minds of his disciples in Jerusalem to understand the Scriptures. The risen Jesus also commissioned his disciples. He called them “to proclaim the good news of His new exodus to the whole world, proclaiming the ‘release’ of sins. ‘Release’ (aphesis) is the jubilee term that Jesus had made a central part of His ministry. Now it is to be at the center of the Church’s mission. The disciples are to proclaim to the scattered children of Israel and Adam that there is a way out of their exile, for in Jesus one can find release from the bondage to sin and death” (Gray, Mission of the Messiah, p. 147).
2. Peter’s Sermon in Acts: In the First Reading, we read from Peter’s first sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36). Peter explained the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as a fulfillment of the prophecy from Joel (see Joel 3:1-5) and the death and resurrection of Jesus as a fulfillment of Psalm 16. He concluded that Jesus is Lord and has ascended into heaven, been glorified at God the Father’s right hand, and today pours out the Holy Spirit upon his followers.
3. Christians are Redeemed Sojourners in This World: In the Second Reading, we read from the First Letter of Peter. The letter aims to prepare the churches of Asia Minor for suffering in imitation of Christ. “As members of God’s household, they need to know their new identity in Christ, learn how to relate to others both within and outside the Church, and be ready to undergo affliction for their faith. In fact, the characteristic feature of this letter is the sharp contrast between the sober call to suffer in imitation of Christ and the ‘indescribable joy’ (1:8) that is ours because of our new standing in Christ” (Keating, First and Second Peter, Jude, 17). Peter wants to teach that the Christian life is marked not only by hope and joy, but also by suffering for the sake of Jesus Christ. The verses we read today are part of a call to holiness in conduct. We need to live reverently in view of Christ’s spotless offering. God the Father will judge us not according to our race or tribe, but impartially and fairly according to our works and our faithful obedience to God’s Word (1:17). Peter asks us to have filial reverence. Peter addresses his readers as “sojourners.” This calls to mind the sojourn of Israel in Egypt and later in Babylon. It depicts Christians as sojourners scattered among the nations of the earth. “Just as Israel had no permanent home in Egypt or Babylon, so Christians have no final dwelling among the nations where they now live” (Keating, First and Second Peter, Jude, 43). Peter’s readers have been ransomed by the blood of Jesus Christ, the spotless, unblemished lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus is also the Suffering Servant, who has been raised from the dead by God the Father.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I encounter you in the Word of God and in the Eucharist. And just as you sent out your disciples, you send me out on a mission to proclaim to the world that you are the way to salvation. Help me to bear witness to you today just as your disciples bore witness to the mystery of your Resurrection.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy tuần thứ Hai Mùa Phục sinh.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy tuần thứ Hai Mùa Phục sinh.
Tin Mừng hôm nay đã cho chúng ta thấy được những chủ đề về bóng tối và hy vọng. Như việc các môn đệ ra khơi trên một chiếc thuyền trong buổi chiều tối. Bóng tối của buổi chiều có thể tượng trưng cho bóng tối ma quỷ, sự dữ và sợ hãi. Trong văn hóa của người Do Thái biển được biểu hiện cho sự hỗn loạn, sức mạnh của sự dữ và khó thuần hóa. Các môn đệ đang bị bao phủ giữa màn tối tăm trên mặt biển là như thế.
"Chúa Giêsu vẫn chưa đến với họ." Ý chỉ đến sự vắng mặt của Thiên Chúa ở giữa họ. Và chẳng bao lâu,  thuyền của họ bị cơn bão táp, gió mạnh đánh ập vào  thuyền làm cho thuyền của họ gập ghềnh, chao đão như muốn lật úp. Giữa sự sợ hãi và tuyệt vọng của họ, Chúa Giêsu đã đến với họ trên mặt nước. Ngài an ủi họ “ Thầy đây! Đừng sợ”.  Sự hiện diện đột nhiên của Ngài làm lắng dịu đi tình trạng hỗn loạn hoang mang sợ sệt của họ và mang lại niềm hy vọng mới và sự sống.
            Nhiều lần trong cuộc sống của chúng ta, chúng ta cũng đã phải đối mặt với những cơn giông tố của cuộc đời, với những sự lo âu, hỗn loạn của những thử thách và đau khổ. Nhưng nếu chúng ta bình tĩnh, biết lắng nghe, thì trong những tiếng gầm của bão tố, chúng ta vẫn có thể nghe tiếng Chúa đang nói với chúng ta: "Thầy đây!, đừng sợ."
            Lạy Chúa, xin giúp chúng biết bình tĩnh để chúng con có thể nghe được tiếng thì thầm đầy hứa hẹn và đầy hy vọng của Chúa nhất là trong những lúc chúng con đang ở trong bóng tối và đang bị những cơn bão tố của cuộc sống hoàng hành.
 
Reflection SG 2016-04-06
Last April a devastating earthquake hit Nepal. People lost all: life, possessions and livelihood. But in the darkness of despair and devastation, faith and hope shone through people's faces as they tried to rise above the tragedy. As the people narrated the event, they often reiterated that God visited them in their inaccessible places through volunteers, NGOs and INGOs. Today’s gospel presents the theme of darkness and hope. As the disciples set out into in a boat, it was evening. The darkness of evening can symbolize darkness, evil and fear. In Jewish culture the sea could represent chaos, evil and untamable force. The disciples were surrounded by such a sea. “Jesus had not yet come to them.” These words indicate the absence of the Divine among them. Soon their boat was tossed by a strong wind. Amidst their fear and despair, Jesus walked towards them on the water, saying ‘It is I! Do not be afraid.’ His revelation quieted the turmoil and brought new hope and life.              Many times in our lives, we have to face the winds and turbulent waters of trials and tribulations. But if we listen, through the roar of the waves and wind, we may hear the voice that says ‘It is I — do not be afraid.’
Lord, help us hear Your promising and hope-filled whispers in times of darkness.
 
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” John 6:19–20
One of the most consoling things we can hear is our Lord saying to us, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” Every time we encounter His divine presence in our lives, we should hear those words. Though we do not always perceive Him, He is there, and when we reach out to Him with faith, He responds, dispelling the fear that cripples us, replacing it with confidence in His presence.
What causes you to fear? Though some forms of fear are good—such as fear of falling off a cliff while hiking on a narrow ledge—other forms of fear that we struggle with every day are not good. Fear of what people think about us, fear of failure, or fear of being mistreated are all fears that stem from our own weaknesses and lack of surrender to God’s grace. In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ miraculous act of walking on the water, coming toward the disciples in their boat at night during the storm, teaches us a lesson about unhealthy fear.
Fear ultimately stems from a lack of humility. It’s the fruit of pride, which is rooted in an excessive reliance on oneself rather than on God. Pride seeks control and resists vulnerability, whereas humility acknowledges one’s dependence on God and His providence. This misplaced trust in one’s own abilities or judgments leads to fear when faced with uncertainties or challenges that exceed personal power. This is beautifully presented in the difficult-to-pray Litany of Humility: “From the fear of being humiliated… despised… suffering rebukes… calumniated… being forgotten… being ridiculed… being wronged… being suspected—deliver me, Jesus!”
In today’s Gospel, after Jesus had performed the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, He sent His disciples ahead of Him. It was evening when they entered their boat and began rowing across the sea. After they “had rowed about three or four miles” and “it had already grown dark,” a fearful situation arose: “the sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.”
Many Church Fathers look at this passage as a literal story that is filled with symbolism, presenting us with deeper spiritual lessons. John frequently uses the images of light and darkness in his Gospel. Darkness symbolizes the absence of Christ, the Light of the World. The Apostles in the boat at night in the darkness, rowing against the wind and waves, symbolize our journey in life. The sea is the world and the boat is the Church, which enables us to traverse the difficulties we face in the world. Though Jesus is not in the boat during the waves and wind, He is not far away. He is attentive to them from a distance but allows them to endure the storm.
Each of us encounters storms. Though they sometimes lead to confusion, God permits them to help us overcome fear. Humility is the virtue that especially dispels fear because humility enables us to trust in God, rather than in ourselves. By ourselves, we cannot traverse the seas of the world. Not only will we be tossed about, making progress difficult or impossible, we sometimes lose our way and remain in one storm after another.
Reflect today on anything that causes fear or anxiety in your life. What weighs you down and sets you off course toward the freedom and joy God wants to grant you? What is it that is more than you can handle on your own? Whatever it is, humbly admit to yourself and to God that you need Him, because you are incapable of handling it on your own. As you do, listen for His gentle promptings of grace. Hear Him say to you, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” Allow Him to enter your life, calm the waves, and guide you safely to the destination He desires for you. Your humble reliance on our Lord will enable you to traverse any darkness in which you find yourself.
My ever-present Lord, at times I rely on myself more than You. This is especially true when I find myself vulnerable and susceptible to temptation. Please humble me, Lord, so that I will see Your presence in my life as the only answer, the only way to overcome every fear and anxiety I experience as I traverse the waves and darkness of this world. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter 2026
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I contemplate today how you care for your people by appointing ministers and servants. I pray today for the Church’s bishops, priests, and deacons that they may serve humbly and faithfully.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Patriarchs, Fathers, Firstborn Sons: When we contemplate the ordination of the first deacons in the Church, it is good to see how their ministry was prefigured in the Old Testament. When the deacon proclaims the Exultet at the Easter Vigil, he references how he is numbered among the Levites. But the Levites have their roots in the firstborn sons of Israel. But even before the institution of the Levites as the ministers of the tabernacle and temple, there was a priesthood and ministry exercised by the patriarchs, the fathers of families, and the firstborn sons. When we read the Book of Genesis, we see the patriarchs such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob building altars, saying prayers, offering sacrifices, and pronouncing blessings. In Egypt, the father of each family exercised a priestly role when they slaughtered the lambs and presided over the Passover. On the night of the Passover, the firstborn sons were redeemed – they were spared from death and bought back as wholly belonging to the Lord God – through the blood of the Passover lamb. The lamb served as a substitute that died in their place, so that the angel of the Lord “passed over” the houses marked with the lamb’s blood. This was a profound act of redemption and consecration tied to Israel’s identity as God’s “firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22-23) and to the original patriarchal priesthood.
2. High Priests, Priests, Levites: Something changed, however, when Israel worshipped the golden calf. The priesthood was stripped from the twelve tribes and the firstborn sons and restricted to one tribe, the tribe of Levi. The high priesthood was reserved for the sons of Aaron, and eventually only the sons of Phineas and Zadok. The priesthood was reserved for the descendants of Aaron. Ministry in the Mosaic Tabernacle and the Solomonic Temple would be carried out exclusively by the tribe of Levi. The distinction between the high priest, the Aaronic priests, and the Levite assistants is, on the one hand, grounded in the ancient distinction between Patriarch, father, and firstborn son, and, on the other hand, a prefiguration of the New Covenant distinction between bishop, priest (elder), and deacon.
3. Bishops, Priests, Deacons: We see how God cares for his people in the First Reading. There was an injustice that needed to be addressed: the widows of the Hellenists – Jewish converts who spoke Greek – were being neglected in the daily distribution (or service) of food and money. The Apostles addressed the problem by asking the people to choose seven reputable men, filled with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom, for the task of serving the people. Wisdom is a gift from the Holy Spirit and will enable them to act in a just manner in their duties. The seven men were presented to the Apostles, and they laid hands on them. The laying on of hands was and still is a symbolic and sacramental gesture of consecration and commission. It confers the grace of the Holy Spirit and is linked with the sacrament of ordination (1 Timothy 4:14). The seven men were commissioned to serve, not just in the administration of temporal goods, but also in preaching (8:5) and baptizing (8:12). They were called “deacons,” based on the Greek word for service (diakonia). Like the seven men chosen for service in the Acts of the Apostles, deacons today receive the first degree of Holy Orders. The Sacrament of Holy Orders conforms them, not to Christ the Head as a priest, but to Christ the Servant as a deacon. Deacons do not receive the ministerial priesthood, but rather assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity (CCC, 1569-70). The sacramental grace strengthens them in their dedication to the People of God in the service of the liturgy, of the Gospel, and of works of charity (CCC, 1588).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd who cares for your flock. You guide me to restful waters and refresh my soul. You have prepared a banquet before me and guide me along right paths. I fear no evil because you are with me. Bring me to dwell in the eternal house of the Lord all my days.
 
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”  John 6:19–20
On October 22, 1978, Pope Saint John Paul II was inaugurated as the 264th pope of our Holy Church. During his homily, the Holy Father said, “Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power.” The phrase “Do not be afraid” was repeated over and over again throughout his pontificate. In his book, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, which was written as a preparation for the new millenia, the Holy Father explained the following: “When pronouncing these words in St. Peter’s Square, I already knew that my first encyclical and my entire papacy would be tied to the truth of the Redemption. In the Redemption we find the most profound basis for the words “Be not afraid!”: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (cf. Jn 3:16). This exhortation against fear is repeated throughout the Bible numerous times. It is found in the Old Testament over a hundred times in some form and in the New Testament over fifty times. Again and again, God wants us to conquer fear, worry, and anxiety. He wants us to trust in Him in all things and place all of our hope in Him. What is it that you fear the most in life? For some, fear comes on a daily basis. Perhaps you face financial insecurity, poor health, a broken relationship, psychological difficulties, etc. There are numerous things in life that can easily tempt us to fear.
In the Gospel passage for today, Jesus walks toward His disciples on the water during a turbulent time on the Sea of Galilee. The wind was blowing, and the waves were distressing. And though these fishermen had spent many nights on the sea, Jesus chose to come to them at this moment, not so much to help them get to shore but to teach all of us that no matter what “storm” we face in life, He will be there in ways that are truly miraculous. Certainly, none of the disciples ever expected to see Jesus walking on the water in the middle of the night while the waves were crashing upon their boat. But Jesus did this and spoke those words, “Do not be afraid,” because He wanted us to know that no matter what we struggle with in life, He is always there, coming to us in love, and will see us safely to the shore of His peace.
If fear is something you struggle with on a personal level, then turn your eyes to the reality of the Redemption. The Father sent the Son into the world to save you. Jesus did not only come to teach, or to inspire, or to help. He came to save. To redeem. To destroy death, fear, sin and all that keeps us from the Father. His saving act changes humanity forever. If you understand that and believe it, then nothing can steal away your peace and fill you with fear.
Reflect, today, upon this powerful little phrase: “Do not be afraid!” Imagine yourself in the boat with the disciples at night, being tossed by the waves, surrounded by darkness. And then see Jesus coming to you speaking those words. Know that He speaks them to you in the darkest moments of your life and that He will never leave you. Hope in Him and let His saving act of the Redemption transform your life forever.
Jesus, my Redeemer, I thank You for coming into this world to save us. Thank You for the gift of the Redemption of the world. When I am tempted to fear and turn my eyes to the difficulties of the world, give me the grace I need to turn to You in hope and trust. Enter the storms of my life, dear Lord, and lift my burden of fear. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Saturday of 2nd Week of Easter 2025
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I believe in you, I trust in you, and I love you. You have invited me to this time of prayer. Open my heart to hear and receive your word; increase my faith, hope, and love and so make me more able to enter deeply into dialogue with you. I want to let you be more present in my life today, Risen Lord. 
Encountering Christ: 
Evening, Stormy Darkness: The Apostles were alone. John told us it had already grown dark, and that Jesus was not with them. This was when the sea stirred up and strong winds began to blow. In the journey of following the Lord, there are many storms that come up along the way. Some arise because we ourselves have turned away from the Lord. Others, perhaps like this one for the Apostles, appear because the Lord wants to help us grow in our faith. During life’s storms, our rock-solid faith can strengthen us against the thrashing waves. “I wish you to be as a rock. A wave dashes against you. Silence. It assails you ten, a hundred, a thousand times. Silence. Say at most in the midst of the storm, ‘My Father, my Father, I am all yours! O dear, O sweet will of God! I adore you!’” (St. Paul of the Cross).
Do Not Be Afraid: How many times in the Gospels–and all of Sacred Scripture–do these words come forth from the mouth and heart of God. How well he knows us—and how easily we tend to fear. We fear surrender, solitude, scarcity, betrayal, abandonment, and coming up short. There are fears all of humanity shares, in one form or another, and specific fears that the enemy strives to sew in each of our hearts. “But he said to them, ‘It is I. Do not be afraid’,” John tells us. In this time of prayer, may we allow the Lord, whose word is living and effective (Hebrews 4:12), speak the truth anew over our lives. Even in the deepest and loneliest storm, the Lord is with us in the boat. 
Jesus and the Boat: John tells us they wanted to take Jesus into the boat, but immediately the boat reached the shore. We see the fruit of the theological virtue of hope at work here. In his encyclical letter on hope, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI writes, “There are already present in us the things that are hoped for: the whole, true life. And precisely because the thing itself is already present, this presence of what is to come also creates certainty” (paragraph 7). In other words, through Christian hope we already possess the very thing we long for. The Lord is already in our boat; the boat is already on its way to the shore. 
Conversing with Christ: Jesus, you know me better than I know myself. You know my fears; you know the storms I find myself in right now. And you also know that I want to hope in you, to entrust my life to you. Sometimes the enemy’s voice feels louder than your own, and the waves crash. And I forget. Increase my hope, increase my trust. You are with me in the boat, Risen Jesus. You have already suffered all I am carrying, and you have triumphed. I pray for those who do not know you, Jesus, who do not know the hope and meaning you have come to bring to our lives. Strengthen my hope, as you did your apostles, so that I too may be your instrument in the world. 
 
Saturday of 2nd Week of Easter
Opening Prayer: Lord come to me as I begin this time of prayer. Calm my stormy mind so that I can recognize your presence in these words.
Encountering Christ:
In Context?: After feeding the five hundred, the Gospel of Matthew tells us Jesus “made his disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side” (Matthew 14:22). Jesus wanted to be alone to pray. Although John left this detail out, it makes sense that the disciples would have gotten into the boat only if Jesus insisted, telling them he intended to pray. They had seen this behavior before. Jesus often got up early, or stayed up late, to share some quiet time with his Father. What a witness Jesus was to them and to us. No matter how busy our ministry, no matter how needy the crowds, no matter what our collaborators say, we must make time for prayer. “Let the men eaten up with activity and who imagine they are able to shake the world with their preaching and other outward works, stop and reflect a moment... they would be much more useful to the Church and more pleasing to the Lord, not to mention the good example they would give to those around them, if they devoted more time to prayer and to the exercises of the interior life” (Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard, The Soul of the Apostolate).
It Was Dark: Jesus prayed well into the night, leaving the Apostles in the dark, in a boat tossed about by waves. Of course, he knew their plight. Why did he wait until the fourth watch of the night (Mark 6:48) to make his presence known? When Jesus postponed his visit to Mary and Martha, it was to raise Lazarus from the dead—to work a miracle so resplendent that doubting souls might finally believe (John 11). When the woman with the hemorrhage touched his cloak, Jesus told her, “Courage daughter, your faith has saved you” (Matthew 9:22). The disciples in today’s Gospel “had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened” (Mark 6:52). Their faith needed a booster shot. Jesus was making it perfectly clear that he is master of the seas, and through his dramatically bringing them to safety their faith in him would be strengthened. In our own darkness, we can be assured that Jesus knows our plight, that his timing is perfect, and that he seeks only our good. No one relishes the darkness, but “this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
No Fear: The Bible contains more than 140 admonitions to fear not, forty of them in the New Testament. Jesus’s disciples were afraid. Jesus knows our hearts are also anxious, that storms crop up to disturb our peace, that we struggle with strong emotions like anger, jealousy, and loneliness. In this instance, he approached the boat with the words, “It is I. Do not be afraid,” and so “They wanted to take him into the boat.” We too want to cling to Jesus in the storm and lay our problems at his feet. When we do, Jesus calms our anxious hearts, reminding us that he is enough. Our peace is restored.
Conversing with Christ: Lord, you speak to me about faith in these lines of Scripture. I see that my faith is weak. I beg you to strengthen me. Many of the ordinary daily stressors I experience are opportunities to grow in faith. I know that I can do all that you ask of me with peace and joy, if I only have faith in you.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will say, “Jesus I trust in you,” every time I feel the least bit stressed. 
 
Suy NiệmTin Mừng Thứ Bẩy Tuần thứ Hai Phục Sinh
Chúng ta thường có tất cả những kinh nghiệm bất ổn trong cuộc sống của mỗi người, mỗi gia đình của chúng ta và ở những mức độ khác nhau. Có những cuộc sống của chúng ta như đang bị những đám mây đen dường như đang lơ lửng trên đầu và đe doạ chúng ta không ngừng. Có những lúc chúng ta như có thể đang bị bảo tố, mưa gió làm ngập lụt cuộc sống của chúng với các vấn đề phức tạp trong cuộc sống… như đau bệnh, thất nghiệp….hay những khó khăn trong việc đối xử vớ những vị thành niên, tuổi trẻ trong gia đình của chúng ta hoặc thậm chí, khủng hoảng tài chính, hoặc những xích mích bất đồng ý kiến trong đời sống vợ chồng. Và mỗi ;lần như thế chúng ta như đang cảm nhận được "cơn sóng lớn trên biển với những cơn bão thổi mạnh." Đôi khi chúng ta thầm hỏi, "Thiên Chúa ở đâu? mà Chúa để chúng ta phải chịu đựng những điều này?"
            Chúng ta có bao giờ nghĩ rằng: những gì chúng ta đang trải qua là một phần quá trình của sự cắt tỉa của chúng ta? Có bao giờ chúng ta nghĩ rằng: có thể Thiên Chúa đang dạy chúng ta bài học gì đó mà chúng ta cần phải học để trở thành một người tốt, vững chãi hơn và trưởng thành hơn. Có lẽ Ngài cho chúng ta và những người xung quanh chúng ta một cơ hội để nên thánh. Hoặc có thể đó là gốc rễ của sự đau khổ mà chúng ta đã tạo ra cho chính mình và nhờ đó mà Thiên Chúa mời gọi chúng ta đến được gần gũi với Ngài hơn, để Ngài có thế nâng cái  gánh nặng của chúng ta, và để Ngài sẽ đến gần con thuyền của chúng ta và đưa chúng ta vào bờ.
Có lẽ những gì chúng ta muốn, những gì chúng tôi đang theo đuổi không phải là những gì là tốt đẹp, hay hữu ích nhất cho chúng ta, không phải là ý của Thiên Chúa muốn cho chúng ta, đó là lý do tại sao chúng ta không thành công.
            Thiên Chúa luôn luôn ở bên cạnh chúng ta để trấn an chúng ta, "Đừng sợ." Chúng ta hãy để cho Ngài kiểm soát và hướng dẫn cuộc sống của chúng ta. Chúng ta hãy để cho Ngài đi đầu dẫn chúng ta theo. Hãy để những lời cầu nguyện của chúng ta được hài hòa với ý của Thiên Chúa bằng cách cầu nguyện cho sự biết phân biệt và nhận định. Chúng ta hãy dành thời gian để lắng nghe Ngài, để chúng ta sẽ có sự bình an trong tâm hồn để chúng ta có thể bất chấp những sự bất ổn và những cơn bão xung quanh cuộc sống của chúng ta.
 
REFLECTION
We have all experienced turbulence in our lives in different degrees, where dark clouds seem to be hovering unceasingly above us. We may be deluged with problems at work, difficulties in handling our teenage or even grown-up kids, financial woes, or communication gap with our spouse. We feel the "roughness of the sea with a strong wind blowing." Sometimes we ask, "Where is God in all this?"
Have we ever thought that what we are going through is part of our pruning process? Maybe God is teaching us something that we need to learn to be a better person. Maybe He is giving us and those around us opportunities to be holy. Or maybe the root of our suffering is our own doing and God is calling us to be closer to Him, to lift up our burdens to Him so that He will come close to our boat and bring us to shore. Maybe what we want, what we are pursuing is not what is best for us, not God's will for us – which is why we are not succeeding.
God is always there to reassure us, "Don't be afraid." Let us allow Him to take control of our lives. Let us let Him take the lead. Let our prayers be harmonious with God's will by praying for discernment. Let us take time to listen to Him so that we will have peace in our hearts regardless of the turbulence and the storms around us.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy tuần thứ Hai Mùa Phục sinh.

uy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ sáu Tuần thứ 2 Phục Sinh

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ sáu Tuần thứ 2 Phục Sinh
Trong mùa Phục Sinh, những bài đọc cho chúng ta xem lại những việc mà của Chúa Giêsu đã làm và tình yêu của Thiên Chúa đối với nhân loại. Hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu muốn mời gọi chúng ta cùng chia sẻ sự thương tâm với Ngài "Ta mua ở đâu ra bánh để cho họ ăn đây?"
Có lẽ chúng ta cũng giống như thánh Philliphê đang ở trong cái sự suy nghĩ vật chất của thế gian “Có mua đến hai trăm quan tiền bánh cũng chẳng đủ cho mỗi người một chút”. Việc Chúa Giêsu đã làm phép lạ hoá bánh ra nhiều không phải là ý định của Chúa Giêsu, những là mối quan tâm của Ngài đối với những nhu cầu cần thiết tối thiếu của con người “Họ đã theo ta ba ngày rồi mà chẳng có gì để ăn”. Ngài không để ý hay quan tâm đến việc mọi người muốn tôn vinh Ngài, Ngài chỉ ra tay hành động để đáp ứng những nhu cầu cần thiết của con người bằng cả với tình thương yêu chân tình, chứ không phải là làm để lấy uy tín cá nhân.
            Chúng ta hãy suy nghĩ về  cậu bé với năm chiếc bánh và hai con cá, có bao giờ chúng ta dám từ bỏ tất cả những gì mà chúng ta đang có để chia sẽ với những người khác?.  5 chiếc bánh và hai con cá có thể giúp cậu ta và gia đình được no đủ trong mấy ngày trước khi về tới nhà, thế mà cậu không ích kỷ, cậu sẵn sàng chia sẽ những chiếc bánh này với mọi người cho dù chỉ chẳng là bao. Thế nhưng nhờ 5 chiếc bánh và hai con cá đó mà Chúa Giêsu đã nuôi sống cả ngàn người.
Có lẽ có những lúc, chúng ta cũng giống như đám người trong đám đông, chúng ta chạy theo Chúa Giêsu vì chúng ta được nuôi ăn, và hy vọng sẽ có được một cuộc sống thảnh thơi thoải mái, nhưng lại quên đi hay cố tình không để ý, hay quan tâm đến những nhu cầu tâm linh mà Ngài đang dạy cho chúng ta?  Chúng ta hãy tự hỏi chính mình là: “Tôi đã yêu mến Thiên Chúa vì những gì Ngài có thể làm cho gia đình, cho chính bản thân của chúng tôi?  hay là chỉ biết tôi yêu mến Thiên Chúa vì những sự tốt lành của Ngài đã đem đến cho người khác?
 
REFLECTION
In this Easter season, the readings revisit the total giving of our Lord Jesus for humankind. This time, the invitation is presented to us "Where shall we buy bread so that these people may eat?" Do we feel like Phillip, lost in worldly thinking? Or can we look in the direction of Jesus and see what is going to happen with a boy with five loaves and two fish, and five thousand men, not counting the women and children? Probably, the first time we heard the story we were impressed by the miracle. And probably if there is such a man today, we also would have done what the crowd had intended: take him and make him provide all that we want!
            But that was not the intention of Jesus when he multiplied the bread and fish. His concern was the needs of the people. He was not concerned about how people made of him when he acted in response to the people's needs. Now look at the boy. Are we able to give up all that we have to Jesus so that he can meet the needs of others?
 
Friday of the Second Week of Easter 2026
Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” John 6:3–5
Have you ever faced a situation in which you felt desperate? Some people endure severe poverty, unsure of where their next meal will come from. Others struggle with family disunity, leading to deep fear and anxiety. Some battle addiction, uncertain how they will ever break free. Still others face obstacles that seem insurmountable. Today’s Gospel reminds us that nothing is impossible for God.
The story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes begins with an intriguing exchange between Jesus and two of His disciples. Jesus asked Philip where they could buy food for the crowd, even though He knew they did not have enough money nor a place to buy food. This question was more of a statement, showing us that we must always rely on divine providence, especially when faced with the impossible.
From a human perspective, feeding such a vast crowd on a mountaintop was impossible. Similarly, we all encounter situations in life that, by human means, present insurmountable challenges. If the crowd had numbered only about twenty people, one of the disciples might have managed to meet the need with a practical solution, such as purchasing food from a nearby village. Thus, when a challenge in life has a reasonable solution within our capacity, we should pursue it. When human effort alone is not enough, we must turn to divine providence.
Philip’s response reveals his purely rational perspective: “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” In contrast, Andrew shows a glimmer of faith and hope when he points out, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” The role of the boy is often overlooked. Although the Gospel says little about him, it is clear that he entrusted everything he had to Jesus. Perhaps it was this small act of trust that allowed Jesus to perform the miracle.
After Jesus had the vast crowd of 5,000 men—not counting women and children—recline in the grass, He did the unimaginable. He transformed the five barley loaves and two fish into more than the large crowd could eat. The twelve baskets of food left over symbolize God’s superabundant providence, given to those who are members of His Kingdom—the new Twelve Tribes of Israel, His Church.
We must read this miracle from both a literal and a spiritual point of view. First, Jesus literally fed this vast crowd with a few loaves and fish. In our lives, He promises the same when we entrust all we have to Him. Though we must act responsibly to provide for ourselves and our families, in the end, we must believe that Jesus will provide all we need. His concern extends to our material needs, relieving us of worry and anxiety when we trust in Him.
Spiritually speaking, God’s providence assures us that every desperate situation in which we find ourselves can be transformed by His grace if we trust Him. Family disunity, addictions, poverty, and every other human struggle can and will be transformed by His grace if we fully surrender to Him. For example, even if a family relationship is beyond reconciliation, by fully surrendering that relationship to Him, His grace will either heal it or use the suffering as a source of grace in ways we could never imagine. Nothing is beyond the power of God.
Reflect today on this vast crowd coming to Jesus on the mountain. See yourself in that crowd. See yourself as hungry and even desperate, journeying toward Him Who is the answer to every problem. See yourself as that boy who gives all he has to Jesus. Don’t hold anything back. Trust in Him and know that His divine providence will transform anything you bring to Him in superabundance.
My providential Lord, I bring to You today all that I have and entrust it to You. I believe that You love me and care about every aspect of my life. Please take the little I offer You—everything I have—and transform it superabundantly by Your grace. Your providence never fails, dear Lord. Help me to believe that with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Friday of the Second Week of Easter 2026
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you guide the Church through the sending of your Spirit. May your Spirit fill my heart and renew me. May your Spirit fill the Church with your Love and grace, so that the face of the earth will be renewed and recreated.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Suffering for Jesus: In the First Reading, we learn that the Apostles in Jerusalem were flogged by the Sanhedrin and ordered to stop preaching and speaking in the name of Jesus. The efforts of the Sanhedrin were futile: the Apostles rejoiced that they had been found worthy to share in Christ’s suffering and continued their ministry both in the Temple and in their homes. They preached and taught in the name of Jesus and proclaimed that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He has delivered the people from spiritual slavery and death. He is the Prophet whom they should heed. He is the New Moses, who has given them heavenly bread. 
2. The Sage Advice of Gamaliel: Gamaliel, who was Paul’s teacher (Acts 22:3), offered sage advice to the members of the Sanhedrin. He said that if Jesus were a false prophet and not the Messiah, then Christianity would implode like the rebellion movements led by Theudas and Judas the Galilean. If, however, the Christian way came from God, then every action against it on their part would be a fight against God and rejection of his divine will. Though the leaders were persuaded by Gamaliel not to stone the apostles, they nevertheless flogged them and ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus before dismissing them. The early Christians did not respond to the dishonor of being flogged with sadness, but with rejoicing. Their dedication to Jesus only became stronger, and they persisted in teaching and proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah both publicly in the Temple and privately in their homes.
3. Signs of Credibility and Authenticity: Two thousand years later, the growth and holiness, the fruitfulness, the catholic unity and stability of the Church continue to be signs and motives of credibility (CCC, 156, 812). They are signs that point us to faith in Jesus Christ and his saving work. Gamaliel’s advice to the Sanhedrin and the example of the apostles are something we can use to discern the authenticity of charisms, spiritualities, and works within the Church. “By their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:16). If something within the Church is merely of human origin or motivated by greed or power, it will eventually implode and pass by the wayside. The eventual fruits will not be those of holiness or service, but of scandal and hypocrisy. On the contrary, authentic works and charisms in the Church will lead men and women to live holy lives and give witness to a dimension of the mystery of Christ. The fruits, often accompanied by suffering and humiliation, will be a greater conformity to the life of Christ.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I have been reborn of the Spirit through Baptism and sealed with the Spirit through Confirmation. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may aspire to things eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may choose the surest way of pleasing God and attaining eternal life, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with you, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow in holiness, the Spirit of Piety that I may worship God with all my heart, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with filial reverence toward God.
 
Friday of the Second Week of Easter
“Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.” John 6:12–13
John’s Gospel is filled with much symbolic meaning. The passage above concludes the story of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. After feeding the multitude of people with only five barley loaves and two fish, they were able to fill twelve wicker baskets with what remained. What was the reason for the extra?
Saint Augustine, in commenting upon this passage, explains that Jesus provided more than the people could eat as a way of symbolically representing spiritual truths that were beyond what the vast crowds could comprehend. Thus, Jesus’ teachings spiritually nourished the crowds to the point that they were fully satisfied. But even though the general crowds were satisfied with what Jesus taught them, there was still so much more that He had to teach. These deeper spiritual truths are represented by the extra twelve baskets.
The twelve baskets represent the Twelve Disciples. They were the ones specially chosen by Jesus to receive so much more. Recall the times when Jesus taught the crowds in parables and then, later, would explain the meaning to the Twelve in private. He revealed to them certain truths that most people could not understand and accept.
It is helpful to consider three different groups of people in this miracle and apply those groupings to us today. The first group of people are those who were not even present for the miracle. Those who did not make the journey to be with Jesus in the wilderness. This is the largest group of people within society who go about their daily lives without even seeking minimal nourishment from our Lord.
The second grouping of people is this “large crowd” who followed Jesus to the remote side of the Sea of Galilee to be with Him. These represent those who diligently seek out our Lord every day. These are those who are faithful to the celebration of the Mass, the reading of Scripture, to daily prayer and study. To this grouping of people, our Lord teaches many things, and they are nourished by His holy Word and Sacraments.
The third grouping of people, the Twelve Disciples who are represented by the Twelve wicker baskets left over, are those who are exceptionally faithful to our Lord and continue to be nourished by Him in a superabundant way. These are those who seek to understand and embrace the deepest spiritual truths so as to be nourished and transformed on the deepest level.
Reflect, today, upon the fact that the spiritual food our Lord wishes to offer you is most often far more than you can immediately accept and consume. But understanding that fact is the first step to disposing yourself to receive even more. As you reflect upon this superabundance of spiritual food from our Lord, recommit yourself especially to seek out that remaining “twelve wicker baskets” of spiritual truths. If you do, you will discover that there is truly no end to the transforming depths of the gifts of grace our Lord wishes to bestow upon you.
My most generous Lord, You not only give spiritual nourishment to Your people, You give it in superabundance. As I daily seek You out and am filled with Your mercy, help me to never tire of feasting upon the superabundant gift of Your grace. Please do nourish me, dear Lord, and help me to consume Your holy Word. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Friday of 2nd Week of Easter 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you have provided me with much more than earthly bread. You have given me heavenly bread and the gift of eternal life. I thank you today for the wondrous gifts of your Sacraments and will strive to bring others to share in them.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Feast of Passover: In the context of the second Passover of Jesus’ public ministry, Jesus works his fourth sign and multiplies the five loaves of bread and two fish for the five thousand. “The sign takes place in the context of the Passover and anticipates, in its very language (John 6:11, 23), the last Passover that Jesus will celebrate with his disciples” (Hahn, “Temple, Sign, and Sacrament,” 124). The yearly celebration of Passover recalls and makes present the great act of salvation the Lord did through the leadership of Moses. After the Passover in Egypt, Moses led the people into the wilderness and to the mountain of God. Like Moses, Jesus has led the people into the wilderness and up the mountain. Jesus will bring about the fulfillment of the Passover and establish the New Passover. Moses led the people from the slavery of Egypt to the border of the Promised Land. Jesus, through his great act of salvation, leads us from the slavery of sin to the freedom of the children of God.  
2. New Manna: As we journey toward the heavenly promised land, we are led through the wilderness of earthly life by the New Moses, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. And just as the people of Israel needed bread for their earthly journey, we also need bread for our journey. The miracle and sign of the multiplication of the loaves of bread looks back to the feeding of Israel in the desert with manna. The manna descended each morning and was enough to feed the people for a day. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask: “Give us this day, our daily bread.” We ask God not only to sustain us and meet our physical needs, but we also ask for the supernatural bread of life. As Jesus will teach in the synagogue at Capernaum: “Whoever eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:51).
3. This is the Prophet: When the disciples gathered the fragments left over, they gathered enough to fill twelve wicker baskets. And when the people saw this sign, they proclaimed: “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world” (John 6:14). Like the feast of Passover and the manna, this also has to do with the connection between Moses and Jesus. When he gave his last will and testament to Israel on the plains of Moab, Moses promised that the Lord would send a prophet like himself: “A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you from among your own kindred; that is the one to whom you shall listen” (see Deuteronomy 18:15). The people had waited centuries for the ultimate fulfillment of that prophecy of Moses. And so, when Jesus works the sign and multiplies the bread for the people in a deserted place, they begin to think that Jesus is the prophet-like-Moses sent by the Lord. The question is: “Will they listen to the words of Jesus?” The Lord said to Moses: “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kindred, and will put my words into the mouth of the prophet; the prophet shall tell them all that I command” (Deuteronomy 18:18). In a few days we will see how the crowds react to the words of Jesus about the Eucharist.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your heart is moved with pity and compassion for your people. You know their deepest needs and my needs. You give yourself without reserve. Help me to imitate your self-offering today and serve those around me.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Năm tuần thứ Hai Phục Sinh

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Năm tuần thứ Hai Phục Sinh
Nếu chúng ta thử nghĩ như trong quá khứ, cha ông của chúng ta là Các thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam nghe lời dụ dỗ của quan chức và triều đình chấp nhận bỏ đạo, không dậy cho con cháu về Chúa mà nhận vinh quang với cuộc đời hoàn toàn hạnh phúc, thì chắc rằng Đạo Công Giáo và lời Chúa không được phổ biến rộng rãi như hôm nay. Cũng như các tông đồ nếu họ không thực trong lòng, can đảm để phổ biến những câu chuyện về Chúa Giêsu phục sinh và Chúa đã phải chết như thế nào để chúng ta có thể có sự tha thứ tội lỗi của chúng ta  và có được sự sống đời đời.
            Các Thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam, các tông đồ không thể che dấu được những nỗi vui mừng vì biết được Chân Lý, sự thật, họ không còn sợ hãi những mối đe dọa bắt nạt của những người có quyền hành, cho dù phải chết. Các Thánh đã làm theo sự lựa chọn của họ: họ vâng lời Thiên Chúa hơn là vâng lời con người. Họ đã không im lặng về những việc làm trái với công lý, mà đã đứng lên bênh vực theo lẽ phải, trong  tình yêu của Thiên Chúa. Đây không phải là những gì bí mật, nhưng là sự chia sẻ với tất cả mọi người.
            Nhiều điều trong số những giáo huấn của Chúa Giêsu dường như xa lạ với những người nghe Chúa. Họ dường như cảm thấy thế giới của họ đang đảo ngược; giá trị của Ngài thì rất khác xa những giá trị của họ trong thực tại. Thánh Gioan cho chúng ta biết lý do tại sao: Chúa Giêsu đến từ trên cao, trong khi con người đến ngay bên dưới thế này và hai thế giới rất khác nhau. Chúng ta không thể xưng là tín đồ của Chúa Giêsu Kitô  nếu như chúng ta  vẫn cứ tiếp tục cuộc sống của chúng ta như trước.
            Mang DANH Chúa Giêsu có nghĩa là phài học hỏi liên tục để trở thành một con người khác biệt với những người khác. Chúng ta hãy nên suy niệm về Chúa Giêsu và thế giới mà ngài đại diện cho chúng ta trong tư tưởng, lời nói, giá trị và hành động. Chúa Giêsu mời gọi chúng ta là làm công dân của nước Trời, ngay cả khi chúng ta đang sống trên trái đất. Và chúng ta có thể bắt đầu cuộc hành trình này bằng cách cho phép Chúa làm việc trong và qua chúng ta.          Lạy Chúa, Xin Chúa biến đổi lòng trí và trái tim của chúng con.
 
Reflection Thursday 2nd Week of Easter 
Perhaps at some time in the past we had some absolutely joyful piece of news but were forbidden to tell anyone. It probably felt as if it were burning within us and that we would explode unless we shared it with someone. The apostles carried in their hearts the story of the risen Jesus and how he had died so that we might have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. How could anyone possibly keep this a secret? The bullying threats of the authorities meant nothing to them. They made their choice: they would obey God rather than human beings. We should not be silent about justice, right and wrong, or the love of God. These should not be secrets, but shared with all.
            Many of the teachings of Jesus seemed strange to the people who heard them. They seemed to turn their world upside down — his values were very different from theirs. John tells us why: Jesus came from above, while humans are from below — two very different worlds. We cannot profess to be followers of Jesus but continue our lives as before.  Bearing the name of Jesus means learning to be a very different sort of human being. We reflect Jesus and the world he represents in our thoughts, words, values, and deeds. Jesus calls us to be people of heaven even while we live on earth, and we begin this journey by allowing him to work in and through us.  Lord, transform my mind and heart.
 
Thursday of the Second Week of Easter
“The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.” John 3:35–36
A holy fear, one of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, begins with a fear of punishment. We should foster within our minds and hearts a healthy fear of experiencing the “wrath of God.” God’s holy wrath is not an emotional reaction to those who reject Him but rather the necessary consequence of disobeying Him and refusing to receive and foster the transforming gift of faith. God’s wrath is His pure justice. He respects our freedom and will not impose Himself upon us. God will not force the gift of eternal life upon those who reject it by rejecting the means of obtaining it.
What is the means of obtaining eternal life? Believing in the Son. In biblical terms, believing is much more than intellectual assent. Even the demons believe in God intellectually. Their belief, however, lacks the spiritual gift of faith, which is what today’s Gospel addresses.
Faith in God involves listening to Him, understanding His Word, and responding positively in our daily actions. It means we choose to allow ourselves to be changed by God’s Word. True faith cannot be separated from hope and charity. Once our minds perceive God and the Truth that He imparts, the divine gift of hope compels us to act on and in accordance with the truth we understand. Faith and hope together produce charity, which perfects faith and leads to a love of God and others, inspiring us to act according to God’s will.
For these reasons, it is clear that being a Christian is far more than believing a philosophical thesis. Sadly, it seems that there are many who profess to be Christian but do so only in an intellectual way. If that is you sometimes, then prayerfully ponder the phrase “the wrath of God remains upon him.”
Though the gift of Fear of the Lord begins with the fear of losing out on eternal life, it culminates in a burning desire to do all we can to further God’s Kingdom and implement His will in our lives. This higher form of fear drives us away from anything that keeps us from offending God, even slightly, or failing to serve Him with all the powers of our souls. This is the fear of a son or daughter who strives to please God in all things.
As we continue our Easter Season, we are invited to consider all that Jesus revealed in His public ministry through the lens of His final victory over death and restoration of eternal life, promised by the Resurrection. Today, we are especially challenged to examine what we believe and whether that intellectual assent has mixed with the gift of hope to compel us to act.
Reflect today on whether your belief in the Son of God drives your will to action. As you listen to the Word of God, do you allow it to change you? Do you make conscious decisions to move in a new direction because you have listened to and acted upon all that Jesus has revealed? Are you closer to God today than you were last year or in the years before that? Choose to believe in the Son of God today in the way Jesus wants you to believe, and you will be one step closer to the incalculable riches of eternal life.
Most generous God, You desire my pure and holy faith. When I fail to believe and follow Your will, I experience an absence of You, a judgment I impose upon myself. Please give me the courage I need to choose You always, in every action, driven by a holy fear of losing You in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Thursday of the Second Week of Easter 2026
Opening Prayer: Lord God, grant me a share in your Son’s suffering. Do not let me be overcome when I experience trials, temptations, and tribulations. You permit me to be tested, and when I am, I will strive to reaffirm my love for you and trust in you. 
Encountering the Word of God
1. Imitating Jesus: We see the effect of the outpouring of the Spirit in today’s First Reading. Jesus ascended into heaven and poured out the Holy Spirit on his Apostles and disciples. The Spirit empowered them to preach and speak of heavenly things. One of the goals of the Acts of the Apostles was to show how the followers of Jesus imitated his life, doing the works that he did, and suffering persecution as he did. This conformity to the life and passion of Jesus argued in favor of the authenticity of their teaching. The First Reading shows how, like Jesus, the Apostles were put on trial before the Sanhedrin. They were innocent, like Jesus, and yet were flogged (Acts 5:40) just as Jesus was scourged. “Jesus’ command to preach the gospel (Acts 1:8) overrules the Sanhedrin’s command to keep quiet about it” (Kurz, Acts of the Apostles, 103).
2. Covenant Curses and Blessings: In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pronounces a blessing on those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness and Jesus’ name (Matthew 5:10-12). This is quite a paradox: How is being persecuted a blessing? In the Old Covenant (Deuteronomy 28), earthly blessings – like abundant harvests, wealth, many descendants, peace, and prosperity – were promised to those who were obedient to God. On the flip side, disobedience would trigger the curses – infertility, famine, poverty, war, and exile. In the New Covenant, Jesus pronounces a blessing on the poor, the hungry, those who weep, and those who are persecuted (Luke 6:20-23) and announces woe to the rich, those who are full, those who laugh, and those who are spoken well of (Luke 6:24-26). In the New Covenant, then, the way we build up heavenly treasure is through suffering poverty, hunger, and persecution. Earthly blessings – such as wealth and material abundance – can be dangerous and turn our hearts away from God (Matthew 6:24). In the New Covenant, we need to have a healthy detachment from earthly blessings. In his defense before the Sanhedrin, Peter refers to Deuteronomy 21 and the curse of “hanging on a tree” (Acts 5:30). Jesus took upon himself the covenant curse of death (Genesis 2:17) that we triggered by our sin. God raised Jesus and exalted him. Jesus is our leader and savior and, through his suffering, attained the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus is the obedient one who has transformed the curses of the Old Covenant into the path that leads to the blessing of eternal life in the New. Throughout their ministry, the Apostles would all experience persecution in various ways. But they were also confident that they were following in the footsteps of their leader and savior and were on the path to life.
3. Jesus, Our Leader and Savior: The First Reading reminds us that the Lord God has true authority. He vindicated his Son, Jesus Christ, by raising him from the dead and exalting him at his right hand. “Peter here says that Jesus has been exalted ‘as leader and savior,’ using different terms from ‘Lord and Messiah’ appearing elsewhere for his exaltation (Acts 2:36)” (Kurz, Acts of the Apostles, 103-104). By calling Jesus our leader, prince, or author, Peter indicates that Jesus was the first to pass through death to life and is the pioneer for all those who will one day be raised from the dead. By calling Jesus our “savior,” Peter is using a term that Gentiles associated with the Roman Emperor. Jesus Christ, not the Emperor, is the true savior of Israel and the whole world. Peter “explains that the way Jesus saves Israel is by granting repentance and forgiveness of sins” (Kurz, Acts of the Apostles, 104). The leaders of Israel arranged to have Jesus, our leader and savior, crucified. Peter ends by emphasizing that he and the other apostles were witnesses to Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God testifies within the hearts and minds of Christians to the truth of what Peter is preaching to the Sanhedrin. Just as Jesus’ works gave testimony to the authenticity of his word, so also the works of the Apostles – such as healing a lame man in Acts 3 – testify to the authenticity of their message. “In addition, Peter implies, those who believe in Jesus have been given the Spirit because they obey God (see Acts 5:29), whereas the Sanhedrin leaders have not received the Spirit because they do not obey God” (Kurz, Acts of the Apostles, 105).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you brought the Old Covenant to fulfillment in the New through your obedient suffering out of love. You have the power to transform me and conform my life to yours. Teach me to be an obedient child who heeds and responds to the Word of God.
 
Thursday of the Second Week of Easter
The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. John 3:35
It’s interesting to note that the words of today’s Gospel appear to be from Saint John the Baptist, since they come within the context of his testimony to Jesus. Some commentators, however, suggest that they are words that were actually spoken by Jesus and that the Evangelist inserts them here as a continuation of the testimony of the Baptist, attributing them to Saint John. Regardless of who actually spoke these words, the line quoted above gives us much to reflect upon, in that it gives us insight into the very meaning and practice of true love.
What is love? Is it a feeling? An emotion? A drive or a desire for something or someone? Of course, the secular understanding of love is much different than a divine understanding of love. Oftentimes the secular view of love is more self-centered. To “love” someone or something is to want to possess that person or object. “Love” from a secular view focuses upon the attraction and desire. But true love, from a divine perspective, is very different.
The line quoted above tells us two things: First, we are told that “The Father loves the Son…” But then we are given a definition of that love. We are told that love in this case results in the Father giving “everything over” to the Son. When we consider the word “everything” in this passage, it is clear that this can only refer to the Father giving Himself to the Son in totality. Within the life of the Father, everything means His very essence, His being, His personhood, His whole divine self. The Father does not say, “I want;” rather, the Father says, “I give.” And the Son receives all that the Father is.
Though this is deep and mystical language, it becomes very practical for our lives when we understand that divine love is not about wanting, taking, desiring, feeling, etc. Divine love is about giving. It’s about the giving of oneself to another. And it’s not just about giving some of yourself away, it’s about giving “everything” away.
If the Father gave everything to the Son, does that mean that the Father has nothing left? Certainly not. The beautiful nature of divine love is that it is never ending. The more one gives themself away, the more they have. Thus, the gift of the life of the Father to the Son is infinite and eternal. The Father never ceases to give, and the Son never ceases to receive. And the more the Father gives Himself to the Son, the more the Father becomes the essence of love itself.
The same is true in our lives. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that love should only go so far. But if we are to strive to imitate and participate in the love the Father has for the Son, then we must also understand that love is about giving, not receiving, and that the giving must be a gift of everything, holding nothing back. We must give ourselves away to others without counting the cost and without exception.
Reflect, today, upon your view of love. Look at it from a practical perspective as you think about the people whom you are especially called to love with a divine love. Do you understand your duty to give yourself to them completely? Do you realize that giving yourself away will not result in the loss of your life but in the fulfillment of it? Ponder the divine love that the Father has for the Son and make the radical and holy choice today to strive to imitate and participate in that same love.
My loving Lord, the Father has given all to You, and You, in turn, have given all to the Father. The love You share is infinite and eternal, overflowing into the lives of all Your creatures. Draw me into that divine love, dear Lord, and help me to imitate and share in Your love by fully giving my life to others. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Thursday of 2nd Week of Easter 2025
Opening Prayer: Lord God, as I meditate on the life of your Son, I see how he was mistreated and misunderstood. He was innocent, yet put to death. This is the paradox of the Christian life: by dying to myself, I will gain eternal life. Help me to live that truth and conform my life to that of your Son.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The One who Comes from Above: It is not clear in the Gospel if the words spoken are those of John the Baptist or those of John the Evangelist. Either way, Jesus is referred to as “the one who comes from above.” This recalls the conversation with Nicodemus about being born from above and about the Son of Man descending from heaven (see John 3:3, 7, 13). As the Son of God, Jesus is above all created things. He was the Word through whom all things were made and given life (see John 1:1-4). Jesus has revealed God the Father to us and sent us God the Spirit to guide us toward our heavenly home. Jesus has testified to what he has seen and heard at the Father’s side. “He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him” (see John 1:11). Many members of the people of God rejected Jesus, his works, his signs, his authority, and his testimony. “But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name” (John 1:12). By accepting the testimony of Jesus, we know that we can trust our heavenly Father to care for us (see Matthew 6:25-34).
2. Abundant Gift of the Spirit: John’s testimony here mentions that Jesus does not ration the Spirit. Jesus is not a stingy giver. Many of the signs in John’s Gospel speak about Jesus’ abundance. When he turned the water into wine, he made 120-180 gallons (around 900 bottles of wine!). When he multiplied the bread, he multiplied 5 barley loaves to feed 5,000 and ended with 12 wicker baskets of bread left over! When the disciples anointed Jesus’ body with a mixture of myrrh and aloes, they poured out 75 lbs. worth! When the disciples return to fishing after the Resurrection, Jesus enables them to catch 153 fish! And so, when Jesus pours out his Spirit, the Bond of Love between him and the Father, he does so abundantly: “the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). As Paul teaches us: “Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
3. The Wrath of God: At the end of our Gospel passage, John mentions the wrath of God. This does not mean that God is subject to the whims of passion, happy one day, sad another, and angry another. God is perfectly and infinitely happy and blessed in himself. The wrath of God is a way of referring to God’s just punishment of sin. “By refusing the Son, one turns down God’s invitation to eternal life, thus choosing to remain in spiritual darkness under the condemnation of sin. Hence, the wrath of God, the punishment due to sin, remains upon him (see 1 Thess 1:10; 5:9)” (Martin and Wright, The Gospel of John, 79).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you brought the Old Covenant to fulfillment in the New through your obedient suffering out of love. You have the power to transform me and conform my life to yours. Teach me to be an obedient child who heeds the Word of God.
 
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Năm tuần thứ Hai Phục Sinh
Lạy Chúa Giêsu Thánh Thể chúng con tin rằng Chúa mong mỏi giờ Chầu Chúa và cầu nguyện của chúng con với Chúa chiều nay còn nhiều hơn cả chúng con. Xin Chúa hãy mở lòng chúng con để đón nhận những lời Chúa dạy cho chúng con qua Tin mừng, chúng con muốn nghe những gì Chúa muốn nói với chúng con chiều nay. Chúng con tin cậy nơi Chúa và chúng con yêu mến Chúa. Lạy Chúa Giêsu Phục Sinh, hôm nay chúng con xin Chúa hãy làm cho trái tim của chúng con được trở nên giống như trái tim của Chúa hơn một chút.
Thưa quy ÔBACE,
Trong bài đọc Thứ Nhất hôm nay, các tông đồ đã nói với Tòa Công luận là họ phải rao giảng Tin Mừng Chúa Giêsu Kitô vì Ngài là Đấng Cứu Thế bởi vì Chúa Thánh Thần đã bảo họ làm như vậy. Các thành viên của Tòa Công luận rất búc xúc và tức giận đến mức họ đe doạ muốn giết các Tông Đồ và cấm các Tông Đồ nêu tên Chúa Giêsu và rao Giảng về Chúa Giêsu Kittô.
Nhưng các Tông Đồ không hề sợ hải một mực tuyên bố là "sự vâng lời Thiên Chúa là tối thượng, đến trước sự vâng phục con người". Các tông đồ đã chứng kiến được những điều kỳ diệu khi Chúa Giêsu ở với họ. Họ đã được nghe những bài giảng về thiên đường như Bài giảng trên núi, những lời tiên tri nói về Nước Trời trong Bữa Tiệc Ly, v.v. Họ đã nhận ra được Chúa Giêsu là Con Thiên Chúa đã phải chết như thế nào. Rồi họ cũng đã thấy Chúa Giêsu Kitô Phục sinh thế nào 40 ngày sau khi Chúa Phục Sinh.  Vì vậy, họ biết rằng lời rao giảng của họ rất quan trọng đến nỗi họ dã đám can đảm và liều mình tuyên xưng chính Chúa Giêsu là Chúa và Đấng Cứu Thế của nhân loại.  Với Ơn Chúa Thánh Thần, họ đi khắp mọi nơi làm chứng và loan truyền ​​những gì họ đã nghe và đã thấy Chúa Giêsu thực hiện. Chúng ta hãy tự hỏi là chúng ta có cảm thấy bị bắt buộc phải rao giảng Tin Mừng của Chúa Giêsu cho  người khác không?
Nếu nhìn vào những diễn biến của trần thế: Chúng ta nhận thấy có nhiều xung đột chia rẽ  trong các đảng phái chính trị, trong guồng may chính phủ liên bang và tiểu ban tại Hoa Kỳ, nhưsự bất hòa về biện pháp khắc phục hay ngăn ngừa dịch COVID-19, và sự cô lập con người trong xã hội trong năm qua: theo cuộc thăm dò hàng năm của Gallup, Những sự cố đã xảy ra trong nước Mỹ đã dẫn đến một cuộc khủng hoảng chưa từng có đối với sức khỏe tâm thần của người Mỹ.
Chúng ta hãy thử tưởng tượng những sự khác biệt chúng ta đã thấy trong những hoàn cảnh của chúng ta đã sống trong một quốc gia mà con người bị ép buộc và mất tự do, và chúng ta có dám chấp nhận và sống theo lời chứng của “Đấng đã đến từ Trời” là sống một cuộc sống viễn mãn trong sự sống vĩnh cửu, và hãy nhớ rằng chúng ta chỉ là những người tạm cư đang sống trên một quê hương khác, sẽ làm giảm bớt phần lớn nỗi buồn mà chúng ta trải qua khi sống trên thế gian này. Chúng ta hãy ngước mắt nhìn “Đấng đến từ trên cao” trong mỗi khi chúng ta dâng lời cầu nguyện mỗi ngày sẽ giúp chúng ta duy trì một viễn cảnh cuộc sống vĩnh cửu, bất kể “mọi thứ trên trái đất” có trở nên hỗn loạn như thế nào. Chúa Giêsu nói với chúng ta rằng ngài nói lời của Thiên Chúa Cha trên Trời và không miễn phần ơn sủng Chúa Thánh Thần mà ngài nhận được từ Thiên Chúa Cha là Cha của ngài. Vì vậy, chúng ta có thể tin tưởng khi chúng ta cầu nguyện và đọc Kinh Thánh vì có sự hiện diện của Chúa Thánh Thần, Chúa Thánh Thần sẽ ban cho chúng ta những ân sủng mà chúng ta cần có trong ngày.
Ngay cả những khi lời cầu nguyện của chúng ta cảm thấy khô khan và vô nghĩa, hoặc chúng ta bị phân tâm trong suốt thời gian cầu nguyện, chúng ta nên biết rằng, vì Chúa Giêsu không phân chia các ân sủng của Chúa Thánh Thần, nên chúng ta có thể trông cậy vào sự hiện diện đầy ân sủng của Ngài để “thắp lên trong chúng ta ngọn lửa tình yêu của Chúa Thánh Thần.
Cơn thịnh nộ của Thiên Chúa không phải là một đặc điểm trong tính cách của Ngài. Chúa là tình yêu thuần khiết, không thay đổi. Đúng hơn, cơn thịnh nộ của Chúa chỉ là một phần bổ sung sự công lý hoàn hảo của Ngài. Chúng ta có thể hiểu rõ hơn về cơn thịnh nộ của Thiên Chúa có ẩn ý này theo như cha Michalenko đã viết trong sách những cột lửi trong tâm hồn tôi như sau:
“Thiên Chúa hoàn toàn ghét bỏ và chống lại mọi điều gian ác, và Ngài sai những tia chớp sấm sét của Ngài chống lại những sự gian ác của ma quỷ, tuy nhiên chúng ta lại đeo bám tội lỗi của mình như đeo bám vào cột thu lôi của sự dữ, và rồi chúng ta lại phàn nàn rằng Chúa là Thần thịnh nộ! (Father Seraphim Michalenko, Seraphim, Pillars of Fire in My Soul: The Spirituality of St. Faustina, MIC, Marian Press, 2003).
Cơn thịnh nộ cuối cùng của Thiên Chúa chính là cái hậu quả của sự bất tuân mà chúng ta đã phạm, hình phạt vĩnh viễn không hồi kết dành cho những người bị phạt trong hỏa ngục.
May mắn thay, Thánh nữ Faustina đã cho chúng ta biết rằng chúng ta đang ở trong một thời kỳ của lòng Chúa thương xót vô song. “Mọi ân sủng phát nguồn từ lòng thương xót, và giờ lâm tử là giờ chứa chan ơn thương xót cho chúng ta. Đừng một ai nghi ngờ về lòng nhân lành của Thiên Chúa; tội lỗi chúng ta dù có đen đúa như bóng đêm thì lòng thương xót Chúa vẫn còn mãnh liệt hơn những nỗi khốn nạn của chúng ta. Chỉ cần một điều: đó là tội nhân phải mở cửa lòng, dù hé một chút cũng được, để đón nhận một tia ân sủng của lòng thương xót Chúa, và khi ấy, Thiên Chúa sẽ làm tất cả những gì còn lại. Nhưng đáng thương thay cho linh hồn nào đóng chặt cửa trước lòng thương xót của Chúa, thậm chí cả trong giờ lâm tử. Chính những linh hồn ấy đã dìm Chúa Giêsu vào nỗi bi thương tử nạn trong vườn Cây Dầu; thực vậy, lòng thương xót Thiên Chúa đã trào tuôn từ chính Trái Tim rất lân tuất Chúa Giêsu. (Nhật ký 1507).
Khi các Tông Đồ đã đầy dẫy ơn Chúa Thánh Thần tâm hồn họ sẽ bừng cháy lên với tình yêu của Thiên Chúa và nói về sự cứu rỗi và tha thứ qua Chúa Giêsu. Chúa Jêsus đã đến thế gian, Ngài sống, chịu đau khổ, chết và sống lại vì sự cứu rỗi của chúng ta. Chúng ta được mời gọi để được cứu rỗi và sau đó là đem người khác đến với tình yêu của Thiên Chúa. Điều quan trọng nhất là chúng ta phải làm trong cuộc sống là giúp những linh hồn thoát khỏi hỏa ngục và sự nguyền rủa tối đen của ma quỷ và đưa họ về quê thật trên trời
Lạy Chúa, Chúa đã nhắc nhở chúng con qua Kinh Thánh là Chúa đáng tin cậy, yêu thương, công bình và nhân hậu. Chúng con cầu xin Chúa cho chúng con và những người chúng con vô cùng yêu mến được trở nên những người thụ hưởng được lòng thương xót tuyệt vời của Chúa!  Chúng con kêu nài ơn Chúa hứa như lời hứa mà Chúa đã hứa với thánh nữ Faustina: “Lời cầu nguyện làm thỏa lòng Cha nhất là lời cầu cho các tội nhân ăn năn hối cải. Ái nữ của Cha ơi, con hãy biết rằng lời cầu ấy luôn được Cha đoái nghe và chấp nhận.”(Nhật ký 1397). Lạy Chúa, hôm nay nhờ ân điển của Chúa, chúng con sẽ cố gắng hy sinh làm việc đền tội cho chính bản thân và những linh hồn mà con biết đang cần đến lòng thương xót của Chúa. Amen
 
Reflection Thursday 2nd Week of Easte
Opening Prayer: Lord, thank you for these several days of reflection on the themes you revealed first to Nicodemus. May I draw grace and inspiration from my time of prayer today.
Encountering Christ:
Earthly Things: Divisive politics, discord over COVID-19 remedies, Zoom meeting overload, and social isolation: These earthly things have led to an unprecedented crisis in Americans’ mental health, according to an annual Gallup poll. Imagine how differently we would look upon our circumstances if, as a country, we accepted and lived by the testimony of “the one who comes from heaven.” Living life with an eternal perspective, remembering that we are merely sojourners meant for a different homeland, would alleviate much of the sadness we experience when we dwell on earthly things. Lifting our eyes to “the one who comes from above” each day in prayer helps us maintain an eternal perspective, no matter how chaotic “earthly things'' become.
No Rationing: Jesus tells us that he speaks the word of God and does not ration the gift of the Spirit he receives from his Father. Therefore, we can be confident when we pray with the Scriptures that the Spirit is present, giving us the grace we need for the day. Even if our prayer feels dry and sterile, or we’re distracted the whole time, we know that, since Jesus does not ration the gifts of the Spirit, we can count on his grace-filled presence to “enkindle in us the fire of his love” (Come Holy Spirit prayer).
Disobedience Equals Death: Our Lord’s wrath is not a personality trait of his. He is unchanging, pure love. Rather, his wrath is an extension of his perfect justice. God’s wrath may be better understood with this metaphor: “God is totally opposed to all evil, and sends his lightning bolts to oppose it (so to speak), yet we cling by our sins to the lightning rod of evil, and then complain that he is a God of wrath!” (Father Seraphim Michalenko, Seraphim, Pillars of Fire in My Soul: The Spirituality of St. Faustina, MIC, Marian Press, 2003). God’s ultimate wrath is the consequence of our disobedience—unending eternal punishment for sinners in hell. Fortunately, Sister Faustina tells us that we are in a period of unparalleled mercy. “All grace flows from mercy, and the last hour abounds with mercy for us. Let no one doubt concerning the goodness of God; even if a person’s sins were as dark as night, God’s mercy is stronger than our misery. One thing alone is necessary; that the sinner set ajar the door of his heart, be it ever so little, to let in a ray of God’s merciful grace, and then God will do the rest” (Diary 1507).
Conversing with Christ: Lord, you remind us in the Scriptures that you are trustworthy, loving, just, and merciful. May I and those I so dearly love be the beneficiaries of your awesome mercy! I claim the promise you made to Sister Faustina: “The prayer most pleasing to me is prayer for the conversion of sinners. Know, my daughter, that this prayer is always heard and answered” (Diary 1397).
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will make a sacrifice (or two) for myself and the souls I know who are in need of your mercy.
 
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Năm tuần thứ Hai Phục Sinh
Những người quyền thế ở thế gian thường dùng sự sợ đe doạ người khác để bảo vệ quyền lực của họ và kiểm soát người khác. Các cơ quan chức năng người Do Thái đã đe dọa thánh Phêrô và các tông đồ với những hình phạt tàn khốc nếu như họ vẫn tiếp tục làm chứng cho Chúa Giêsu kitô Phục Sinh. Nhưng Thánh Phêrô vẫn can trường đứng lên tiếp tục làm chứng cho Chúa Kitô , và các tông đồ đã không còn sợ hãi những đe của những người Do Thái; Chúa Thánh Thần đã nâng đỡ và che chở họ! Phản ứng của họ là thà chết mà vâng lời Thiên Chúa còn hơn nghe con người, đấy chính là lời khuyên mà chúng ta nên theo ngày hôm nay.
            Một trong những lý do mà chúng ta thấy rằng rất khó khăn cho chúng ta để hiểu được những điều trên trời và chúng ta không biết Thiên Chúa một cách thân tình, cá nhân như chúng ta phải biết.  Thánh Gioan miêu tả Chúa Giêsu như là một trong những người đã đến từ bên trên để dạy chúng ta cách mà Thiên Chúa đối xử với con người chúng ta và dạy cho chúng ta về một Thiên Chúa luôn yêu thương, mà chúng ta đã không bao giờ thực sự được biết đến. Không chỉ vậy, Chúa Giêsu còn ban sự sống đời đời cho những ai sẵn sàng tin vào Ngài; Thật vậy, chúng ta hãy mặc lấy tâm tình với Chúa trong tâm hồn, và Ngài sẽ ban Thánh Thần của Ngài xuống cho chúng ta một cách "không giới hạn"  Thật là một lời hứa mà tất cả chúng ta chỉ cần thực sự tin tưởng và đến cầu xin nơi Ngài. Chúa Giêsu đã hứa với chúng ta rất nhiều, và nhiều hơn những gì mà chúng ta có thể tưởng tượng, nhưng long tin của chúng ta còn qua yếu kém!
            Trong mùa Phục Sinh này, chúng ta hãy giữ lời hứa của Chúa Giêsu trong tâm hồn và trái tim của chúng ta và xin Chúa hướng dẫn, dạy bảo cho chúng ta biết thêm và hiểu được những điều trên Trời mà Ngài đã mang đến cho chúng ta. Nhưng trên hết, chúng ta hãy xin Chúa ban cho chúng ta một phần rất lớn Thánh Thần mà Chúa đã hứa ban cho chúng ta.
 
Reflection:
Those in worldly authority often use fear to protect their power and to control others. The authorities threatened Peter and the apostles with dire punishments if they continued their witness to the Risen Jesus. But they had lost their fear — the Spirit had taken care of that! Their response was that it was far better to obey God than humans — advice we should follow today.
            One of the reasons we find that so difficult is that we do not understand heavenly things and we do not know God as personally as we ought. John portrays Jesus as the one who has come from above to teach us the ways of God and to reveal to us a God we have never really known. Not only that, Jesus gives eternal life to those who are willing to believe in him — that is, put on his mind and heart — and he gives the Spirit ‘without measure.’ This is quite a promise — one that we really need to believe and to ask for. Jesus has promised us so much — more than we can imagine — and we have settled for so little!
            In this Easter season, let us take the promises of Jesus to heart and ask to be taught the heavenly things that he has brought for us. But above all, let us ask for a huge portion of that Spirit that the Lord offers.
 
Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Năm tuần thứ Hai Mùa Phục sinh.
  Trong bài đọc Thứ Nhất, các tông đồ đã nói với Tòa Công luận là họ phải rao giảng Tin Mừng Chúa Giêsu Kitô vì Ngài là Đấng Cứu Thế bởi vì Chúa Thánh Thần đã bảo họ làm như vậy. Các thành viên của Tòa Công luận rất búc xúc và tức giận đến mức họ đe doạ muốn giết các Tông Đồ và cấm họ nêu tên Chúa Giêsu và rao Giảng về Chúa Giêsu Kittô, Nhưng các Tông Đồ không hề sợ hải một mực tuyên bố là "sự vâng lời Thiên Chúa là tối thượng, đến trước sự vâng phục con người".
     Khi các Tông Đồ đã đầy dẫy ơn Chúa Thánh Linh, tâm hồn họ sẽ bừng cháy lên với tình yêu của Thiên Chúa và nói về sự cứu rỗi và tha thứ tội lỗi qua Chúa Giêsu. Chúa Jêsus đã đến thế gian, Ngài sống, chịu đau khổ, chết và sống lại vì sự cứu rỗi của chúng ta. Chúng ta được mời gọi để được cứu rỗi và sau đó là đem người khác đến với tình yêu của Thiên Chúa. Điều quan trọng nhất là phải làm trong cuộc sống của chúng ta là giúp những linh hồn thoát khỏi địa ngục và sự nguyền rủa tối đen của ma quỷ và đưa họ về quê thật trên trời
     Các tông đồ biết rõ điều này vì họ đã chứng kiến được những điều kỳ diệu khi Chúa Giêsu ở với họ. Họ đã nghe những bài giảng về thiên đường như Bài giảng trên núi, những lời tiên tri nói về Nước Trời trong Bữa Tiệc Ly, vân vân. Họ đã thấy được Chúa Giêsu là Con Thiên Chúa đã phải chết như thế nào. Rồi họ cũng đã thấy Đức Kitô Phục sinh thế nào trong 40 ngày sau khi Chúa Phục Sinh. Vì vậy, họ biết rằng lời rao giảng của họ rất quan trọng đến nỗi họ đã can đam liều mình để tuyên bố là chính Chúa Giêsu là Chúa và Đấng Cứu Thế của thế giới, và cho mọi người trên mặt đất này. Với Ơn Chúa Thánh Linh, họ đi khắp nơi chứng kiến ​​những gì họ đã thấy và đã nghe nói về Chúa Giêsu. Chúng ta hãy tự hỏi chúng ta có cảm thấy bị bắt buộc phải rao giảng Tin Mừng của Chúa Giêsu với người khác?
 
Reflection 2014:
     In the first reading, the apostles told the Sanhedrin that they had to preach Jesus as the Messiah because the Holy Spirit was telling them to do so. The members of the Sanhedrin were so angry that they wanted to kill them. But "obedience to God comes before obedience to men," the apostles said. 
     A person filled with the Holy Spirit is on fire with love for God and speaks of salvation and forgiveness of sins in Jesus alone. Jesus came to our world, lived, suffered, died and rose for our salvation. We are called to be saved and then to save others. The most important thing to do in our lives is to save men from hell and damnation and to bring them to heaven. 
     The apostles knew this because they have seen heavenly things when Jesus was with them. They have heard heavenly discourses from Jesus like the Sermon on the Mount, the parables of the kingdom, the discourse during the Last Supper, etc. They have seen how Jesus as Son of God had died a horrible death. Then they saw the Risen Christ for 40 days after his Resurrection. 
     So they knew that their preaching was so important that they risked physical harm and proclaimed Jesus as Lord and Saviour of the world, and of every individual here on earth. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they went everywhere witnessing to what they had seen and heard about Jesus. Do you feel compelled to speak about Jesus to others?